Tag: The Other Palace

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Be More Chill announces London extension at The Other Palace

Be More Chill Announces London Extension

The producers of the UK premiere of Joe Iconis’ mind-bendingly fun musical, Be More Chill, which premiered to great critical and popular acclaim last week, are delighted to announce a six-week extension.  It will now run at The Other Palace in London until Sunday 14 June 2020, making it the longest running musical at London’s The Other Palace.

‘Making my London debut as a musical theatre writer has long been a dream of mine and my experience with Be More Chill at The Other Palace has exceeded all expectations. I have been blown away by the response of audiences and the theatre community here in the UK and am ecstatic that we will be extending our run until 14 June. How thrilling that more people will now get to experience this production I am so proud of, populated by a genius cast of British unicorns. I look forward to returning this summer to see those brilliant creatures work their misfit magic once again.‘

Joe Iconis, Composer & Lyricist

Scott Folan plays the central character of Jeremy Heere, with Blake Patrick Anderson as Michael Mell and Miracle Chance as Christine Canigula.  Stewart Clarke plays The Squip, Eloise Davies is Brooke Lohst, Christopher Fry plays Mr Heere and Mr Reyes, James Hameed plays Rich Goranski, Renee Lamb is Jenna Rolan, Millie O’Connell is Chloe Valentine and Miles Paloma plays Jake Dillinger.  Understudies are:  Gabriel Hinchcliffe, Eve Norris and Jon Tsouras.

Millie O’Connell (Chloe Valentine), Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Be More Chill is based on the groundbreaking novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini.  With original music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz.  

Be More Chill tells the atypical love story of a boy, a girl … and the supercomputer inside the boy’s head guiding him every step of the way. The boy is desperately trying to fit in. The girl’s longing to be noticed. And the supercomputer just wants to take over the world.

Renee Lamb (Jenna Rolan), Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Since the 2015 Original Cast Recording was released by Ghostlight Records, millions of people streamed the album and formed a passionate community of Be More Chill fans, leading the musical to receive a Broadway production, and now this new London production.

When the 2019 Broadway Cast Recording was released by Ghostlight Records, it debuted at #2 on the Top Cast Albums Chart. Songs from the musical have now accumulatively garnered over 350 million streams, with the breakout track Michael In The Bathroom amassing over 31 million streams and 8 million YouTube views alone. Tumblr has ranked Be More Chill as the #2 most talked-about musical on their platform, behind only Hamilton.

Scott Folan (Jeremy), Blake Patrick Anderson (Michael Mell), Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Joining Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz on the creative team are director Stephen Brackett, choreographer Chase Brock, set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, sound designer Ryan Rumery and video designer Alex Basco Koch with wigs by Dave Bova. Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen, vocal arrangements by Emily Marshall, UK Musical Direction by Louisa Green and UK casting is by Will Burton.  

Jerry Goehring and Lisa Dozier King are Executive Producers for the UK Production of Be More Chill.

Book tickets on The Other Palace’s website and find out more about the show on Be More Chill’s website.

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News

Meet The UK Cast of Be More Chill at The Other Palace

Casting for the UK premiere of Be More Chill, the mind-bendingly fun, smash hit Broadway musical was announced today.

The leads roles of Jeremy Heere will be played by Scott Folan (recent credits include Mother of Him at Park Theatre, Damned By Despair at the National Theatre) and Michael Mell by Blake Patrick Anderson (previous musicals credits include Straight Dave in Pet Shop Boys’ Closer to Heaven and Starlight Express). 

Two former Queens join the Be More Chill company in the shape of  Renee Lamb and Millie O’Connell.  They both starred in one of Britain’s most celebrated and popular new musicals:  Six: The Musical.  Renee played Catherine of Aragon in the original Arts Theatre production, and Millie played Anne Boleyn at the Arts Theatre.

