Carole King Musical to Hit West End in 2015

It has been announced that Carole King musical Beautiful will transfer from Broadway to London, opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 25 February 2015 with previews  from 10 February.

The show opened on Broadway in January to strong sales and critical reception. It tells the real-life story of King's childhood as a shy teenager, her rise to super stardom as part of a chart-topping songwriting duo with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in pop.

The production will feature an entirely English cast.

Photo: Sara Krulwich

Speaking today King said: "This show is an honest portrayal of my early life with Gerry Goffin and our friendship with our competitors Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It captures the essence of my emergence as a singer and my growth as a woman. I love that the next chapter of the Beautiful story is taking place in London's West End. I have so many good friends in London and warm memories of good times there. I can't wait to re-visit."

Public booking for the show opens today, 5 September 2014, and the production is currently booking to 13 June 2015.

Casting Announced for West End The Scottsboro Boys

Casting has been announced for the West End transfer of the Young Vic's acclaimed musical The Scottsboro Boys. 

Amongst the cast is Brandon Victor Dixon, who originated the role of Haywood Patterson in the originial US production and is currently starring in Motown The Musical on Broadway. This will be his West End debut.

Reprising their acclaimed performances from the Young Vic are American cast members Colman Domingo as Mr Bones, Forrest McClendon as Mr Tambo and James T Lane as Ozie Powell. Game of Thrones star Julian Glover will reprise his well-received  role as the sinister Interlocutor - who is the only white actor to be in the show in an acclaimed creative decision from writer David Thompson, who wrote the book for the show.

They will appear alongside cast members Dawn Hope, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Richard Pitt, and Carl Spencer at the Garrick Theatre from 4 October 2014.

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to Extends to March 2015

Jerry Mitchell's West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has been extended to March 2015.

Rufus Hound and
Robert Lindsay.

The show's principles Robert Lindsay, Rufus Hound and Katherine Kingsley will continue with their performances throughout the extension.

In a statement released today, the show's cast and producers said that they are "thrilled" with audience response to the show and the extension. 

The musical also received positive critical reception, which no doubt helped give ticket sales a boost.

The musical stars Robert Lindsay and Rufus hound as two conmen with differing methods, both fighting to win the affection of a glamorous heiress. 

"We are thrilled with the audience and critical reaction to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," said ATG's Harold Panter. "We have found the perfect home for this production in the lavish Savoy Theatre."

Young Vic's Scottsboro Boys to Transfer to the West End

The critically acclaimed production, which played at the Young Vic last year, will transfer to the Garrick Theatre on 20 October 2014, following previews from the 4 Octobber, with tickets on general sale now. The Scottsboro Boys was nominated for 12 Tony Awards on Broadway and six Olivier Awards following the Young Vic run, in addition to winning the Critics' Circle award for Best Musical last year.

The Scottsboro Boys
© Richard Hubert Smith

The musical, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2010, tells the story of nine young black men, falsely convicted of rape while travelling through Scottsboro, Alabama in the 1930s. The trials which followed divided America.

The cast of The Scottsboro Boys
© Richard Hubert Smith

X-Factor Musical: I Can't Sing! to Close on May 10 after Two Months on the West End!

Much like the talent show it's based around, the West End is a cut-throat world of profits and competition. 

In a statement released last night Rebecca Quigley, CEO of Stage Entertainment UK, said: “We are sad to be bringing I Can’t Sing! to a close but are immensely proud to have co-produced the show. The West End can be an unpredictable place as the closure of a number of high profile productions recently has shown. I Can’t Sing! has had audiences on their feet night after night, four and five star reviews from the critics and an amazing company and creative team, but it seems that isn’t always enough."

She then added:

“To open any big musical, and particularly a brand new British musical comedy at the London Palladium, is no mean feat and hundreds of dedicated people have played a part in bringing this unique and wonderful show to the stage. I thank every one of those people and the audiences who have come to see the production.”

Nigel Hall, who works the Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment, added: “From the moment Harry Hill and Steve Brown told us their idea for I Can’t Sing we knew this was going to be a fun project. Alongside Stage Entertainment we’d like to thank the cast and crew who have worked so hard on this show. To everyone at Really Useful Theatres and the ever supportive staff at the London Palladium, and everyone involved in I Can’t Sing! I’d like to say a huge thanks and the very best of luck with their next venture.”

People who have already bought tickets for the show that had been due to be held after May 10 were urged to “contact their original point of purchase”.

An anonymous source claimed that the show will be closing because of poor ticket sales due to the current economic climate. 

That Theatre Thing would like to extend our best wishes to the cast and crew of I Can't Sing!, and wish them the best of luck in the future.