And I’ve got Dorothy right behind me….make that Dorothys.

I finally got to see Lover Never Dies last night, and I have to say that Andrew Lloyd Webber can still pull off a good show. As I pointed out last week, the show is producing a love it or hate it effect, but I am firmly in the love camp. It’s been a while since I have seen such a slick staging of a musical, and it helps that I love the dramatic epic.

As I waiting for the show to start, I was aware of movement behind me, and as I glanced up I realised that it was the some of the Dorothys from last weekend’s Over The Rainbow. As I tried to inconspicuously see who I recognised, it became apparent to me that the 10 that weren’t chosen for the live shows were Andrew Lloyd Webber’s guests at the Adelphi Theatre as consolation. Of course, one of them will still make it into the wild card slot by way public vote and we will be seeing 11 perform on Saturday night.

I think I may need to go back to Love Never Dies soon though…I can’t get the Coney Island Waltz out of my head!

The search for Dorothy has commenced! BBC One premiered Over The Rainbow this weekend and as of Saturday night, 10 finalists were chosen and the public are currently voting for a wildcard slot to make it a total of 11 contestants in next week’s sing off.

The Lord has a new throne (he’s ditched that horrible red velvet wannabe Elizabethan thing) and seems to be a little more integrated with the judging panel. Shelia Hancock came out as the most abrasive, questioning the contestants’ motivations in a Mother Superior kind of way, which was superb. Performing in Sister Act has obviously rubbed off.

As for Charlotte Church and John Partridge, they had their modest but non committal opinions, probably because they know it’s still quite early in the game.

The contestants sang two songs (in groups of 4), and a nice surprise was that each sang a number from a current West End show . Chicago, Sweet Charity, We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde and Blood Brothers featured in Saturday night’s broadcast (Blood Brothers was a nice surprise, it is one of the best West End shows and often largely ignored). It was definitely a good way for some current shows to obtain some prime advertising space!

If watching Andrew Lloyd Webber on Friday and Saturday night wasn’t enough, there was also a South Bank program on ITV last night, featuring interviews past and present with Lloyd Webber.  It showed fantastic clips from his new work Love Never Dies, but also incorporated old footage of The Phantom Of The Opera as well as Evita, Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar. It served as a reminder that his shows really revolutionised musical theatre.

Anyways, we’ve been informed that The Wizard of Oz will start booking in about 4 weeks, so there is the opportunity to buy tickets before the winner is announced. As we’ve seen with The Sound Of Music, Joseph and Oliver! the mad dash begins when the winner is crowned and the show sells out within hours. If you know that you want to see this show, regardless of who wins, buy tickets as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to following more of the rainbow next Saturday.

BBC One’s Over the Rainbow broadcasts on Saturday nights. Discount Theatre has tickets from £40.50 for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, currently booking until the 23rd October.

The good folks at Wicked were kind enough to send over a Q and A session with Lee Mead, who will be starring as Fiyero from the 10th May. Mead was catapulted into stardom when he won the role of Joseph on the BBC program Any Dream Will Do, and fans flocked to see his performance at the Adelphi Theatre. He then got himself hitched to Denise Van Outen and is now about to become a dad! Here’s Lee Mead’s answers to some all important questions: 

Q: What’s you’re favourite musical (film/stage) and why?

A: So many, but probably Phantom of the Opera… and of course WICKED!

Q: If you hadn’t become an actor, what would you have done?

A: I probably would have worked with children because I just love kids, perhaps a teacher or something along those lines.

Q: What’s your daily routine on a show day?

A: I like to be in at least a good hour before the show so I’m relaxed – I hate to be rushed as it comes across in my performance, so I just read and try to focus as much as possible.

Q: Do you have any good luck charms?

A: I don’t actually, sadly no good luck charms!

Q: What’s currently playing on your iPod?

A: A new album by a group called Elbow, and a bit of Lady GaGa always goes down well! I like Beyonce as well and band music like Stereophonics.

Q: Describe your perfect evening out

A: A very relaxed meal with friends or my wife.

Q: Which character would you have played in the film The Wizard of Oz?

A: Probably the Scarecrow

Q: London or New York?

A: I can’t decide! I love New York so much, but I’ve lived in London for a few years now.

Q: If you weren’t playing Fiyero, which witch would you play? Which witch are you?

A: Glinda of course!

Q: What is the last CD/book you bought?