Also announced today are:  Miracle Chance as Christine Canigula, Stewart Clarke as The Squip, Eloise Davies as Brooke Lohst, James Hameed as Rich Goranski, Miles Paloma as Jake Dillinger, Christopher Fry as Mr Heere and Mr Reyes and Eve Norris (swing) with further company members to be announced.

Be More Chill, which premieres at The Other Palace on Wednesday 12 February 2020, is based on the groundbreaking novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini.

With original music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, Be More Chill is an international sensation – when the 2015 Original Cast Recording was released by Ghostlight Records,  millions of people streamed the album and formed a passionate community of Be More Chill fans, ultimately leading the musical to receive a Broadway production.

When the 2019 Broadway Cast Recording was subsequently released by Ghostlight Records, it debuted at #2 on the Top Cast Albums Chart. Songs from the musical have accumulatively garnered over 318 million streams, with the breakout track Michael In The Bathroom amassing over 31 million streams and 8 million YouTube views alone. Tumblr has ranked Be More Chill as the #2 most talked-about musical on their platform, behind only Hamilton.

This new production of Be More Chill will run at The Other Palace through until Sunday 3 May 2020, with a press night on Tuesday 18 February at 7:00pm. 

Be More Chill tells the atypical love story of a boy, a girl….and the supercomputer inside the boy’s head guiding him every step of the way. The boy is desperately trying to fit in. The girl’s longing to be noticed. And the supercomputer just wants to take over the world.

The Tony Award-nominated score bursts with addictively catchy songs including More than Survive, Be More Chill and the hugely popular Michael in the Bathroom.

Be More Chill was commissioned by and premiered at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey in 2015, had a limited run, and Ghostlight Records released an original cast recording.  In 2017, the number of online listeners to the recording started growing, with fans creating animated YouTube videos, art fiction, blogs and vlogs.

In 2018, the show’s creators thought it was time to bring it back – resulting in an ‘off-Broadway production’ and this year’s Broadway run at the Lyceum Theatre.  Its runaway success continues with this London premiere at The Other Palace and a film adaptation which is currently underway.

Joining Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz on the creative team are director Stephen Brackett, choreographer Chase Brock, set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, sound designer Ryan Rumery and projection designer Alex Basco Koch with wigs by Dave Bova. Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen, vocal arrangements by Emily Marshall, UK Musical Direction by Louisa Green and UK casting is by Will Burton.  

Jerry Goehring and Lisa Dozier King are Executive Producers for the UK Production of Be More Chill.

Find out more at bemorechillmusical.com

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Everything Changes News

Everything Changes (Week 1/4/19 – 7/4/19)

It’s time again for Everything Changes! This is the weekly feature that keeps you informed of shows that are opening and closing in the West End and Off-West End.

This week features Scary Bikers, which is opening at Trafalgar Studios 2, Nigel Slater’s Toast, which starts its run at The Other Palace, and the Donmar Warehouse revival of Sweet Charity.

Opening Up!

Scary Bikers – Trafalgar Studios 2 (from 2nd April)


Scary Bikers by John Godber opens at Trafalgar Studios 2 on 2nd April.
  • Location: Trafalgar Studios 2
  • Dates: 2nd Apr to 27th Apr 2019
  • Cast: John Godber & Jane Thornton
  • Creatives: John Godber (Author & Director), John Godber Company & Theatre Royal Wakefield

A new comedy about life, love and staying on your bike!

When retired miner Don and former private school teacher Carol meet by chance after both suffering a loss, they thought they’d found a new beginning. But a bike ride through Europe would test their budding romance, and the road to love is rocky when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

Join them on their hilarious and heartfelt journey, as they reconcile the past, debate the present and worry about the future. Whether they’re saddle sore in Southampton, blistered in Bordeaux or frazzled in Florence, one thing is for sure – it takes two to tandem!

Starring the double BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning partnership of John Godber and Jane Thornton, whose feature film Last Laugh was released October 2017.

