An update on my theatrical wedding plans, plus my reviews of Jesus Christ Superstar and Fun Home at the Royal Exchange
OHMYGOD HEY!
Welcome back to my weekly collation of the various reviews, opinion pieces and theatre news updates I’ve shared across multiple social media platforms.
Once again, the last week of theatregoing proved to me a quieter one than most for me, though I did get to see the opening night performances of one of my most anticipated shows of the year: Fun Home at the Royal Exchange, as well as one of the nation’s most anticipated: Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.
After teasing news to come, I can now dramatically reveal that the reason behind the slight reduction in theatrical scheduling is planning that has been ramping up behind the scenes for my own wedding to my equally stagey partner Aeron James. As discussed in more detail in one of the pieces below we have been curating a deeply on-brand ceremony, at a theatre to be named after the fact, in 2027. Those invested can look forward to some coverage of the day itself and its inevitable theatricality as well as a vlog depicting the extensive honeymoon (to which followers are welcome, though not expected, to donate in lieue of traditional gifts – after all, what would we do with a kitchen appliance?).
In searching for a viable, feasible and appropriate theatrical venue in which to get married and celebrate with family and friends, I have been re-examining the sacred spaces that theatrical auditoria come to be. I’ve spoken much of late of the comparative rarity of community spaces in which people continue to gather en masse, and there’s an additional vulnerability in entering into darkened proximity in order to give yourself over to transporting, affecting storytelling (hopefully). Perhaps this is why we take such offence when stories emerge of poor audience behaviour (which I shan’t be covering right now) and when productions arrive that feel like cash-grab adaptations of existing popular films (which I already have).
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We’re getting married at a THEATRE! An update on our stagey wedding…
Good news! 3 years after we got engaged, Aeron James and I are finally making wedding plans, and we’re going to be tying the knot next year at a theatre!
Today we’re sharing some details of that upcoming wedding day, inspiration for a similarly theatrical wedding, including the types of theatres at which you can get married, and also letting you know our honeymoon plans and how you can help make them happen if you so wish!
Stay tuned for some limited wedding coverage coming early next year, and thank you for watching along for the past few years.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Are too many MUSICALS based on MOVIES? A history of film-to-stage adaptations and originality…
Currently two things seem to be true: there are ever more stage musicals based on films, and there is ever more debate about whether there are too many of them.
Today I’m glancing back at the history of the film-to-stage adaptations, the major examples that shifted how audiences engage with such shows including Disney’s arrival on Broadway as well as musicals including Monty Python’s Spamalot and Legally Blonde, and the potentially growing disinterest in recent movie based narratives.
I’m also considering whether musicals based on movies have a brand image problem, the shows that are already trying to circumvent that, what the future might look like for the contemporary Broadway musical, and whether original shows are inherently better…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Why this RENT revival could be huge: My thoughts on the upcoming West End production…
The upcoming West End revival of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT has recently announced its cast.
Joining Gaten Matarazzo as Mark will be Travis Ross as Roger, Bella Brown as Mimi, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Olivier Award nominee Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny.
Find out why this news is so exciting and why I think this production could become the most important staging of RENT since it premiered…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin talk HIT MACHINE: The stage and screen stars on their UK theatre debut
I recently visited the Soho Theatre in London where the new play Hit Machine is readying to begin its sold out preview performances.
The play stars Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin as brothers and musicians with differing success in the industry.
Check out what they each had to say about their characters, how they arrived at this play, and what translating pain into art means for each of them.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Jesus Christ Superstar at London Palladium, West End, London
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Fun Home at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
★★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
I went to a student production of Chess! Theatre vlog ft The Misanthrope and Cyrano de Bergerac
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre in the UK!
As well as finally catching the West End transfer of Cyrano de Bergerac, I headed to the National Theatre for The Misanthrope, found out more about Rebecca Frecknall’s upcoming revival of Cleansed at the Almeida, and even saw a student production of Chess at the Royal Academy of Music.
Join us vicariously in this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
With the wedding planning in momentum, usual theatregoing service resumes, and I am once more staring down the barrel of a back to back week, which includes mostly off-West End plays and musicals as well as a trip to Birmingham to see a regional revival of Sweeney Todd – very excited to see this after chatting to a trio of its company a few weeks back.
There’s also a rare chance to catch me chatting to cast and creatives in person later this week when I lead a post show Q+A at Ride the Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse, for which a handful of tickets are still available – come ride with us!
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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