BroadwayWorld UK Awards 2017: Gary Naylor's Nominations - Pt. 1
Picking out the best of UK theatre over the past 12 months is a curious task - akin to judging avocado pears against conference pears, we're comparing like with like only in the broadest sense. So, with that necessary caveat, here are some of my nominations for the BroadwayWorld UK Awards 2017.
Something Is Beginning! RAGTIME to Open in London Next Week
It was the music of something beginning... Ragtime, the landmark Broadway musical, will play the Charing Cross Theatre (The Arches, Villiers Street), in London's West End, beginning October 8th and run through December 10th in a strictly limited engagement. Opening night is set for October 17th.
STAGE TUBE: Anita Louise Combe Sings 'Back To Before' from RAGTIME
Earl Carpenter, who starred in the West End and on Broadway as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, and West End star Anita Louise Combe, Tessie Tura in Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre and both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago, head the cast of a major new actor-musician production of RAGTIME at Charing Cross Theatre. Click below to watch Anita Louise Combe, as Mother, singing RAGTIME's 'Back To Before' in the recording studio!
RAGTIME Releases Its First Picture - Meet Coalhouse Walker Jr.
Ako Mitchell stars as Harlem musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., one of the central characters in the musical 'Ragtime'. This stunning new actor-musician version, with a cast led by West End and Broadway stars EARL CARPENTER and ANITA LOUISE COMB, will follow critically acclaimed 'Titanic' as the second in-house production at Charing Cross Theatre.
Earl Carpenter and Anita Louise Combe Lead RAGTIME at Charing Cross Theatre
Earl Carpenter, who starred in the West End and on Broadway as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, and West End star Anita Louise Combe, Tessie Tura in Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre and both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago, are to head the cast of a major new actor-musician production of RAGTIME.
Scoop: Talks Underway to Bring GYPSY Starring Imelda Staunton to Broadway!
More good news, Baz Bamingboye reports in the UK Daily Mail that Broadway could indeed be next, writing 'We are actively pursuing and trying to work out the right way to go to New York with Imelda in Gypsy,' said Michael Harrison, who produced the show with David Ian. The Jonathan Kent production recouped its costs and made a profit for investors which (as we know) doesn't happen with every musical production.' He also notes '
West End's GYPSY Starring Imelda Staunton to Close, Nov. 28
Jonathan Kent's five-star production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton as Rose will have its final performance on 28 November 2015 as previously announced. Having smashed the all time box office record at the Savoy Theatre and subsequently recouped, Kent's production originally opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre in October last year. Following a second set of five-star reviews, producers Michael Harrison and David Ian announced an extension to the West End run in April.