Nigel Slater’s Toast – The Other Palace (from 4th April)

Toast starts performances at The Other Palace from 4th April.
  • Location: The Other Palace
  • Dates: 4th Apr to 3rd Aug 2019
  • Cast: Giles Cooper (Nigel Slater), Lizzie Muncey (Mum), Stephen Ventura (Dad), Marie Lawrence (Joan) & Jake Ferretti (Josh).
  • Creatives: Nigel Slater (Book), Henry Filloux-Bennett (Adaptation), PW Productions (The Lowry production) & Jonnie Riordan (Director)

Based on the British Book Awards Biography of the Year, Toast is the story of Nigel Slater’s childhood, told through the tastes and smells he grew up with.

From making the perfect sherry trifle to waging a war over cakes and from the pressured playground politics of sweets to the rigid rules of restaurant dining, this is a story of love, loss and… toast.

Sweet Charity – Donmar Warehouse (from 6th April)

Sweet Charity starts performances at Donmar Warehouse from 6th April.
  • Location: Donmar Warehouse
  • Dates: 6th Apr to 8th Jun 2019
  • Cast:
  • Arthur Darvill (Oscar Lindquist), Anne-Marie Duff (Charity Hope Valentine), Lizzy Connolly (Nickie), Lauren Drew, Jo Eaton-Kent, Will Haswell, Charlotte Jaconelli, Stephen Kennedy (Herman), Debbie Kurup (Helene), Martin Marquez (Vittorio Vidal), Ryan Reid, Amy Ellen Richardson (Ursula March), Danielle Steers (Carmen) & Shaq Taylor
  • Creatives:
  • Neil Simon (Book), Cy Coleman (Music), Dorothy Fields (Lyrics), Bob Fosse (Original Choreographer), Donmar Warehouse (Producer), Josie Rourke (Director), Wayne McGregor (Choreographer), Robert Jones (Design), Gareth Valentine (Musical Supervisor), Mark Henderson (Lighting), Nick Lidster (for Autograph) (Sound), Larry Blank (Orchestration), Mark Cumberland (Orchestration), Ralph Burns (Original Orchestration), Finn Ross (Video Design) & David Grindrod (CDG – Casting Director).

“The minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a man of distinction, a real Big Spender…”

New York, 1967. Charity Hope Valentine is a dance hall hostess who “runs her a heart like a hotel – you’ve got men checking in and out all the time.” At the raw end of a long line of users and losers, she meets Oscar, a mild-mannered tax accountant, and Charity Hope Valentine once again puts her faith into love.

Josie Rourke returns to the work of Cy Coleman, who wrote the music for City of Angels, with the Broadway classic Sweet Charity. With choreography from the world-renowned Wayne McGregor, Rourke reunites with Anne-Marie Duff as Charity, and Arthur Darvill makes his Donmar debut as Oscar, for her farewell production as Donmar Artistic Director.

