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.

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.

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.

If you are home tonight, check out Jonathan Ross – Andrew Lloyd Webber is set to appear as a guest and Sierra Boggess will perform the title song from new musical Love Never Dies. I wonder if the BBC will roll out the throne from the props department or if the Lord will sit on the sofa like the rest of the guests?

Lloyd Webber is going to be a pretty busy guy in the next couple of months. First off, Love Never Dies has started previewing at the Adelphi Theatre and will have its press night on the 9th March. Even though the composer has asserted that Love Never Dies is not a sequel to The Phantom Of the Opera and is a standalone piece, most theatregoers are still referring to the new musical as Phantom 2. There’s no doubt that the show is going to sell out, but will it be any good? The popular press will express their views in a few weeks’ time.

In addition to launching a brand new show, the classic story, The Wizard Of Oz is about to be resurrected, thanks to the Lord and BBC reality TV. Over The Rainbow is set to start in a few weeks time; the aim is to choose a feisty unknown actress to play the role of Dorothy. This will be the fourth incarnation of the BBC reality show, having previously broadcast the competition to cast leads in The Sound Of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Oliver!

The sing off format for Over The Rainbow will be the same, but I was shocked to hear that the judges panel will look very different. Denise Van Outen will not be back, having gone off and married Lee Mead (a previous contestant and eventual winner, soon to star in Wicked) and is soon to give birth to their first child. More shocking is the absence of John Barrowman. What will we do without his constant shouting of ‘fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!’ whilst jumping up out of his seat?

Instead, the judges panel will consist of Sheila Hancock, currently starring as Mother Superior in Sister Act, Charlotte Church, who will probably provide some boisterous comedic moments, and John Partridge (Christian from Eastenders) who has starred in many West End productions over the last 20 years.

My money is on John Partridge to steal the show.

If history repeats, The Wizard of Oz will follow in the success of earlier shows promoted by the reality contest and become the highest grossing musical of 2010. Keep a close eye out for when the production goes on sale; I can guarantee that the first booking period will sell out instantaneously.

Love Never Dies is now previewing and is booking until 23rd October 2010. Over The Rainbow will soon be shown on Saturday nights on BBC1.

Just stay with me for a moment….yes I am referring to the TV show.

I had heard the buzz regarding the new show Glee, but didn’t really take much notice. Did I really want to watch another American high school show that portrayed a totally unrealistic view of the rather traumatic place that high school really is? With Gossip Girl and 90210 already occupying my time, I dismissed the idea immediately. But when I visited my sister in Canada at Christmas time, Glee was the topic on everyone’s lips - she was raving about the show. I knew that it was set to premiere in the UK soon, and when I saw the adverts on E4, I recorded some episodes for a rainy day.

I finally got around to watching some of the show this weekend…..and it is fantastic. I had no idea that every episode features songs from musicals as well as contemporary chart toppers. So far, I have heard renditions of You’re The One That I Want from Grease, Mr Cellophane from Chicago, Maybe This Time from Cabaret, and On My Own from Les Miserables. And apparently in one of the coming episodes the cast sings Defying Gravity from Wicked.

Combined with edgy humour, Glee is the perfect balance between hip comedy and musical revue. Yes the characters are stereotypes (think jock, cheerleader and primadonna) but how else do you visually portray the complexities of the high school hierarchy so easily?

Despite its comedic narrative and characters, at its core, I think Glee is a great promoter of musical theatre; just as Subo’s performances of I Dreamed a Dream managed to breathe a new life into Les Miserables, this show highlights some great musical theatre numbers that are not usually emphasised in mainstream media. 

Next episode is on tonight….I can’t wait.

As a student of literature, and theatre lover, I really get quite excited when the West End contains some classic works. There’s nothing better than studying a work of drama, dissecting it in a term paper and then having the opportunity to see the production.

As I was perusing the current list of shows the other day, there’s a fair bunch or classic plays on offer or coming soon; names like Samuel Beckett, Henrik Ibsen and Arthur Miller will always pique my interest. 

Waiting For Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket is a no brainer, many call it the best play of the twentieth century. With Ian McKellen’s name above the title, and excellent reviews, this production shouldn’t be missed.

Henrik Iben’s Ghosts is being revived at the Duchess and stars Lesley Sharpe and Iain Glen; and Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, starring the great James Earl Jones is enjoying a popular run at the Novello Theatre.

One to look forward to is All My Sons by Arthur Miller which comes into the Apollo theatre on the 19th May. Last year, A View From the Bridge, also by Miller, had patrons queuing around the block for a ticket, so it will be interesting to see if this production captures people’s interest in the same way.

And if you still haven’t seen Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, well guess what? It’s still playing at the St. Martin’s theatre after an unprecedented run of 58 years. If you want to find out who did it, you’ll need to buy a ticket for this quintessentially English thriller.

Ghosts has discounted tickets available from just £14.50 and many others have great offers as well. For a complete list of plays and to book tickets, click here.

