I used the lyrics “It’s New Year’s Eve and hopes are high, dance one year in, kiss one goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard to introduce my look back at the musical theatre year on New Year’s Eve last year, and it seems more than appropriate to do so once again. I say more than appropriate because during 2013 I had the unexpected opportunity throughout the year to see all four London Norma Desmonds live on stage. The original Norma, Patti Lupone, returned to London to appear in a series o...

“It’s New Year’s Eve and hopes are high, dance one year in, kiss one goodbye” according to Sunset Boulevard. And as I prepare to kiss 2012 goodbye, now seems as good a time as any to look back at some of the theatrical highs and lows of the past year, some of which I haven’t had opportunity of featuring on Musicast till now, and to look forward to some of the openings already announced for 2013. Although 2012 has been a bit of a mixed year, with a lack of big London openings especia...

Drum roll please! The nominations for the Olivier Awards 2012 have been announced at long last. Matilda, Betty Blue Eyes, Ghost, London Road and Shrek will battle it out for Best New Musical (with Matilda garnering an incredible ten nominations in total, including Bertie Carvel for Best Actor in a Musical), and Singin in the Rain, Crazy for You, South Pacific and The Wizard of Oz are in contention for Best Musical Revival. Legally Blonde star and 2011 Olivier winner Sheridan Smith is up for B...

Christmas is traditionally a time when theatres across the land present an annual pantomime and this year is no exception. Many of these pantomimes feature actors from the world of musical theatre – they may not always be headlining in their respective shows, but they are certainly out there displaying their craft during what is always a fun time of year. Amongst the headliners, look out for John Barrowman in Robinson Crusoe with The Krankies at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow (until 7 Jan)...

Mark Evans is obviously a man who enjoys wearing different hats. He has been climbing the ranks in the musical theatre leading man stakes for some years now – an early career role as Troy in High School Musical was swiftly followed by the lead role of Curly in UK Productions’ national tour of Oklahoma last year, to much critical and popular acclaim. He also gained national public recognition for his runner-up status in the national search for a Eurovision star in 2009, Your Country Needs ...

One of the most remarkable and noteworthy young musical theatre performers of recent years is currently out on tour across the UK and Ireland as Julie Atherton takes on the role of Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act. The show is currently at the Manchester Opera House and continues touring until July 2012. Having enjoyed a West End run at the London Palladium with Patina Miller (now recreating the lead role of Deloris on Broadway) and costarring Sheila Hancock and Ian Lavindar, the tour of Sist...

After a spring and summer which has seen quite a few new West End openings (Ghost at the Piccadilly and Shrek at Drury Lane in their midst), there are still some major shows to look forward to as autumn approaches (even if I’m writing this in the final gasps of a UK post-summer heatwave). Top of my list this autumn is Matilda the Musical which the RSC are doing at the Cambridge Theatre. It has, in fact, seen off the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago, which had been doing okay business at the C...