Tag: West End

West End: Wicked Review 2012

No one mourns the Wicked . . . 

This is the second time I have seen Wicked. But the first time I have seen it in the West End. It had been over 3 years since I saw it on Broadway. Obviously I know all the words to the songs from listening to the soundtrack, but I had forgotten all about the little things. How funny the show is, how heartfelt and emotionally it is from start to finish. How some of the songs are staged as well, this is something you forget while just listening to the soundtrack. Although Defying Gravity you remember from start to finish, that doesn’t stop the tingling all over your body when it’s being sung. It really is the ultimate show stopping moment in a musical and an incredible way to end the first act and leave the audience sitting thinking wow and knowing what they have just seen is something very special.

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What now for the Harry Potter kids?

As the end of the Potter franchise is slowly approaching what is next for the three kids or now adults who were instantly launched to super stardom as it was announced they would be Harry, Ron and Hermione in the films. Now at the ages of 21/22 what does the future hold for the three stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson?

I’m sure they could not imagine how much becoming the three much loved characters on screen was going to change their lives forever. But can they escape being Harry, Ron and Hermione? Well they haven’t just been doing the Potter films over the years, as they have grown up they have been doing different things as well. They all seem very set on staying in the entertainment world, whether that be on the stage or the silver screen. Which is very good that they all seem to be content on staying in the public eye and entertaining everyone in all different ways.

Daniel Radcliffe had a very successful stint in the West End with controversal play Equus which he then took to Broadway with fellow Potter actor Richard Griffiths. From March this year Radcliffe has returned to the Broadway stage in a revival production of ‘How to Succeed in the Business Without Really Trying’. A theatre career seems to be something that he is very interested in, but he also has a couple more films due for release this year.

Rupert Grint has appeared in quite a few different films over the years as well as the Potter films. Driving Lessons and Wild Target seem to be the most well known of his efforts. It seems as though he is determined to keep making films and taking on different roles.

Emma Watson decided a couple of years ago that education was very important to her and started studying at Brown University in the USA. She has since put that on hold for a while, which allowed her to be more involved in the promotion of the final Potter film. She also has a couple more film projects confirmed so she must be focusing more on her acting that her degree at the moment.

Lets not forget that they are not the only now young actors who have come through the Potter films a lot more started out as children and grew up in front of us on screen. Some of which will probably only ever be known for the Potter films, and not actually continue acting after all of the franchise is finished.

Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy is now 23 years old, and gathered a cult following throughout the films. He has quite a few film projects lined up for the future and had already done quite a few acting jobs before staring in the Potter films. The most recent news about Tom has been that he is going to become a rapper, but that does sound like it could just be a funny rumour. He also has a role in the up and coming ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’.

A big name now in Robert Pattinson after becoming Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, but lets not forget he was Cedric Diggory before all of that! He has put in some good performances in other films and is a keen singer. Maybe he will struggle to get away from the Cullen curse rather than one from the Potter films. Doubt many people instantly think Diggory when they hear his name.

Matthew Lewis who is best known as Neville Longbottom and appeared in all eight of the films. He currently doesn’t have any new movies in production, but in recent interviews has been stated that he does see acting as a career he is going to persue.

Bonnie Wright has been in all eight films, with her character growing throughout the series. She has recently become engaged to fellow Potter actor Jamie Campbell Bower. She is currently in production for a new film, and has done some modelling in the past. She seems to have big plans in the acting world.

I am sure we will all keep an eye on what the Potter kids, now young adults are getting up to in the coming years. The fans of the Potter films have always supported the actors and I am sure they always will. Let’s hope that we get to see fantastic things from the young cast as they embark on more adult acting career’s, which have already started for many of them already. It will be brilliant to see them have success in life after Potter, as lets admit that it has taken over the past 10 years for them to do all of the films. It must have been difficult to fit other work in around these films, and now we can see them all progress into a different career, leaving behind the characters we have grown to love.

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Tony Awards 2009

So I am currently sitting watching the Tony Awards, and yes I do realise that this is a movie blog. But so many actors and even shows/plays cross over to the movie genre. I attended the Tony Awards in 2008 and cannot believe that a year has now gone by since I was sitting in the audience myself.

The tribute to the performers who died in the last year has just been on, pictures of the actors who were nominated or won Tony Awards, accompanied by people singing “What I Did For Love” from “A Chorus Line” really broke my heart. I adore that song and some really big named actors have died in the past year. The three that really stick in my head are Paul Newman, Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty. While all of the people were applauded, I could hear a lot of cheers for Bea, she really was loved by the Broadway crowd.

I missed the start of the show which I was so disappointed about! Like the first 10 minutes, so basically the opening number. I turned it on in time to see Liza Minnelli on the stage, which made me smile. I was not too impressed with Shrek in musical form, I don’t no it just did not make me want to go and see it right now. I was however very, very happy when Angela Lansbury won yet another Tony Award. She really is just Mrs. Tony !!! I would not want to be nominated against her, haha.

Frank Langella has just been on presenting and very much amused me, kinda complaning in jest that he was not nominated for the play that he was in, and that award seasons bring out the best in him. He also joked about having an Oscar speech in his pocket still. Yes I am easily amused but he really was fantastic in Frost/Nixon.