It came as a bit of a shock….one of the most loved shows in recent memory is now closing? How could this be?

Yes, Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre is closing on the 28th March. We are in mourning at Discount Theatre towers…….sniff.

Despite the sad news, I suppose it was actually quite a successful production when you really look at it. Hairspray has been running for about 18 months, which is about 17 months longer than any other recent production at the Shaftesbury Theatre. And when it opened, the critics raved, only boosting its popularity among theatregoers.

So, what will be next to inhabit the Shaftesbury Theatre? Rumours point to the stage version of Flashdance, which could appeal to devotees of Fame and Footloose. Other sources claim that it could be Broadway hit Rock Of Ages.

Hairspray will also be remembered for the show that defied the Shaftesbury curse, and was able to put bums on seats with its fun, broad appeal.

It’s not time to say goodbye yet….top price tickets are reduced to £37.50 for the near future. However, you have been warned that this is your last chance to see a fantastic show!

Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre will close on the 28th March 2010. Book your discounted Hairspray tickets here.

Some good news for one of The West End’s most loved shows and its inhabitants; the puppets from Avenue Q will be packing their bags once again and moving house!

It’s been announced that Avenue Q will transfer to the Wyndhams Theatre when it finishes its run at the Gielgud Theatre in March, the show will be occupying is third West End venue; it originally opened at the Noel Coward Theatre in June 2006.

The rude and crude puppets are proving to be very popular with London audiences, unfortunately it’s doesn’t look like they will get a holiday this time as the production is set to transfer immediately after it closes at the Gielgud. It will open at the Wyndhams Theatre on the 19th March 2010.

Looking forward to seeing Trekkie Monster and Lucy the Slut strutting their stuff around Leicester Square Tube station!

Top price Avenue Q tickets are reduced to £32.50 for midweek performances. Book your Avenue Q tickets here.

It’s been many months of rumours regarding the possible Broadway transfer of Legally Blonde, and after a month of previews, the show opened at the Savoy Theatre last week.

Sceptics questioned the success of the show in front of a UK audience, but the popular press came and the popular press raved.

I’ve included some tidbits from the reviews below….all very flattering

Legally Blonde is booking until the 23rd October 2010. Book your Legally Blonde tickets here.

‘Hilarious. Brilliant. Truly Spectacular… Winning performances, sophisticated lyrics and a wit sharp enough to file your nails on.  This is the feel good hit of the Winter.’
-Daily Express

‘An instant hit… A box office bombshell!’
-Evening Standard

‘A wonderful new musical. Ridiculously enjoyable from start to finish. PERFECTION.  OMIGOD! I’m like totally going again.’
-Paul Taylor, Independent

‘A FEEL-GOOD DELIGHT! A HUGE HIT. Sheridan Smith is Glorious.  She brings vitality, warmth and great comic timing to the role. Legally Blonde the musical is right up there alongside Mamma Mia and Hairspray.’
-Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph

‘A sparkly spectacle from start to finish.  HILARIOUS.’
-The Sun

I was just doing a quick scan of the theatre news and I noticed that the Arts Theatre has a host of new shows coming on in the next few weeks. I decided to take a further look and found quite a few eclectic productions will be taking up residence, appealing to every type of West End theatregoer.

First up is…. Daisy Pulls It Off (get your mind out of the gutter!). I’m told that in the spirit of St. Trinian’s, Daisy Pulls It Off follows a plucky young girl as she attempts to navigate the snobbery of her new boarding school. It’s transferring from the Baron’s Court Theatre, where it got a rapturous reception. This one will definitely be popular with families, who want something light hearted at a good price. Daisy Pulls It Off is booking until the 6th February and tickets are reduced to £13.50 for all performances.

While Daisy is saving the world, two cabaret type shows will be doing the late shift at the Arts Theatre. Nunsense A-Men sees a group of male comedy actors plays nuns trying to stage a fundraiser. It’s definitely not Sister Act, but is described as Mrs. Doubtfire enters a convent…. and should be very funny. Also doing the late shift is the return of Naked Boys Singing, which played last year at the Arts to sold out audiences. And yes, as the title suggests, there is nudity; definitely no G rating on this one. Tickets to Nunsense and Naked are priced from £13.50 each and are booking until the end of March.

Finally, later in February The Arts Theatre will see a straight play and a musical move in. The Party was a Fringe First winning play; this satirical story centres around, four young idealists who have decided to form a new political party to save the world from itself. On the musical side of things A Man Of No Importance is based on a 1994 independent film starring Albert Finney, and highlights the journey of self-discovery and acceptance of a Dublin bus conductor. Top Price tickets For A Man of No Importance are reduced to £18.50 for many performances and the show runs from the 10 to the 27th February. The Party runs from the 1st to the 13th March.

As you can see, quite a diverse selection, but a great mix for the centrally located Arts Theatre. I hope there’s more to come as the year progresses!