Put the coffee on and lay out the table. Breakfast is about to become the main meal of the day for Anna Friel.

The excellent TV show Pushing Daisies may have been cancelled by the American networks after only two very brief series, but when one door closes….well, you know.

It was confirmed last week, that Friel will star as Holly Golightly in the stage adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on the 9th September.

Set in New York in 1943, Holly Golightly is living the high life as a socialite with big ambition. Who will she marry? And more importantly what will she wear? The character of Holly Golightly was immortalised by Audrey Hepburn in the film version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, highlighting the classic look of little black dress, pearls and huge sunglasses.

While the production has been classed as a play, it was confirmed that the iconic song “Moon River” (from the film version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s) will be performed in the production, delighting hard core film enthusiasts but also operating as a good lovey-dovey song for couples – men, take note if you want to impress.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is booking until the 9th January 2010. Buy your Breakfast at Tiffany’s tickets here.

Another original musical bites the dust.

Despite being a multiple Tony award winner, and receiving 5 star reviews from the London critics, Spring Awakening is to close at the Novello Theatre on the 30th May.

Reminds me of another Broadway hit at the Novello that just didn’t fly over here…anyone remember The Drowsy Chaperone?

Teenage angst is at the forefront of Spring Awakening, but it also highlights some very serious issues, stressing that adolescence isn’t always about school dances and football games. However, it seems the groundbreaking production, even with its awards and critical acclaim, does not have the ticket sales to keep going. It’s a shame, as it’s one of the most diverse and exciting things I’ve seen in the West End for a long time.

If you fancy rocking out with the tormented teens, there’s still time. Tickets are available at a discount until the end of the month. Buy your Spring Awakening tickets here.

I was excited to look out of the big bay windows at Discount Theatre towers this morning only to find a colorful vision staring straight back at me.

Grass I tells Ya…Grass!

It seems that Boris Johnson and his lovely cronies have seen fit to bestow a present of the green stuff for us all to enjoy over the summer. I can’t wait to get out there on relaxing afternoons and let my fair ginger skin go pink and pitted.

We did have a smattering of mud based straw before, but this latest crop is fresh and new and delicious.

So before taking your seats at some fantastic West End matinee this sunny season why not come and drink some of our Ice Cold Orange Cordial on nature’s newest fury carpet!?! (Is it weird to get so excited about turf?)

*Disclaimer*

“DiscountTheatre.com cannot be held responsible for your consumption of Ice Cold Orange Cordial; tasty beverages take work and dedication on the part of the drinker and are in no way guaranteed.”

The daffodils are beginning to emerge from the ground, and now that it’s daylight for more than 5 hours a day, I’m not staggering around in the dark and bumping into walls, (or anything else I may have left lying about) when I drag myself out of bed in the morning. Thankfully, the Northern Hemisphere is definitely moving towards my favourite season…. Spring.

A Spring of another sort is also on the move…Spring Awakening, the Tony award winning musical is coming to the West End.

Based on an 1891 German play about adolescents on a journey of sexual awareness and discovery, Spring Awakening started as an off-Broadway production but very quickly made its way to “The Great White Way”, where it won 8 Tony awards. Earlier this year, it made its UK debut at the Lyric Hammersmith and will now have its West End Premiere when it opens at the Novello on the 21st March.

Spring Awakening Invades Beverly Hills

I have a little confession to make….I watch the new 90210. It’s a guilty pleasure, but brings me straight back the angst ridden high school days of the early ’90s…when the combination of plaid shirts and choker necklaces was cool. I realise that the topic of conversation has abruptly changed and my teenage telly tendencies seem a little out of place in this blog, but here is the connection: if you also indulge in this harmless rehash of high school fun….you will already know one of the songs from Spring Awakening! That’s right, the musical that the kids at West Beverly High performed a few episodes back was Spring Awakening, which highlighted the edgy rock song “Mamma Who Bore Me.”

So…Spring Awakening made it to Broadway, then London’s West End and was also featured on 90210…it doesn’t get any better!

Spring Awakening is just the musical to help us along into the warmer days and shorter nights….booking now until the 31st October 2009. Buy your Spring Awakening tickets here.

A Little Night Music: As I was trawling though the theatre websites earlier this week, looking for the next big piece of gossip which I could use to pretend as though I was well and truly part of the theatre in-crowd, I was hardly surprised to see yet another West End transfer of a successful show from the Menier Chocolate Factory. The Sondheim classic, A Little Night Music, is set to move to the Garrick Theatre on the 28th March, after tremendous positive press.

It’s extraordinary to think that The Chocolate Factory (what a nice sounding name for a theatre) only opened in 2004, but six of its productions have transferred to the West End or New York in recent years, including Sunday in the Park With George, Little Shop of Horrors and La Cage aux Folles, which is currently playing at the Playhouse Theatre and starring Graham Norton.

A Little Night Music features some heavy-weight theatre names, most notably, director Trevor Nunn (we’ll forgive him for his involvement in Gone With The Wind); performing on stage are Alexander Hanson, Maureen Lipman, Hannah Waddingham and runner up from the BBC television contest I’d Do Anything, Jessie Buckley.

