London West End Musicals Opening in 2010
News and Rumours about Musical Shows in the West End
There are plenty of rumours about musical shows that may be opening in London’s West End theatre district in 2010. Here are a couple of productions that seem fairly likely to materialize, and a host of others that have been mentioned here and there.
New London West End Musicals for 2010
The Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park has definitely announced a run of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods, which has a book by James Lepine. It’s a darkish, revisionist pastiche of several well known fairytales, including the stories of Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood. The running dates are August 5 to September 11, 2010.
Also somewhat certain is Ghost the Musical, a new musical adaptation by Bruce Joel Rubin of the 1990 film, for which he wrote the screenplay. Music and lyrics are by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard – and one would imagine that “Unchained Melody” will have to be worked in as well. For those who don’t recall the steamy supernatural Demi Moore-Patrick Swayze romance movie, it’s about a ghost who tries to protect his wife from the man who murdered him, with the help of an unwilling medium. The dates and location have not yet been announced.
Sequels to Popular Musicals
The longest-running show on Broadway and second-longest running in the West End may soon have a sequel; will they call it Phantom of the Opera II? It has been whispered that Queen’s cheerful future-dystopian fairytale We Will Rock You may also get the sequel treatment.
Other Musical Shows That May Open in the West End in 2010
- 20th Century Boy is to be based on the story of former T-Rex front man Marc Bolan; it's apparently written by record producer Nicky Graham, with direction and choreography by Gary Lloyd.
- There have been jukebox musicals based on the songs of Queen, ABBA, Billy Joel and a host of others. Rumour would have it that the Bee Gees also have a show coming.
- Time to rev up those scooters! Fans of all things Mod will be excited to hear that Pete Townshend’s rock opera Quadrophenia, which has been touring the UK, may settle into a West End run for 2010. The final tour performance was in Coventry on October 3, 2009,
- It’s almost surprising that the romantic French epic The Count of Monte Cristo hasn’t already inspired a musical, but there may be one coming from composer Michel Legrand (who penned the score of the 1970s Three Musketeers films), Richard Bean and Don Black.
- Devil's Advocate - The Musical will have a book by Andrew Neiderman and jazz music by Sarif Tribou; it will be produced by Rival Theatre Company in association with BoyBrown Entertainment.
- Finally, crystal balls attuned to the far-distant future have revealed hazy possibilities of a third life for the Bridget Jones saga in 2011; it’s been a book and a movie – why not a musical too? Author Helen Fielding is said to have penned a stage adaptation. One wonders whether Colin Firth might be persuaded to sing in it.
To find out how to buy tickets to London West End musicals, visit LondonTheatre.co.uk. Read on to find out more about Broadway musicals in New York, Chicago or Toronto.
Source:
London Theatre Ticket Booth
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