According to The Sunday Telegraph, the “West End Phenomenon” that is Wicked is continually flying high as it soars into it’s 5th year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre celebrating greater year on year profits at the box office.

With this in mind Wicked has now launched a 10th booking period which will take the run up until Saturday 29th October 2011 these tickets will go on sale from today (6th September 2010).

In addition the hit musical welcomed it’s 3 millionth theatregoer for the evening performance on Wednesday 4th August 2010.

Wicked tells the untold story of The Wicked Witch of the West based on the novel, Wicked: The Life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Telling of an unlikely friendship between two girls who meet as sorcery students and their journeys to become known as Glinda The Good and The Wicked Witch Of The West.

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Wicked Flies Into 5th Year At The Apollo Victoria is a post from: Musicalverse

It has been confirmed that Jennifer Saunders will be writing the book for the forthcoming Spice Girls musical, Viva Forever according to reports from The Stage.

Speaking to The Stage, the shows producer, Judy Craymer said “Having Jennifer Saunders on board is the best possible start Viva Forever can have. We are creating a new contemporary story about friendship, celebrity and fame with the music of the Spice Girls.

“Jennifer is brilliant at writing about these themes and the Spice Girls’ songs connect powerfully in a smart and moving way.”

Also speaking to The Stage, Saunders added “I’m thrilled and terrified at the same time. It is very exciting to be writing a musical that encompasses the music and energy of the biggest girl-band of all time. My daughters grew up with The Spice Girls, I had to do it for them as well as myself. It’s been great fun working with Judy Craymer. We have had some hilarious days together in the process so far.”

The musical is being produced by Craymer in association with Universal Music, Simon Fuller (the bands founder and original manager) and the Spice Girls.

Fuller added “The girls and I are really happy that Jennifer is writing the book. She has really identified and incorporated what the Spice Girls represent to women around the world.”

Viva Forver should be hitting a West End theatre in 2012.

Spice Girls ‘Viva Forever’ Musical To Be Penned By Jennifer Saunders is a post from: Musicalverse

This months poll is an interesting one, as we all know it’s simply not possible to be absolutley certain that a performer will be able to perform on a particular performance. Life could throw a spanner in the works.

But what does this mean for a theatrical production when one of the principal performer is not able to perform for whatever reason? Obviously this is why there are understudies but what if an audience has paid for tickets because they want to see a particular performer?

So the poll this month is, if a principal performer was unable to perform would you personally try and get a part refund from the producers?

POLL: Would You Try To Get A Part Refund If One Of The Principal Performers Was Unable To Perform? is a post from: Musicalverse

Last month in our monthly poll we asked (I think) a more ticky to a answer question, Where do you prefer west end musicals to come from?

I think it’s tricky to answer because at the end of the day as far as we’re concerned it doesn’t matter where the story comes from providing it’s good, this being said however the results we recieved were interesting – close due to the few votes – but still interesting.

38% of voters prefered musicals to be adapted from novels like Wicked (based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire) and Les Miserables (based on, well – Les Miserables by Victor Hugo). Tighed with 25% of the vote were musicals that transferred from Broadway (some overlap here) and completely original work.

A movie adaption like Sister Act and Legally Blonde recieved 13% (or 1 vote) of the vote.

I was perhaps most surprised that adaptions from existing music recieved no votes, considering the popularity of shows like We Will Rock You, Thriller – Live and Mamma Mia!

As always thank you to everyone who voted, a new poll will be live shortly.

Where Do You Prefer West End Musicals To Come From? The Result is a post from: Musicalverse

On Saturday I travelled across to the London Palladium to catch Sister Act The Musical before it closes near the end of the year.

And despite the lack of Whoppi Goldberg the family musical was, well, fabulous – I mean it’s a great story complete with plenty of laugh out loud moments and brilliant music!

I can’t start this review without mentioning Helen Walsh who did a fantastic job as the Mother Superior – injecting added humour in all the right moments (and her facial expressions were excellent).  Not to mention Patina Miller whose voice is amazing.

In fact the whole cast was brilliant- they made the show very funny from the very start to end – I’ve seen one comment on Twitter by Claire Greenway (who plays Sister Mary Patrick) which said:

Oof, hard work today. Really bad voice, and a slightly disappointed audience, makes for a very sad fat nun.

This was tweeted at 5:27pm (I’m guessing around the interval – failed to look at my watch until the end) – I have to say I didn’t hear anything different (and I hope Claire’s voice is better!)

Anyhoo the sets were great and I loved the way they effortlessly glided in and out in between the songs which were very disco-ey.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Sister Act and would recommend it to anyone – especially families – time to dig out the cast recording

P.S And that my dears is why I don’t write theatre reviews very often (i.e. I’m not very good at them!)

P.P.S Best wishes to Whoppi Goldberg and her family.