Another Opening Of Another Show

  • Where is Peter Rabbit? (Theatre Royal Haymarket, 3 Apr to 28 Apr)
  • Michael Starring Ben (London Palladium, 6 Apr)
  • Sunday Encounters – Anne Reid interviews Sir Derek Jacobi (Theatre Royal Haymarket, 7 Apr)
  • Ivan Putrov – Against The Stream (London Coliseum, 7 Apr)
  • Jekyll and Hyde (Bridewell Theatre, 2 Apr to 6 Apr)
  • Rumours of Fleetwood Mac – 40 Years of Rumours (Cadogan Hall, 2 Apr to 3 Apr)
  • Mouthpiece (Soho Theatre, 2 Apr to 4 May)
  • Seven and Half Years – The Musical (Bridewell Theatre, 2 Apr to 12 Apr)
  • Hush Now (Barons Court Theatre, 2 Apr to 6 Apr)
  • The Noises (Old Red Lion, 2 Apr to 20 Apr)
  • Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (The Hope Theatre, 2 Apr to 20 Apr)
  • She Stoops to Conquer (LAMDA, 2 Apr to 11 Apr)
  • Keep Watching (The New Diorama Theatre, 2 Apr to 4 May)
  • Herstoric – The Year Without a Summer/A Mother’s War: Two New Hour-Long Musicals (Drayton Arms Theatre, 2 Apr to 6 Apr)
  • Elephant in the Room (Camden People’s Theatre, 2 Apr to 20 Apr)
  • Among Angels (Courtyard Theatre, 3 Apr to 27 Apr)
  • Deposit (Tower Theatre, 3 Apr to 13 Apr)
  • Intra Muros (Park Theatre, 3 Apr to 4 May)
  • The Cherry Orchard (LAMDA, 3 Apr to 11 Apr)
  • Pah-La (Royal Court – Jerwood Theatre, 3 Apr to 27 Apr)
  • Alleyne Dance – The Other Side of Me (The Place Theatre, 3 Apr)
  • A Land Without Jasmine (BAC – Battersea Arts Centre, 4 Apr to 6 Apr)
  • Too Many Men (Tristan Bates Theatre, 4 Apr)
  • Albert Quesada & Zoltán Vakulya – OneTwoThreeOneTwo (The Lilian Baylis Theatre, 4 Apr to 5 Apr)
  • Wow Everything is Amazing (BAC – Battersea Arts Centre, 4 Apr to 12 Apr)
  • Pomona (LAMDA, 4 Apr to 11 Apr)
  • So Here We Are (LAMDA, 5 Apr to 11 Apr)
  • The Magic of Motown – Reach Out (Cadogan Hall, 5 Apr)
  • A German Life (Bridge Theatre, 6 Apr to 11 May)
  • Dismantle This Room (Royal Court – Jerwood Theatre, 6 Apr to 27 Apr)
  • Oral (Camden People’s Theatre, 6 Apr to 7 Apr)
  • Maz Jobrani (Cadogan Hall, 6 Apr)
  • Home (Southwark Playhouse, 7 Apr)
  • Little Potatoes (Old Red Lion, 7 Apr to 8 Apr)
  • Hancock’s Half Hour (Leicester Square Theatre, 7 Apr)

Happy Trails!

Violet, Undetectable & Billy Bishop Goes To War are three shows that will close this week.

3 Apr

  • Rumours of Fleetwood Mac – 40 Years of Rumours (Cadogan Hall)
  • Alleyne Dance – The Other Side of Me (The Place Theatre)

4 Apr

  • Too Many Men (Tristan Bates Theatre)

5 Apr

  • Albert Quesada & Zoltán Vakulya – OneTwoThreeOneTwoOlivier de Sagazan – Transfiguration (The Lilian Baylis Theatre)
  • The Magic of Motown – Reach Out (Cadogan Hall)

6 Apr

  • Michael Starring Ben (London Palladium)
  • VIOLET (Charing Cross Theatre)
  • The Crown Dual (The King’s Head Theatre)
  • Undetectable (The King’s Head Theatre)
  • After Edward (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre)
  • Jekyll and Hyde (Bridewell Theatre)
  • Hush Now (Barons Court Theatre)
  • Oranges & Ink (Tristan Bates Theatre)
  • Romance Romance (Above The Stag Theatre)
  • Herstoric – The Year Without a Summer/A Mother’s War: Two New Hour-Long Musicals (Drayton Arms Theatre)
  • A Land Without Jasmine (BAC – Battersea Arts Centre)
  • Half Me, Half You (Tristan Bates Theatre)
  • The Son (The Kiln)
  • Maz Jobrani (Cadogan Hall)
  • The Mission: Occupy Mars (BAC – Battersea Arts Centre)
  • Othello (Union Theatre)
  • Billy Bishop Goes to War (Southwark Playhouse)

7 Apr

  • Sunday Encounters – Anne Reid interviews Sir Derek Jacobi (Theatre Royal Haymarket)
  • Ivan Putrov – Against The Stream (London Coliseum)
  • Goodbye Norma Jeane (Above the Stag Theatre)
  • Home (Southwark Playhouse)
  • Oral (Camden People’s Theatre)
  • Hancock’s Half Hour (Leicester Square Theatre)
  • Little Potatoes (Old Red Lion)

This week isn’t necessarily a big week of changes, especially not in the West End. There is an exciting addition, however, in the form of the Donmar Warehouse revival of Sweet Charity. It will be interesting to see whether this production will get the same fortune as Donmar’s Sweat, and get a transfer after its run.

