About the Album: Queen at the Opera was first discussed on the 8th of August, 1982. It was Geoffrey Sutherlands birthday and Bryan Hill had just given him a recording of Queens music, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Whilst listening to these orchestral interpretations, Geoffrey expressed his desire to stage a theatrical version of both the music and lyrics of the super-group. Four years later, in 1986, Geoffrey became the head of NAPACs Department of Musical Theatre. He had just completed a season of semi-staged concerts featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The music arranger on this project was Michael Hankinson, and he became inspired by Geoffreys vision and agreed to do the arrangements for a musical show based on Queens greatest hits. The next addition to the team expanded this vision totally. Andrew Botha had designed several shows for Geoffrey, but the idea of this stage show soon progressed beyond a simple concert version. After several inspired discussions, Geoffrey and Andrew came up with the concept of a live rock video. Last, but definitely not least, Nic Michaletos joined the team. After his discussions with Geoffrey, Andrew realised that Nic and his company, Production Projects, were the only people who could do justice to the production on the scale that Geoffrey envisaged. The show escalated swiftly from there. Using the talents of five principals, the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the NAPAC Dance Company, NAPAC Singers and the NAPAC Jazz Quartet, Queen at the Opera opened in 1990 for a limited season. No-one expected the acclaim that the production received. Here was something new and daring that joined theatre and rock music in an exciting assault on the senses. Such was its success, that a sequel was planned for 1992, as well as a tour of the original production to Johannesburg. Before these plans were put into effect, a version was staged at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in January 1991. Once again it played to packed houses & Queen also managed to be a big hit in the corporate market of industrial theatre when it was presented at the Wild Coast Sun. And then the unthinkable happened, Freddie Mercury died in November 1991, followed by Geoffrey in July 1992. The last production Geoffrey worked on was Queen II The Show Must Go On. He never lived to see the phenomenal success that Queen at the Opera would have outside of Durban. It first opened at the Standard Bank Arena for two weeks in 1992. This was a faithful recreation of the original production. A revised version, using additional numbers from Queen II was then staged to tumultuous acclaim in 1995. This version played at the Nico in Cape Town, the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg and returned to its place of birth the Playhouse in Durban. Over the years Queen at the Opera has had an organic life, a concept that Geoffrey, Andrew and Nic have always encouraged. The new performers in the production have contributed greatly to the staging and Andrew and Michael have contributed new looks and sound to the present incarnation, ensuring a freshness and vitality that helps the production move with the times. So, if you are revisiting the show, we hope you enjoy the new interpretations and if it is your first timeWe Will Rock You!
Label: Prestige Music Imp
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Fans can prepare for the official Wicked digital and Blu-ray release with the extensive special feature listing which includes documentaries, deleted scenes, commentaries, and more. Take a look at the full list below!
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by Team BWW
- December 17, 2024
Lending her voice to the audiobook is none other than Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Cher in The Cher Show. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book- Chapter 2, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Listen here!
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by Blair Ingenthron
- December 08, 2024
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by Josh Sharpe
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The Wicked movie is not the only Ozian content that consumers are enjoying. As the popularity of the film surges to an all-time high, readers are also flocking to Gregory Maguire's original 1995 novel for which the musical and film are based.
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From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theater history; check out our collection of 19 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.
STRAIGHT FORWARD Off-Broadway Musical to Release EP
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, will release an EP. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Learn more about the show and the album!
STRAIGHT FORWARD Musical Receives EP Ahead of Off-Broadway Run
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- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, has released an EP of 5 songs on November 26. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Listen to the new EP here.
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Patrick Finegan has announced the release of his new novel, Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunnit, a satire and murder mystery. Learn more about the novel here.
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Newly released listings are previewing the home video release for the Wicked movie, which will arrive in stores in either February or March of 2025. The standard 4K Ultra HD release will include the theatrical version of the film, along with a sing-along edition.
Turn Back Time with Highlights from THE CHER SHOW
by Team BWW
- November 19, 2024
In celebration of Cher's memoir's release (which also happens to feature an audiobook read by Tony winner Stephanie J. Block), we're turning back time for a special multimedia flashback of the acclaimed Broadway show.
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