My weekly ShenTens podcast, in which I count down my top ten favourites in a particular category, is inevitably subjective — but few theatrical terrains are as hotly contested as this one: whom I consider to be my favourite Broadway leading ladies.
‘Suffused with joy’: HAIRSPRAY LIVE! – The Shows Must Go On (Online review)
Hairspray Live! is such a joyous show it should perk up many a flagging spirit. It proves far superior to the previous week’s NBC Live offering of The Sound of Music.
The Shows Must Go On: Hairspray Live!, featuring Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson, is next up on lockdown musicals channel
Free-to-view YouTube Channel The Shows Must Go On continues its theatre lockdown schedule with another ‘live’ television broadcast of a Broadway musical, the star-studded 2016 version of Hairspray Live!
‘Has lost some of its magic’: CHICAGO – West End ★★★
Although Chicago is still a fun night out that’s sure to please and delight many loyal fans and people who just want a chilled theatrical experience, for me it felt too flat in its current form.
‘Evoked the same emotions I’d previously felt & hoped for’: HAIRSPRAY – Touring ★★★★
If you like musical theatre and especially Hairspray, I’d 100% recommend seeing the current UK tour. The UK tour cast does a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to the stage
What were our Top 25 reviews & other blogs in October 2017?
What were the reviews and other blogs that got readers clicking most? Any surprises? Our Top 25 Mates Blogs from October 2017 are listed below with summaries and links to read more.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH – West End
Like many UK Kristin fans, I saw Wicked when it opened back in 2006, subsequently listened to the Broadway recording and fell in love with the cast. I then entered an obsessive phase where I watched all Kristin videos, listened to every song she’d ever sung, read every interview she’d done and was generally that annoying fan that could talk about nothing else.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH – West End
Like many UK Kristin fans, I saw Wicked when it opened back in 2006, subsequently listened to the Broadway recording and fell in love with the cast. I then entered an obsessive phase where I watched all Kristin videos, listened to every song she’d ever sung, read every interview she’d done and was generally that annoying fan that could talk about nothing else.
SPEECH AND DEBATE – Trafalgar Studios
An opportunity to see this play in dress rehearsal was snaffled away from me at the last minute so stubbornly, I’d opted not to see it. But the offer of a friend’s spare ticket and the good notices that Patsy Ferran’s performance seemed to be universally receiving eventually got me along to the Trafalgar Studios’ smaller space.
DUSTY – Charing Cross Theatre
With the turmoil of three months ‘in previews’ and gossipy leakage over cast changes and backstage bickering which might warrant a musical in itself, Dusty has become London’s Off-West End equivalent of Spider-Man. But not even industrial-strength bungees could save this turkey from an early Christmas.
Diary of a theatre addict: 6 shows in London, 2 more in NYC, plus a car breakdown in middle lane during a tube strike
I’m in a sweltering New York right now — but I’ve kept the heat on for myself with lots of shows and interviews planned.
Cynthia Erivo heads to Broadway, Jonny Donahoe comes home & Ben Brantley raves about Chenoweth
No sooner did I declare Cynthia Erivo yesterday to be number two in my list of current UK musical theatre actresses in my round-up for The Stage than yesterday it was also announced that she’s at to reprise the shattering performance she gave in The Color Purple at the Menier Chocolate Factory in the summer of 2013 when John Doyle’s production transfers to Broadway, beginning performances at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on November 9 prior to an official opening on December 3.
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