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.

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.

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.

After many months of speculation, gossip and rumours, Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to his iconic The Phantom Of The Opera has gone on sale at the Adelphi Theatre in London.

We’re told that the story picks up 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of the Phantom from the Paris Opera House; famous opera singer Christine Daae and her husband Raoul have travelled to New York’s Coney Island, where Christine has accepted an offer to perform. Consequently Christine finds out that the anonymous person who has lured her to New York is someone she is well acquainted with!

Ramin Karimloo will create the role of the Phantom in Love Never Dies, having already performed the role in The Phantom of the Opera in London. American Sierra Boggess (who created the role of Ariel in Broadway’s The Little Mermaid) will play Christine, and home grown talent Summer Stallen (The Sound Of Music, The Drowsy Chaperone) will play Meg Giry. Tony award winning Jack O’Brien (Hairspray) directs.

Love Never Dies will preview from the 20th February 2010, officially opening on the 9th March 2010. The initial run is booking until the 23rd October 2010. If you are a Phantom Phan, buy your tickets asap. This show will sell out.

And if you haven’t seen the original Phantom Of the Opera and need to catch up on the story, it’s still playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London; it’s Phantastic 23 year run is a testament to the popularity of the original show.

Ok, I’m probably annoying you now with the Phantom puns. Book your Love Never Dies tickets here.

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

This month, we bring you the news and gossip, including:

The announcement of Anna Friel’s and John Barrowman’s return to the West End;

The triumph of a British musical that stormed Broadway;

And the surprise veteran West End show that is raking in the ticket sales.

We also managed to interview controversial talk show host Jerry Springer who is appearing in Chicago as smooth talking lawyer Billy Flynn. Stay tuned to find out how he feels about his West End stage debut and performing in such a successful musical.

Firstly, let’s find out what’s been happening in the world of theatre over the last month.

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Show Notes

The News

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s - Anna Friel will star as the iconic Holly Golightly in the stage adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Friel was most recently seen in the quirky US TV show Pushing Daisies, and was in the UK soap Brookside. Breakfast At Tiffany’s will preview on the 9th September and is booking until the 9th January 2010. Book now to ensure you get your tickets.
• An Inspector Calls - Following the early closure of Spring Awakening, it has been announced that An Inspector Calls will play a limited engagement at the Novello Theatre from the 22nd September. Steven Daldry’s award winning production, has had extensive West End runs and tours, and is reportedly the longest running revival of a play in history. An Inspector Calls is booking until the 14th November.
• La Cage Aux Folles - John Barrowman of Dr Who and Torchwood fame will join the production of La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre on the 14th September and will play the role of Albin until the 28th November. La Cage is currently playing to rave reviews with Roger Allam and Phillip Quast who will continue until the 12th September as the manager and drag queen who run the flamboyant nightclub. La Cage Aux Folles is booking until 9th January 2010.
• La Clique - Last month we brought you the sad news that acclaimed entertainment show La Clique had been ousted from its home at the Hippodrome to make way for a casino and restaurant. It has been now been confirmed that after a little break, La Clique will be back and will play over the Christmas Season at the Roundhouse Theatre, previewing on the 19th November and booking until 17th January 2010. If you still want to catch the current run at the Hippodrome, La Clique is running there until the 27th June and there are still great discounts. Offer: General admission seats normally £29.50 are reduced to £22.55
• Billy Elliot - The Broadway production of Billy Elliot has been nominated for 15 Tony awards in New York, thrashing the competition. Despite initial concerns over the American audience being able to understand the Geordie accent, it seems that the heart warming story of a boy ballet dancer, told through Lee Hall’s amazing script, Elton John’s award winning music, and Matthew Bourne’s stunning choreography, has won over the critics and the masses. The Tony award winners will be announced on the 15th June, so we wish Billy good luck. You don’t need to go to New York to see the show though- it is still playing in London at the Victoria Palace Theatre and is booking until 3rd April 2010. Offer: Until the 19th June Tickets are reduced from £60 to only £39.50 Monday to Thursday evenings.
• We Will Rock You - Finally, congratulations to the musical We Will Rock You as it celebrated its 7th birthday last month. Dubbed the Queen musical, We Will Rock You is still packing them in at the Dominion theatre. If you haven’t seen the show, and you may be one of the few, there’s no excuse not to rock out to one of London’s best selling shows. Tickets are on sale until 27th March 2010. Offer: Top price tickets normally £55 are discounted to only £32.50 Monday to Friday evenings.

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Spotlight Show

• A Little Night Music - The Sondheim musical opened at the Menier Chocolate factory to rave reviews which prompted a west end transfer to the Garrick Theatre in March, joining other Chocolate Factory success La Cage aux Folles.

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Chicago – Jerry Springer Interview

This month’s star interview is with Jerry Springer who is making his West End debut as Billy Flynn in Chicago. Chicago is the longest running American musical in London with a staggering 10 years under its belt. Springer’s character, Billy Flynn is a smooth talking lawyer who advises a series of beautiful and devious murderesses how to escape jail sentences and earn a fortune from their experiences – Max Clifford anyone? Charlie sat down with Jerry as he prepared for the role:

Offer: Jerry Springer stars as Billy Flynn until 11th July but Chicago is booking until 30th October 2010. Top price tickets normally £55 are reduced to £37.50 Monday to Friday and Saturday matinees.

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Gossip

• Les Mis/Susan Boyle - By now the whole world has seen Susan Boyle sing an amazing version of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables on Britain’s Got Talent, and we have noticed a knock on effect from the You Tube sensation, resulting in sales for Les Mis going through the roof. Who knew that a performance on a talent show, could turn into some free PR for a West End musical? Although Boyle reprised her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” in the Britain’s Got Talent Final on Saturday night, she was edged out by dance group Diversity, whose creativity and choreography blew, what was thought to be a one horse race, wide open. Regardless of Boyle’s second place finish (and some nasty run-ins with the press), Les Miserables can thank her for some free advertising; people are now flocking to see the musical which contains the song that launched Susan Boyle into stardom.

• Bridget Jones - It appears that another film will become a musical. Apparently Helen Fielding who wrote both Bridget Jones novels is working on a script for a musical version. It’s unlikely that Renee Zellwiger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant will reprise their roles on stage but it is likely that audiences will love a musical version of Bridget Jones, and love it just the way it is.

• Love Never Dies - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of The Opera was due to have a simultaneous premiere in London, New York and Shanghai this year, but it looks like that has now been put off until 2010. The new musical, titled Love Never Dies will see the Phantom and his muse Christine return, but this time the locale will be Coney Island in New York.

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Offer of  the week

• Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - Until the end of June there is a fabulous offer on the fabulous Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. Jason Donovan stars in this rollicking and colourful stage adaptation of the cult film, which will have you dancing in the aisles. Be quick, because seating is limited.

Offer:
Top price tickets are normally £59.25 but until the end of June, they are reduced to only £39.75 for Monday to Wednesday and Thursday matinee performances.

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We’ll be back next month with more news, reviews and interviews about all of the events happening in London’s West End. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out www.discounttheatre.com, for great offers to suit everyone. Until next time…