This week we we will sadly say goodbye to Violet at the Charing Cross Theatre as it will soon be making its journey to Japan, as it was a co-production between the UK and Japan. It seems unlikely that the production will be making a return to the UK so make sure you book your tickets before it leaves the Off-West End venue.

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Everything Changes News

Everything Changes (Week 7/1/19 – 13/1/19)

It’s our first ever “Everything Changes” feature! This is the weekly feature that keeps you informed of shows that are opening and closing in the UK theatre scene and yes, it’s a reference to Waitress (which is opening in the West End this February!).

Opening Up!

Coming Clean – Trafalgar Studios 2 (from 9th January)

Coming Clean opens at Trafalgar Studios 2 on 9th January.
  • Location: Trafalgar Studios 2
  • Dates: 9th Jan to 2nd Feb 2019
  • Cast: Lee Knight (Tony), Stanton Plummer-Cambridge (Greg), Tom Lambert (Robert) & Elliot Hadley (William/Jurgen)
  • Creatives: Kevin Elyot (Author), King’s Head Theatre (Producer), Making Productions Limited (Producer), RGM Productions (Producer), Adam Spreadbury-Maher (Director), Nic Farman (Lighting) & Amanda Mascarenhas (Design)

Following a critically acclaimed run at the London’s King’s Head Theatre, the producers behind the Olivier nominated La Boheme transfer the smash-hit, sell-out play by Kevin Elyot, writer of the landmark drama My Night With Reg, transfers to Trafalgar Studios 2 this January.

Tony and Greg seem to have love all figured out. They’re in a committed relationship but with room for a little more on the side whenever it takes their fancy. The only rule? Never sleep with the same man twice.

When drop-dead gorgeous Robert walks into their lives, the fragile foundations of their sexual contract are thrown into jeopardy.

Funny, fresh and packed with razor-sharp wit, Coming Clean questions the nature of fidelity and the limits of love.

Songs for Nobodies – Ambassadors Theatre (from 9th Jan)

Songs for Nobodies transfers to the West End on 9th Jan
  • Location: Ambassadors Theatre
  • Dates: 9th Jan to 23rd Feb 2019
  • Cast: Bernadette Robinson
  • Creatives: Joanna Murray-Smith (Author) & Simon Phillips (Director)

After a stunning run at Wilton’s Music Hall, and after overwhelming demand, Songs for Nobodies is transferring to the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited run starting 9 January. This one woman show is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

For 90 minutes, accompanied only by live musicians, Bernadette Robinson singlehandedly tells the tales of five everyday women whose lives are changed when they briefly encounter fame and the legendary singers who had such an impact on them. Bringing to life powerhouse voices across vastly different genres of music, Bernadette Robinson has a versatility that is truly astonishing. Watch as she brings Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas to life as you listen.

Bernadette Robinson’s talent is nearly unbelievable so don’t miss your chance to see it for yourself.

Violet – Charing Cross Theatre (from 12th Jan)

Violet opens at Charing Cross Theatre on 12th Jan
  • Location: Charing Cross Theatre
  • Dates: 12th Jan to 6th Apr 2019
  • Cast: Kaisa Hammarlund (Violet), Matthew Harve (Monty), Jay Marsh (Flick), Simbi Akande, Angelica Allen, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Keiron Crook, James Gant, Danny Michaels, Janet Mooney, Amy Mepham, Rebecca Nardin & Madeleine Sellman (Young Violet)
  • Creatives: Jeanine Tesori (Music), Brian Crawley (Book & Lyrics), Steven M Levy (Producer), Vaughan Williams (for Charing Cross Theatre Productions Ltd) (Producer), Umeda Arts Theater Co Ltd (Osaka Japan) (Producer), Shuntaro Fujita (Director), Cressida Carre (Choreographer), Morgan Large (Design), Jonathan Lipman (Costume), Howard Hudson (Lighting), Andrew Johnson (Sound) & Dan Jackson (Musical Director)

1964. Somewhere between North Carolina and Oklahoma, we find Violet, a young woman who was facially disfigured as a child. She hopes her life savings will bring her a miracle halfway across the country. Reflecting on her childhood, and shaped by the reactions of the people she encounters, Violet embarks on a life-changing personal journey.

