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Theatremonkey.com wishes a Happy 2009 all readers.

 

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Find out more about books, CDs and DVDs the monkey has enjoyed on its bookshelf.

Latest Review

"Great Showbiz and Theatrical Anecdotes,
A Connoisseur’s Collection"
By Ned Sherrin.
JR Books Ltd. £9.99. ISBN: 978-1-90621784-6
Available from www.amazon.co.uk (where this review also appears).

What can be said about Ned Sherrin that has not been already? The back jacket reminds us of his many talents as broadcaster, writer, director and presenter, and his untimely death left a vast gap in the entertainment world. His parting gift to us is this sharing of what he loved best; people and places instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever seen a play or watched a great film.

Always informative, frequently hilarious (and occasionally downright bawdy) this is a seemingly definitive A to Z of showbiz gossip and scandal. Sources are sometimes first hand, his years of contact with famous names combine with a phenomenal memory and extensive past library of work to provide much of the most credible material. Other times, references are carefully authenticated by those who ‘claimed to be there.’ Unlike others, Sherrin tries to avoid the hoarier tales whose constant retelling is their only validation. He admits to leaving in a few for completeness and to ward against reader comment, but for the most part the original prevail.

Roaming London and Broadway’s backstage, Hollywood’s soundstage and most frequently the dressing rooms and private homes of those employed there, Centuries of the very best tales are drawn together. Stars from David Garrick to Ian McKellen, writers Shaw to Shaffer, composers Hart to Lloyd Webber all have the best of their public and private moments recalled with the author’s trademark clarity, incisive wit and turn of phrase.

It’s the sometimes less familiar names who provide the most wonderful moments, though. Michael Bryant’s Badger discovery beautifully deflates an over-eager young choreographer, and the hoary old Pia Zadora / Anne Frank legend is finally laid to rest. The author doesn’t stint either when there are many tales to tell. Four pages of Sir Henry Irving’s wit ends in a ribald Shakespearian story that would make Juliet blush; the three on Alan Jay Lerner simply remind us how to bring down your final curtain in style.

Not for your elderly friend whose idea of theatre is a “nice romantic musical” perhaps, the language is very much the saltier stuff of the theatrical bar raconteur; but certainly required reading for anyone with even a passing interest in the lives of performers both past and present. Ned Sherrin’s voice speaks to the reader in a way few else can, and reading the final page is again to feel the pang of loss of his company, but a gratitude that we could have shared this time together
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New Launches

"ACT ONE"
Click Here to Buy Your Copy Now

26 WEST END STARS, 20 BRAND NEW RECORDINGS, 1 AMAZING ALBUM
Alexander S. Bermange, composer and lyricist of a dozen musicals, is also known to millions as the resident songwriter on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme.

Now, no less than 26 leading ladies and men from West End musicals have joined forces to record ACT ONE, a CD of songs from all of Alexander’s shows. The 20-track album boasts sleeve notes by triple Oscar-winning lyricist and long-time champion of Alexander’s writing Sir Tim Rice, who has enthused, “Alexander S. Bermange is going from strength to strength. I urge all lovers of contemporary musical theatre to add this album to their collection pronto.”

ACT ONE is the only album in existence to feature brand new recordings by such a large number of today’s musical theatre stars. Artists include: Ricardo Afonso, Sabrina Aloueche, Joanna Ampil, Daniel Boys, Earl Carpenter, Dean Collinson, Janie Dee, Linzi Hateley, Jenna Lee-James, Shona Lindsay, Dianne Pilkington, Summer Strallen and Oliver Tompsett PLUS MANY MORE.

The tracks on ACT ONE offer an exciting variety of musical styles, from showstopping anthems (Walking On The Sun) to hilarious comic numbers (My Prince) to heart-rending power ballads (If This Could Be Forever) to bombastic rock songs (Trial Of The Heart).

Click Here to Buy Your Copy Now
____________________________________


"Defying Gravity"
By Carol de Giere

Click here to buy your copy now

From Applause Theatre and Cinema Books comes the first career biography of a living legend: award-winning Broadway and film songwriter Stephen Schwartz.
For Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from "Godspell" to "Wicked" author Carol de Giere's eighty hours of interviews with Schwartz yielded a revealing story about musical making. The 544-page paperback with 200 photographs and illustrations is now available in Europe through online vendors like Dresscircle.com and bookstores.

