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London theater news 2008

July 20, 2008 on 9:13 am | In Australia, Chicago, Dubai, East Coast, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New England, New York City, Performing Arts, San Francisco, Scotland, Sydney, United Kingdom, Wales, Webbandstand, comedy |

The West End is synonymous with top theater, with London offering many world firsts. VisitBritain has teamed up with Keith Prowse Ticketing to sell events and theater tickets online at www.visitbritain.us  or call 1-800-669-8687. These are just some of the highlights for the winter and spring:

The Donmar Warehouse will have a one-year residency at Wyndham’s theater from September 2008. The exciting program will include Ivanov with Kenneth Brannagh this September and November, followed by the Twelfth Night with Derek Jacobi. Then in 2009, they will perform Madame de Sade with Dame Judi Dench, and finally Hamlet starring Jude Law. www.donmarwestend.com

The National Theatre season will include Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara starring Simon Russell Beale and Hayley Atwell, the young British actress who is becoming the 2008 movie sensation with roles in Brideshead Revisited, Cassandra’s Dream, and The Duchess. We also hear that the National Theatre will have Sunday matinee performances from this fall. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Rain Man opens at the Apollo theater and is set to run from September 20 through December 20, 2008. Already an Oscar-winning film, the production will star Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley.

Marguerite, a love story set amid occupied Paris of World War II, is a new musical which opened at the Haymarket theater on May 20, 2008 and is booking through November 20. The cast includes Ruthie Henshall, the award-winning West End and Broadway actress. www.marguerite-themusical.com

The Harder They Come is a reggae musical based on the 1972 Jimmy Cliff film. It is currently on at the Playhouse Theatre through November 1, 2008. The production has enjoyed two previous sell-out seasons in London.

Jersey Boys opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 18, 2008. Already a smash hit on Broadway, the musical tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and includes many of the band’s well-known songs. www.jerseyboyslondon.com

Fans of the British boy band, Take That, will want to see new musical Never Forget when it opens on May 21, 2008 at the Savoy Theater. Telling the story of young hero ‘Ash’ and his mates pursuing their dreams, the musical features all the classic Take That songs including Relight My Fire, Pray, Back For Good, Babe and Never Forget.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story opened at the Duchess Theatre on August 7, 2007 and is booking through March 28, 2009. The musical returns to the West End, and features greatest hits including Peggy Sue and That’ll Be The Day.

Fan favorite Grease opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on August 8, 2007, cast through the reality TV show Grease Is The Word, the British version of the American television show You’re the One That I Want.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returned to the West End on July 17, 2007, at the Adelphi Theatre. The part of Joseph was supplied by reality television show Any Dream Will Do, from the BBC TV series.

Hairspray opened in London at the Shaftsbury Theatre on October 30, 2007. Based on the film, which starred actress-turned-host Ricki Lake as teenager Tracy, the musical has already won eight Tony Awards and a Grammy for the cast recording for the Broadway production.

From September, 2006, theatergoers have the opportunity to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Wicked has already played to more than 1.75 million people since opening on Broadway. Now visitors to London can experience this magical musical adventure, telling the story of two girls meeting in the land of Oz - one called ‘good’ and the other one ‘wicked’. www.wickedthemusical.co.uk

Evita has returned to London’s West End after 21 years, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lyrics by Tim Rice. Playing at the Adelphi theater from June 21, 2006, the cast includes Elena Roger as Eva Peron. This new production features the Oscar-winning song ‘You Must Love Me’ for the first time on stage, following its success in the film version starring Madonna. www.evitathemusical.com

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music, opened at the London Palladium on November 14, 2006. There is an interesting take on casting as the lead role was chosen through a reality TV show through a public vote last summer!

Dirty Dancing the musical came to London last fall (opening October 24, 2006) in a new stage show at the Aldwych Theatre. Fans of the movie starring Patrick Swayze can sing along to hits such as Hungry Eyes and Do You Love Me? in this dynamic production.

Avenue Q opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on June 28, 2006. The show, featuring a cast of lively and off-the-wall characters both humans and puppets, is already a hit on Broadway, winning 2004 Tony Awards for Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musican and Best Original Score. www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk

Blood Brothers, Willy Russell’s award-winning musical featuring Liverpudlian twins, is on at the Phoenix theater.

Billy Elliot – The Musical has a musical score by Sir Elton John, and has been adapted for stage by the team who produced the successful film. Showing at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy Elliot tells the tale of a young boy growing up in a mining town enthralled by the grace and wonder of ballet. www.billyelliotthemusical.com

The Lion King, with music by Elton John and Tim Rice, continues to entertain crowds at the Lyceum theater and is booking until September 28, 2008.

Websites: www.visitbritain.us; www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk