All stories by Matthew Hemley on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

News: First Stage Awards winners from the Edinburgh fringe revealed by Matthew Hemley

Performers Benny Young and Olwen Fouere have been announced as the winners of the first round of The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Young was recognised…

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Business News: Wimbledon Studios goes into administration by Matthew Hemley

Wimbledon Studios Ltd, the company behind the TV studios where series such as the BBC comedy Episodes is filmed, has gone into administration. The company operates three film and television …

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:54AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 4, 2014

News: Paul Coxwell " A timeline of deceit by Matthew Hemley

Disgraced producer Paul Coxwell was today jailed for 39 months after pleading guilty to four charges, including fraud and breaching an order preventing him from being a company director. Bel…

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Production News: Corrie actor Charlie Condou to star in UK premiere of Next Fall by Matthew Hemley

Former Coronation Street actor Charlie Condou is to lead the cast of comedy drama Next Fall, which gets its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse in September. The show will be directed …

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:15AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 1, 2014

Production News: West End's The Lion King seen by more than 12 million people by Matthew Hemley

The West End production of The Lion King has now been seen by more than 12 million people, producers have claimed. According to Disney Theatrical Productions, which produces the musical, its…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:36AM[SHARE]

Production News: Altar Boyz musical to receive UK premiere in October by Matthew Hemley

Musical comedy Altar Boyz will make its UK premiere at the Greenwich Theatre in October. The show will be directed by Steven Dexter, who was behind Loserville in the West End. It is being pr…

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News: London Theatre Report " the lowdown by Matthew Hemley

London Theatre Report, the industry’s first major study into the size and scope of London Theatre, was published earlier this week. The report found that around £620 million is s…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:55AM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 31, 2014

News: Marlowe Theatre to become a producing house for the first time by Matthew Hemley

Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre is set to become a producing house for the first time, with a focus on new writing. For its first production " the British premiere of a new play that has yet…

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News: London is not the "centre of cultural ambition" " WYP artistic director by Matthew Hemley

West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director James Brining has defended the right of regional theatre to stage plays that are also being produced in London, claiming venues should not operate …

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:46AM[SHARE]

Hemley on TV: Memorable songs? Jukebox shows have made us lazy listeners by Matthew Hemley

Okay, okay " I know it's called Hemley on TV. But anyone who knows me will know I also have a (pretty big) passion for musical theatre, so this week's column sees me break from…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:45AM[SHARE]

News: London 2012's Martin Green to lead Hull City of Culture by Matthew Hemley

Martin Green, who was head of ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics in London, has been appointed chief executive of Hull: UK City of Culture. The appointment has been described as a "major coup"…

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News: Billy Elliot's Lee Hall calls for theatre funding to be protected by Matthew Hemley

Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall has urged MPs and future governments to protect funding for theatre, claiming that the industry's grassroots need particular safeguarding. The writer, whose adap…

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News: Stiles and Drewe warn against "overambitious" staging for new musicals by Matthew Hemley

Betty Blue Eyes creators George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have warned writers and producers of original musicals not to place too much emphasis on a show's production values, claiming the his…

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

News: New awards launched to honour classical theatre by Matthew Hemley

An awards ceremony dedicated entirely to classical theatre " which its organisers claim will be the first of its kind in the UK " will be launched in September. Created by theatre company Ow…

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Production News: Bakersfield Mist to close three weeks early by Matthew Hemley

Bakersfield Mist starring Kathleen Turner is to close three weeks earlier than planned, with producers blaming poor ticket sales among tourists. The show will close on August 9, instead of i…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:18AM[SHARE]

News: Concert to celebrate the work of Marvin Hamlisch by Matthew Hemley

Louise Dearman is to perform at a celebration of the work of Marvin Hamlisch, produced by the team behind the recent staging of Putting It Together at the St James Theatre. The Music of the&…

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News: London theatre takes £620m at box office in 2012/13, report finds by Matthew Hemley