New York City native Stephen Schwartz burst onto the UK theatre scene in 1971 with his Godspell score (and album featuring David Essex and Jeremy Irons). He continued to collect fans with music and lyrics for Pippin, but shortly thereafter seemed to lose access to his lucky star. Defying Gravity chronicles his creative methods along with his ups, downs, and recoveries. It includes stories behind West End efforts for The Baker's Wife, Children of Eden, and his latest entry with the international hit musical Wicked. Also sprinkled throughout is a series of "Creativity Notes." In these sections, Schwartz shares his creative strategies, tackling issues that range from writer's block to dealing with criticism.

After reading the book, London-based writer and director John Caird (Nicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables) commented, "For all lovers of the works of Stephen Schwartz, this is essential reading. Thorough and well-written, it is most interesting on the complex collaborations behind his work and illuminates his particular genius for combining lyrical and melodic invention in the service of a good story."

With an especially long section on Wicked (150 pages), fans are sure to find many new insights into the musical. The songwriter allowed some of his handwritten music and song notes to be included as illustrations in the volume. Wicked novelist Gregory Maguire also praises the book, saying "A wonderful read. And the Wicked section provides a comprehensive account of a thoroughly recondite and even mysterious event: the gestation and birth of a phenomenon."

 

 

 ENDING SOON


English National Ballet at the
London Coliseum
Until 11th January 2009

  

With 67 top-quality dancers from 20 countries, a full symphony orchestra and glittering sets and costumes, English National Ballet brings the best elements of the West End together in each of its productions. This year, the Company returns to the London
Coliseum with the tragic love story Manon.


Box Office: 0871 911 0200
Book online at www.ballet.org.uk


Manon
6 – 11 January 7.30pm, 6, 10, 11 January 2.30pm, 8 January 2pm (Schools)
________________________

"A Month of Sundays"
February 2009 and May 2009.

Short courses for Musical Theatre writers - Composers, Lyricists and Book - in the UK put together by ChrisGrady.org in association with RADA.

Course tutors include Anthony Drewe, Chris Grady, Edward Kemp, Jeremy Newton, Susannah Pearse, Jeremy Sams, George Stiles, Annmarie Lewis Thomas and Jenifer Toksvig.

For more details, visit www.chrisgrady.org

 

BEST OF THE WEST END


WICKED
APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 


JOSEPH
ADELPHI THEATRE

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS


GREASE
PICCADILLY THEATRE

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
 

WORTH KNOWING ABOUT!

 

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE
Now Previewing:
Jodie Prenger is "Nancy" in

 Click Here or call 0870 830 0200 to BOOK NOW!

 

BESTSELLING SHOWS ON THIS SITE

at the Theatremonkey Ticketshop /
London Theatre Club Ticket Agency

1. Wicked - Apollo Victoria Theatre
Click here to buy tickets through this agency

2. We Will Rock You - Dominion Theatre
Click here to buy tickets through this agency

3. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Adelphi Theatre
Click here to buy tickets through this agency

4. The Sound of Music - London Palladium Theatre
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5. The 39 Steps - Criterion Theatre
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Normal agency booking fees apply on all shows.

                                                                    

via See Tickets

1. Oliver - Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Click Here to buy tickets through See
or telephone 0870 830 0200

2. Spamalot - Palace Theatre
ended 3rd January 2009

3. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Adelphi Theatre
Click here to buy tickets through See
or telephone 0870 830 0200

4. The Sound of Music - London Palladium Theatre
Click Here to buy tickets through See
or telephone 0870 830 0200

5. The Phantom of the Opera - Her Majesty's Theatre
Click Here to buy tickets through See
or telephone 0870 830 0200

Tickets are sold at box office prices plus "non-counter sales" service charge.
No booking fee for "Sound Of Music" tickets. For "Joseph" there is no booking fee for performances until 10th January 2009. After that, normal "non counter sales" service charges applies.


                                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                             

 


 

 

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