See…. the other participants on these reality shows always get jobs, so it’s all good in the end.

Based on Ingmar Bergman’s film, Smiles of a Summer Night, A Little Night Music revives the notion of romance; set against the backdrop of 19th century Sweden it features one of the best known songs of musical theatre, Send In The Clowns….. some people are afraid of clowns, but don’t be scared, it’s just a song about them.

£10 off all tickets during the previews

A Little Night Music is booking until the 25th July; considering The Chocolate Factory’s pedigree, I’m sure the bright lights of Theatreland will embrace it. Be sure to get in early and save £10 on all seats during the preview period of 28th March to the 6th April.

A Little Night Music is on Sale Here =>

Jude Law will be joined by Ron Cook, Peter Eyre, Gwilym Lee, John MacMillan, Kevin R McNally, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matt Ryan, Alex Waldmann and Penelope Wilton in Michael Grandage’s production of Hamlet – the final production in the Donmar’s year long residency at the Wyndham’s Theatre.

Ron Cook returns to the Donmar to play Polonius. He is currently appearing as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and previously appeared in Helpless, Juno and the Paycock and Glengarry Glen Ross. His many other theatre credits include The Seafarer, Howard Katz (National Theatre), Singer (Tricycle Theatre), Insignificance (Chichester Festival Theatre), Art (Wyndham’s) and extensive work for the RSC. For television, his work includes The Diary of Anne Frank, Fantabulosa, Funland, He Knew He Was Right, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Lost Prince; and for film, Hot Fuzz, Confetti, Charlotte Gray, Chocolat, Quills, Topsy Turvy, Secrets and Lies, and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Read more

Those of you into glitzy awards ceremonies may be interested to know that every year all most important ‘faces’ in the West End also congregate to pat each other on the back. Scraping off the slimy grease paint with baby oil and giving out special little statues called “Olivier Awards”. (Who could that be named after???)

Anyway, I’m about to reveal the entire list of nominations but before I do there seems to be one obvious omission that blazes out like a beacon in the night…

Where on Earth is Carousel?

…with five star reviews, sell-out shows, and such a delicious cast. Three words come to mind in varying stages of severity:

1. Travesty!
2. Scandalous!!
3. Abomination!!!

Let the nominations begin: Read more

As the more perceptive of you may have noticed this morning, our little island has been covered in thick white snow from Russia.

At this point all shows will go ahead as planed this evening but should anything change we will contact the affected customers straight away to advise on the options.

You can have a look at the London travel situation here:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

Leicester Square Monday 2nd February 2009, 10.38am:

Just a quickie to advise you that Carousel (which has been hailed as a “Total Theatrical Triumph” from critics all the way from hither to thither) will now be adding a second midweek matinee to the already busy schedule of performances. The change comes from an overwhelming public demand for afternoon shows.

Tell me why…I don’t like Mondays?

This new addition will replace the Monday night show, so from Monday 23rd March 2009 the performance schedule for Carousel will be as follows:

If you already have tickets for a Monday evening performance after this date never fear, one of our >>Tactical Theatre Operatives<< will be in contact shortly to assist you with rebooking.

*Please note that Lesley Garrett will play all performances*

These new dates are already locked and loaded in our ingenious booking system, so you can pull the entertainment trigger at will.

Speak soon…

BS

Book your Carousel Theatre Tickets Here

As a self-proclaimed theatre lover, it has been one of my missions once I officially touched down in London town to see as many shows as humanly possible. A daring feat if I do say so myself. Clearly I know nothing of dangerous endeavours – my idea of living life dangerously involves consuming milk past its due date.

What I do know is that La Clique is a fantastic spectacle, where performers invariably push their mortality to the limits time and time again! Since starting performances on Oct. 10th, La Clique has been wowing audiences into the wee hours.

The best way I can describe this show is a clever amalgamation of vaudeville, cabaret and a small, delicious dollop of smut. However, this show isn’t all about the temptations of the flesh – oh no! There is a real historical thread in La Clique that suits the Hippodrome perfectly; recalling the old days of this famous London venue.

Originally constructed in 1900 as a water circus with a 100,000 litre pool in which elephants, polar bears and sea lions (oh my!) could be seen, the Hippodrome has hosted performances as wide ranging as escapologist Harry Houdini, Ivor Novello, Judy Garland, and Sugar Ray Robinson. The mood of the current production is typical of the venue after it’s circus days, with dim lighting and - small intimate tables dispersed throughout the circular venue; a very jazzy feel.

As I took in my surroundings, I waited with baited breath for the production. As Mario, Queen of the Circus tried to summarise the events to come, I started to get slightly nervous… I am not someone who copes well with odd and otherwise extremely painful movements/positions that are well beyond my own ample… gymnastic abilities. With acts like, Hanky Panky, Captain Frodo’s contortionism, David O’Mer’s bath time acrobatics, The English Gents and much more – my imagination started to run wild…
After facing my fears, I realised there was more to La Clique than meets the eye! Literally, but we’re all adults here… nothing we haven’t seen before. Okay, well maybe not. Read more