Based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts.

Another Opening Of Another Show

  • The War of The Worlds (The New Diorama Theatre, 8 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Anomaly (Old Red Lion, 8 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Franz Kafka – Apparatus (White Bear, 8 to 26 Jan)
  • In Lipstick (Pleasance, 8 to 27 Jan)
  • In Conversation with Graham Norton (The Hope Theatre, 8 to 26 Jan)
  • Two of a Kind (Bread and Roses, 8 to 12 Jan)
  • Salt (Theatre503, 9 to 10 Jan)
  • Rosenbaum’s Rescue (Park Theatre, 9 Jan)
  • Approaching Empty (The Kiln, 9 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Stop and Search (Arcola, 9 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Outlying Islands (The King’s Head Theatre, 9 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Original Death Rabbit (Jermyn Street Theatre, 9 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Valhalla (White Bear, 9 Jan to 10 Jan)
  • The Daughter-In-Law (Arcola, 10 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Olivier de Sagazan – Transfiguration (The Lilian Baylis Theatre, 10 to 11 Jan)
  • The Murder Express (Pedley Street Station, 11 Jan to 31 Mar)
  • Gone (Theatre503, 11 to 13 Jan)
  • Snow Baby (Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 12 Jan)
  • Murder, She Didn’t Write (Leicester Square Theatre, 13 Jan to 19 May)
  • Extra Virgin (Above the Stag Theatre, 13 Jan to 10 Feb)
  • I’m Sorry But… (Bread and Roses, 13 to 14 Jan)
  • Waiting for Curry (The King’s Head Theatre, 13 to 14 Jan)

Happy Trails!

Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls & The Band are a few of the shows that are closing this week.

8 Jan

  • Cuttings (Theatre503)

9 Jan

  • The Tell-Tale Heart (Dorfman Theatre (National Theatre))

10 Jan

  • Salt (Theatre503)
  • Valhalla (White Bear)

11 Jan

  • Olivier de Sagazan – Transfiguration (The Lilian Baylis Theatre)

12 Jan

  • A Christmas Carol (Arts)
  • Dreamgirls (Savoy)
  • Hole (Royal Court – Jerwood Theatre)
  • Kinky Boots (Adelphi)
  • Mother Goose Cracks One Out! (Above the Stag Theatre)
  • Snow Baby (Half Moon Young People’s Theatre)
  • The Band (Theatre Royal Haymarket)
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (Drayton Arms Theatre)
  • Two of a Kind (Bread and Roses)
  • Uncle Vanya (Hampstead Theatre)

13 Jan

  • Gone (Theatre503)
  • Murder For Two (The Other Palace)
  • Room on the Broom (Lyric)
  • Sherlock Homeless – The Anatomy of Rubbish (Barons Court Theatre)
  • Snow White at The London Palladium (London Palladium)
  • Swan Lake (London Coliseum)

It is going to be a crazy week with a lot of long-running shows leaving the West End this weekend. With last weekend’s closings of Bat Out Of Hell, Chicago and 42nd Street, followed by this weekend’s closings of A Christmas Carol, Dreamgirls, Kinky Boots, The Band and Snow White…well, the West End is going to look a lot different!

This will also mean that the West End will start to see signs of new shows arriving with new marquees for shows such as Come From Away at the Phoenix, 9 to 5 at the Savoy, Six at the Arts, Waitress at the Adelphi and Only Fools and Horses at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.