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Sister Act Review is a post from: Musicalverse

New casting has been announced for the so very blonde musical, Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre – going blonde are TV Talent Show Judge, West End Star and new Mum, Denise Van Outen will be joining the show from the 25th October 2010.

Also joining the show fresh from Hollyoaks is Carly Stenson and a graduate from the BBC’s search for a musical theatre star programmes, Siobhan Dillon. They will be joining the existing cast which includes Sheridan Smith, Peter Davidson and Aoife Mulholland from this Autumn.

Van Outen has had an interesting career to date which can be chartered back to a TV weathergirl to a stage and screen actress. Her West End stage credits include Tell Me On A Sunday, Chicago and Rent. She will be taking over the role of Paulette from Jill Halfpenny.

Dillon got her big break from How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? getting through to the final, even though she lost out on the role she very shortly afterwards could be caught in the role of Paddy in Grease. She’s also led the UK touring production of Cabaret before returning to Grease to play the lead role of Sandy.

This will be Stenson’s debut West End performance, the actress is best known for her role of Steph in Hollyoaks. But like her on screen character she’s not shy of the stage – she’s appeared away from London in productions of Oliver and Grease.

In additional Legally Blonde News, it has been announced that Sheridan Smith will be staying on in the lead role of Elle Woods until at least the 9th January 2011.

Speaking to The Official London Theatre Guide Sheridan commented “I absolutely love playing Elle Woods, it’s been one of the highlights of my career so far, and I’m thrilled that the audiences love the show as much as I do. When Sonia asked me to stay for a little bit longer, I couldn’t resist the thought of a pink, chihuahua-filled Christmas!”

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New Legally Blonde Casting Announced is a post from: Musicalverse

Due to family illness, Whoppi Goldberg who was playing the role of Mother Superior has had to withdraw from the remaining performances of Sister Act at the London Palladium.

The shows producers, Stage Entertainment UK issued the following statement “After receiving the news that her mother has suffered from a severe stroke, Whoopi Goldberg has had to fly home today, Friday 27 August, to be with her family. The role of Mother Superior will be played by Ms Goldberg’s understudy until Thursday 2 September, when Sally Dexter will assume the role.

“Ms Goldberg is very sorry not to be able to perform as planned and the thoughts and sincere best wishes of the producers and the entire Sister Act company are with her at this difficult time.”

Ticket-holders who no longer wish to see the performance are advised to contact the ticket agent with which they placed their booking with.

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Whoppi Withdraws From Sister Act is a post from: Musicalverse

As we already knew Whoppi Goldberg’s run in the London production of Sister Act was to last only a limited season of just 3 weeks and so now the wheels are in motion once again as the production welcomes her replacement.

Sally Dexter will be playing The Mother Superior at the London Palladium from the 1st September taking over from one of the shows producers Whoppi Goldberg whose West End debut ends on the 31st August 2010. Dexter will be playing the role until the shows final closure in the West End on the 30th October 2010.

Most recently Dexter appeared in another film to stage musical in Billy Elliot The Musical where she played Mrs. Wilkinson. Before these she has also appeared in Bad Girls The Musical, has worked extensively with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre and has won the Laurance Olivier Award in 1986 for Most Promising Newcomer.

The Palladium won’t be empty for long though as after celebrating the theatre’s 100th Anniversary in December it’s doors will open onto the Land Of Oz for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of The Wizard Of Oz which opens early next year.

Sally Dexter To Take Over Whoppi In Sister Act is a post from: Musicalverse

Best known for playing Curly Watts in ITV1’s Coronation Street, Kevin Kennedy has landed the lead role of Pop in the rocking West End musical, We Will Rock You from the 6th September.

This is not the first time Kennedy has taken to this particular role having played opposite The X Factor’s Brenda Edwards in the touring production of We Will Rock You. Brenda will also be joining the London company at the Dominion Theatre.

Brenda will however be taking a break from the production at the beginning of September so that she can appear in the The Human Comedy at the Young Vic.

The pair will be joined in We Will Rock You by Ricardo Afonso, who returns to the role of Galileo that he played between 2007 and 2009, Sarah French (Scaramouche) and Rachel John (Meat). Alex Bourne and Ian Carlyle will continue as Khashoggi and Britney.

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Kevin Kennedy To Lead The Cast Of We Will Rock You is a post from: Musicalverse

Later this year the Apollo Victoria Theatre (home of the fabulous Wicked) will reach the grand age of 80. To celebrate the theatre will play host to a special gala performance featuring West End stars from the past and present.

The special performance will be taking place on the 10th October 2010 with all profits being donated to Cancer Research UK.

Taking part in the gala performance are stars from it’s current production, Wicked plus stars from previous shows which have played at the Victoria based theatre including Saturday Night Fever, Bombay Dreams and Billy Joel danc-ical Movin’ Out. In addition the show will also feature a reunion of the venues longest running production, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.

Apollo Victoria Celebrates It’s 80th Birthday With A Wicked Night Of Entertainment is a post from: Musicalverse