A: The last book was a baby book because I’m about to become a dad!

 

There you have it, everything you need to know about Lee Mead.

Mead will be starring in Wicked until 5th February 2011 (except for his holidays which are posted on Discount Theatre, so check carefully Lee Mead fans) Wicked is booking at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until the 30th April 2011 and tickets are available from £37.50. Buy your Wicked tickets here.

Hairspray might not be leaving the Shaftesbury Theatre until the end of this month, but its successor has already started booking.

Flashdance The Musical doesn’t move into the Shaftesbury Theatre until September, but tickets are now onsale. Set in Pittsburgh, USA, Flashdance tells the story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. Based on the 1983 film, the music embodies the era and features such hits ‘Maniac’, along with ‘Manhunt’, ‘Gloria’, and ‘I Love Rock and Roll’. And a bonus element is that ex Strictly Come Dancing Judge Arlene Phillips has choreographed all of the dance moves in this highly anticipated stage version.

Go and track down your legwarmers and high-top Reeboks. You know you want to.

Flashdance starts previewing on the 27th September at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London and is booking until the 26th February 2011. By your Flashdance tickets here.

Welcome back to Discount Theatre’s podcast, your source of all the latest theatre news, interviews and gossip as well as information about great offers on West End Shows.

This month, we’re doing things a little differently as we bring you an Interview with legendary British actor Sir Ian McKellen who is currently starring in Waiting for Godot in the West End.

*Click on the play Button Below to Hear the Podcast*

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*URGENT* The final performace of Waiting for Godot in London is on April 4th, prior to a world tour. Use the link below to make sure you don’t miss out.

Get Your Waiting for Godot Tickets Before They’re All Gone

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It was bound to cause controversy, especially amongst diehard Phantom Phans.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies officially opened last week, and the popular press finally had their say. There seems to be a bit of a love it or hate it consensus. The good reviews were positively glowing, with many 5 star ratings, something not seen for a new musical in many years.

The not so favourable reviews picked apart the story, the music and pretty much the motivation for doing a sequel at all.

However, I have yet to come across a mediocre review. And I think that is a good thing, I certainly don’t like walking out of a show indifferent. I want to feel passionate about what I saw and have critique or praise depending on my feeling. That’s what good art should do.

Asking some of my colleagues what they thought, I pretty much got the same result. Some loved it and some hated it. I also asked them about The Phantom Of The Opera, once again some loved it and some hated it.

I haven’t seen Love Never Dies yet, but I am due to go in a few weeks. I wonder which camp I will fall into?

Love Never Dies is now booking until the 23rd October. Book your Love Never Dies Tickets here.

Fear not, they will be re-housed again.

Thank goodness that our favourite puppets seem to be a firm West End fixture. The inhabitants of Avenue Q will be evicted from the Gielgud Theatre this Saturday, but will be resettling at the Wyndhams Theatre, which is right behind The Noel Coward Theatre, where the puppets made their West End debut!

Avenue Q is completely different from anything else running in the West End, and despite its eccentric characters and adult humour, it seems to have won the hearts of the British public, as it did with the folks on Broadway.

Avenue Q will re-open at the Wyndhams Theatre on the 19th March after a week long hiatus; Fortunately the same great discounts apply. Top price tickets are available for only £32.50 on Discount Theatre.

Get yourself down to Leicester Square and join the Q!

This morning I was taking stock of the shows on offer and realised I had completely forgotten about the return of Mrs Warren’s Profession. The play will start previewing at the Comedy Theatre on the 16th March. George Bernard Shaw’s most provoking and scandalous play (it was written in 1893, but banned until the 1920’s) is a great piece, highlighting the hypocrisies of the Victorian age that was slowly coming to an end.

The profession in question is the catalyst for the events of the play. Mrs Warren’s daughter has led a life of relative privilege, but as she moves into adulthood, she begins to question just how her mother was able to provide this life.

The play has long been on students’ reading lists and a source of insight into the late 19th century British society. The Victorian public image remains noble, but privately a fascinating underbelly is also presented, realising the duality of the era.

Felicity Kendall, who is appearing quite frequently in the West End these days, will play the infamous Mrs Warren. She’s a fantastic actress and will add an extra element to this classic.

Discount tickets are available for Mrs Warren’s Profession for midweek performances until the 15th April; top price tickets normally £48.75 are reduced £38.75.

Buy your Mrs Warren’s Profession tickets here.