WHAT TO SEE IN LONDON

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:00pm

I'm not too on top of the theatre scene in London. Any suggestions for something wonderful that I probably won't see in LA or NY? i.e. my friend suggested Wicked and I said "are you insane we can see it in LA in 3 months"

THANKS!!!

[coolphantom919]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:02pm

If you like QUEEN, I'd consider WE WILL ROCK YOU!!!

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:05pm

Thanks! wasn't that playing in Vegas or opening in Vegas at some point?

[nshreeve]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:08pm

BILLY ELLIOT
SOUND OF MUSIC
MARY POPPINS - CANT BEAT THE LONDON PRODUCTION

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:15pm

BILLY ELLIOT
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (at the National)
PORGY & BESS
FROST/NIXON
A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN (w/Kevin Spacey)
ROCK 'N ROLL
BENT (w/ Alan Cumming)
DONKEY'S YEARS

[snl89]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:16pm

Sorry, I just have to say this real quick- um, if you're going any time before Dec 30th, PLEASE, go see wicked ohhh all right, if you like- have a strong DISlike against idina, then maybe dont, cause its not worth it, but I guarantee you, if you DO like idina at all, wicked any place else will NOT be the same as wicked in london :) And honestly, I'm not positive on this but I thiink tickets can be pretty inexpensive, so to see Idina Menzel in wicked (which chances are she'll never do again), why the heck not!? lol. But... thats just me.. but I felt like I needed to say it just because I feel like anyone going to london in that time frame needs to go see wicked- because its not fair to the people like me, who would give ANYTHING to go, but cant because of money issues, not to! haha

ok, that sayed:
I've heard AMAZING things about Billy Elliot- and that would be my number one show to see after wicked if I were going

I'd also suggest Mary Poppins, if not simply for the yummyness that is Gavin Creel! lol, but no, it sounds like a really cute show

aaand honestly I dont really know much about other shows, but those are just the ones I'd be most interested in!

[algy]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:26pm

Donkey's Years is good if you like comedy,

Sound of Music is being reviewed tonight (I think) so you can see what you think of the reviews on that tomorrow

Mary Poppins is interesting,
Billy Eliot is meant to be good

Sadly my favourite show of the year - Sunday in the Park with George has already gone, and my other choices are US imports which you may have already seen - Avenue Q, etc

My next trip will either be Spamalot or Caroline, or Change

[tdprestridge]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:26pm

I had a chance to go to London last year and see a few shows and I highly recommend Billy Elliot. While I realize it will eventually make its way to NY as well, it is a London created show and it outstanding...one of the best theatre experiences I've had in a while...you won't be disappointed...As far as Wicked is concerned...Idina was lovely....I am forever glad I got to see it, but seeing it without Idina, while not as good, will still be a great experience for you in LA. Don't pass up the chance to see Billy Elliot before they cut it up to bring it here!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:29pm

Billy Elliot
The Sound of Music
Porgy and Bess (new musical theatre adaptation)
Blood Brothers
A Moon for the Misbegotten (with Kevin Spacey)
39 Steps (fun sendup of Hitchcock film)
Donkey's Years (new Frayn play)
Rock 'n' Roll (new Stoppard play)
Frost/Nixon (with Frank Langella)
Bent (starring Alan Cumming)
A Voyage Round My Father (starring Derek Jacobi)
Woman in Black
Evita

[CarolynW]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:34pm

"Sound of Music" press night is Nov. 15th.

Preview reveiws have been postive about Connie, I have not read any with the new Capt. I did get to hear an audio clip of Connie singing "My Favorite Things" and she sound very good. Photos and clips will be online soon for SOM. I think tonight is the benefit show (or that might have been last ngiht).

If I were going I would see "EVITA," "Billy Elliot," and "Porgy and Bess" I hear they are all good.


Yours,

Carolyn

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:35pm

BENT closed early, amazingly.

I dunno...London....Shakespeare, maybe?

Truck on up to Stratford and see the RSC do WINTER'S TALE or PERICLES.

Updated On: 11/14/06 at 03:35 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:41pm

BENT doesn't close until December 9th, though it was booking until January 13th. Odd that the producers would close it right before the tourists come in for the holidays.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:50pm

Some friends of mine caught Blood Brothers while we were there in April and LOVED it!

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:50pm

We Will Rock You is closed...no? and it sucks.

Please don't see Blood Brothers...it was the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.


most anything else is fantastic....a lot of my favorite stuff is closed now (I was there from Jan - May this year)....


I would suggest Sunday in the Park, though.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 3:59pm

WE WILL ROCK YOU is still open (and booking through next year)

SUNDAY closed months ago -- I was at the last performance in early September.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:01pm

Blood Brothers is my favorite musical I have seen in London. I also saw it on Broadway. My whole family found it very moving. We all loved it.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:03pm

See Either -

Blood Brothers - Amazing show that will most likely never go on again in USA.

We Will Rock You - Only if you are a Queen fan.

Avenue Q - The London cast is amazing. Even if you have seen it already it is worth going to see this cast as they are top notch.

[BeInspired2006]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:41pm

well i dont mean to sound like an overobsessive freak but yeah billy elliot is just amazing! the boys in it are soo brilliant and they dance so well, i was just bedazzled watching it! the whole cast is amazing and so if you're going to see a show, go see that one! ooh and try to get it when Leon Cooke or Colin Bates are performing... because theyre by far the best dancers!

[kec]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:45pm

See Les Mis -- the actor currently playing Valjean, John Owen Jones, is outstanding, as is the actor playing Javert, Hans Peter Janssens. I also endorse Mary Poppins.

If you're going to be in the UK in early December, the RSC will be doing a musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor, with Dame Judi Dench as Mistress Quickly, and Simon Callow as Falstaff. It starts previews December 2.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:47pm

I thought Hans Peter Janssens was actually kind of static and creepy, with his big eyes. Gorgeous voice, though.

See Evita, definitely.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 4:52pm

1) Billy Elliot (MUST SEE!)
2) Wicked (if you like the show cuz the experience is just amazing!)
3) Caroline Or Change
4) Avenue Q/Merry Wives with Judi Dench
5) Mary Poppins

[Jade]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 6:04pm

I haven't seen it, but apparently Dirty Dancing is the hottest ticket around at the moment. (I don't think it's a musical, though).

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 6:17pm

Thanks for all this. This is great.

[Weez]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 6:39pm

I cannot stress this strongly enough - 'THE WOMAN IN BLACK'!!!!!

I've seen a lot of London productions this year, and that's the one that stuck with me most. Yup, more than the first night of previews of 'Wicked' and 'The Last Five Years' with bonus Jason Robert Brown Q&A session. Absolutely terrifying. You MUST see it.

[cello_dude]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 7:45pm

go see Guys and Dolls!