Around £620 million was spent on London theatre tickets in 2012/13 by more than 22 million people, according to a major new report. The findings are included in London Theatre Report, whi…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:12AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 29, 2014

News: Andrew Lloyd Webber to sue over Jesus Christ Superstar US tour collapse by Matthew Hemley

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group is suing the promoter of the cancelled US tour of Jesus Christ Superstar in a bid to recover costs. The musical was due to begin touring the US in&#…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:34AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 28, 2014

News: London premiere of Rabbit Hole with Joanne Froggatt postponed by Matthew Hemley

The London premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole starring Joanne Froggatt has been postponed, with its producers blaming scheduling issues. Rabbit Hole had been due to open on Septe…

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Production News: Menier's Forbidden Broadway transfers to the West End by Matthew Hemley

Forbidden Broadway, currently running at the Menier Chocolate Factory, is to transfer to the West End. The show will move to the Vaudeville Theatre on September 9, and run until November 22,…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:35AM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 24, 2014

Production News: Bruce Forsyth to present variety show for BBC1 by Matthew Hemley

Bruce Forsyth is to front a new BBC variety show, which will see singers and comics pay tribute to people who inspired their own careers. Forsyth's presenting role will be his first since an…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:54AM[SHARE]

Hemley on TV: iPads and smartphones have turned us into TV drama dummies by Matthew Hemley

Tonight, the next episode of The Honourable Woman is on BBC2. I'll be watching it. Others will claim to – and yet, they won't actually be watching. Confused? Let me explain. I say I…

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News: Letters reveal cancer forced My Fair Lady lyricist to abandon Phantom by Matthew Hemley

Previously unpublished letters written by My Fair Lady lyricist Alan Jay Lerner just three months before his death in 1986 reveal his "desolation" at having to pull out of working on Andrew …

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News: Bill Kenwright blames 'get rich quick' attitude for show failures by Matthew Hemley

Producer Bill Kenwright has blamed a "get rich quick" mentality among inexperienced producers for the number of shows and tours that are leaving performers unpaid. His comments come as a tou…

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Production News: Of Mice and Men to become NT Live's first Broadway show by Matthew Hemley

Of Mice and Men, starring James Franco and Chris O'Dowd, is to become the first Broadway production to be broadcast as part of National Theatre Live. Also starring Leighton Meester and Jim N…

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News: Shelagh Delaney Day to honour 'Salford's daughter' by Matthew Hemley

A Taste of Honey playwright Shelagh Delaney is to be celebrated with an annual day named in her honour. Shelagh Delaney Day will take place on November 25 in Salford, where she was born, wit…

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Production News: David Bedella to star in Sweeney Todd at Twickenham Theatre by Matthew Hemley

David Bedella is to star as Sweeney in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd at new venue Twickenham Theatre from September. Bedella, who won an Olivier award in 2004 for Jerry Springer the Opera,…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:52AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

News: Ian McKellen criticises low pay for actors by Matthew Hemley

Ian McKellen has claimed actors are having to turn down roles because of the poor pay they are offered, and has called for a living wage to be implemented for performers. McKellen said that …

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News: BBC Wales and National Theatre Wales launch second £10,000 writing prize by Matthew Hemley

Screenwriters Andrew Davies and Lucy Gannon are to judge the second Wales Drama Award, a £10,000 prize for writers aimed at finding new talent for theatre and television. The biennial awa…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:56AM[SHARE]

Production News: Casting announced for David Baddiel's Infidel musical by Matthew Hemley

Comedian Kev Orkian is to lead the cast of David Baddiel's musical The Infidel. Based on the film of the same name, the musical will open at Theatre Royal Stratford East in October. It will&…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:52AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 21, 2014

Production News: Bonnie Langford to lead cast of Spamalot tour by Matthew Hemley

Bonnie Langford, Joe Pasquale and Todd Carty are to star in a UK tour of the Monty Python musical Spamalot. The musical will tour from January 15, 2015, when it opens at the Manchester Opera…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:10PM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off