Susan Sarandon was also on earlier and looking very good may I add. I cannot believe that this women is in her 60s now and still looking so fantastic, she is in such great shape. She has such a distinctive voice which I also love. Yes I do realise that I have just gone all fangirlish for Susan.

Billy Elliott perfromance was just fantastic, Elton John was on the stage to introduce it too which made it even better in my opinion. It was nice to see a different part of it, and not “Electricity” which was always on UK shows when it first hit the West End. Although my favorite song from this show is “Deep into the Ground”. Very good dancing in this part, it has to win best musical!!!

 I actually loved the Legally Blonde performance, it just looks like it would be a really fun show. Just like the movie is really fun too. Harvey Fierstein then came on to present and OMG his voice is just so incredible. He has won 4 tony awards, but I knew him first in Mrs Doubtfire, love it.

Nice to see Angela Lansbury back on the stage to present the life time achievement award good times. I think she is just fabulous, still going strong at her age is incredible. OMG YAY a clip from La Cage aux Folles . . . “I Am What I Am . . . ”  with George Hearn talking YAY I totally love him. Ok so the La Cage aux Folles now makes sense as it was for the writer or creator of that show. Whos name I cannot remember.

Anne Hathaway is there too, as she is going to be in Twelfth Night. She was introducing the performance from “Hair”. Hmmm I am not really too sure about Hair either, its not something I would rush out to see. Although it was amusing to see the cast jumping around the audience on some A List celebrities, haha.

Kristin Chenowith is a favorite with the Tony’s. She presented the best musical revival which went to Hair. I enjoyed the clip of Stockard Channing. What would a Tony Awards be without David Hyde Pierce ?!?!?! who was introduced by coming out for the second time tonight, hahahahaha.

YAY Billy Elliott won best actor(s) for all three of the Billy’s. Fantastic! Its Tony history as well, for 3 actors to be winning the Tony Award. Awwww they were all so cute as well, so shocked and overwhelmed and one of them was almost crying. They really had no idea what to say.  

Liza is also Mrs.Tony she is presenting the best musical award for the second year in a row . . . possibly even more times than that ?!?! I am guessing anyway. YAY of course Billy Elliott just had to win it, its incredible and from my neck of the woods in the North East England. LOVE IT LOVE IT. Geordie accents all round, haha. The kids just totally loved it.

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News: McKellen Celebrates 70Th In Style

Happy birthday Sir Ian !!! I think its just brilliant that the West End Show they went to see was La Cage Aux Folles. I went to see that in Feb and it was fantastic.

Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen celebrated his 70th birthday in flamboyant style – by taking 25 of his friends to see a West End show.

The legendary actor reached the milestone age on Monday and to mark the occasion he treated a group of his pals to an evening out in London to watch comedy musical La Cage aux Folles.

And McKellen received an extra special surprise during the performance as dancers singled him out for a kiss when they ventured into the audience during one scene, leaving the X-Men star with a red lipstick mark on his forehead.

After the show, the La Cage aux Folles cast presented him with a cake at a private party in the theatre.

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News: No Sequel For Calendar Girls

I couldnt really see how a sequel would have worked when it was based on a true story.

Dame Helen Mirren’s co-star in Calendar Girls has laughed off reports of a sequel to the hit film – insisting the movie has produced enough spin-offs already.

Penelope Wilton starred alongside Mirren in the surprise 2003 smash, which chronicled the real-life story of a group of Women’s Institute members who produced a nude calendar to raise money for charity.

The movie grossed a massive $93 million (£62 million) worldwide and was this year turned into a hit West End show, while an anniversary calendar has just hit the U.K. shelves – but Wilton is adamant there won’t be another film.

She says, “I know a new tenth anniversary calendar has just come out, and there is a stage show as well, but I don’t believe there should be a new film. The Calendar Girls brand has gone as far as it can go.”

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News: Paltrow Eyes Stage Return

I think thats really cool that Gwyneth is thinking about returing to the stage 🙂

Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to return to the London stage seven years after her last theatre performance.

The star has not been in a play since she starred in a 2002 production of Proof at the British capital’s Donmar Warehouse.

But Paltrow – who lives in London with her husband Chris Martin and their two kids – is reportedly keen to take a break form her movie career and tests her skills on the stage once again.

And the Iron Man star, who is currently filming a sequel to the blockbuster in Los Angeles, has reportedly chosen a new production of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters to make her comeback, according to British newspaper the Daily Mail.

The Three Sisters is being considered for a run at London’s Haymarket theatre next year.

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Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008) Review

I love Rent.

Continue reading “Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008) Review” →

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Film Version of Spring Awakening

As you may now know, I am a massive musicals fan. So the announcment that a new musical is going to be made, always goes does well with me. So recent tony award winning show (opening in London’s West End very soon, after a successful off West End preview) is going to be made into a movie. Thats very good I would say.

Terminator Salvation director McG, who got his start behind the camera on music videos, is in talks to direct and produce a film adaptation of the Tony-winning rock musical Spring Awakening. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he’s developing the project with original book and lyrics writer Steven Sater, who worked with musician Duncan Sheik to create the reimagining of Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play. The story centers on a bevy of male and female students coming of age, and explores homosexuality, S&M, loss of virginity, masturbation, and suicidal tendencies. 

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