March 2010 Archives

As the BBC gears up to start its fourth musical theatre talent show Over the Rainbow, The Stage’s broadcasting correspondent Matthew Hemley talks to panellist, EastEnders actor and West End star John Partridge.

The Stage will be following the series on its TV blog at thestage.co.uk/tvtoday.

To listen to the podcast:

The preferred way to listen to the podcast is through iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes, then not only will you get this edition of the podcast, but you will automatically receive further editions, for free, as they are released. The iTunes edition of the podcast also has additional photography and chapter marks for easier navigation.

• Listen and subscribe now in iTunes (recommended)

Alternativelty, you can listen to a lower quality, streamed MP3 version below.

James Earl Jones has one of the most distinctive voices in Hollywood, lending his vocal talents to Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies as well as Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King. He’s no stranger to the camera either, with a long, long list of movie credits to his name, my personal favourites being Field of Dreams and Sneakers.

But Jones is first and foremost a stage actor. His role as Big Daddy in the current West End run of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has earned him an Olivier nomination. Ahead of this weekend’s awards ceremony, The Stage’s Nick Smurthwaite met him in his dressing room at the Novello Theatre.

To listen to the podcast:

The preferred way to listen to the podcast is through iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes, then not only will you get this edition of the podcast, but you will automatically receive further editions, for free, as they are released. The iTunes edition of the podcast also has additional photography and chapter marks for easier navigation.

• Listen and subscribe now in iTunes (recommended)

Last night saw the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Love Never Dies at the Adelphi theatre in London’s West End.

Scott Matthewman discusses the show with Stage reviewer Matthew Hemley, while news and opinion editor Alistair Smith looks at the critical reception from the national papers and further afield.

For links to all the reviews referenced and to purchase the Love Never Dies original cast recording, scroll down.

To listen to the podcast:

The preferred way to listen to the podcast is through iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes, then not only will you get this edition of the podcast, but you will automatically receive further editions, for free, as they are released. The iTunes edition of the podcast also has additional photography and chapter marks for easier navigation.

• Listen and subscribe now in iTunes (recommended)

BUY THE ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING

• Love Never Dies on iTunes (£7.99)
• Love Never Dies (Deluxe Version) on iTunes (£10.99)
• Love Never Dies (2 CD) from Amazon.co.uk (£8.93)
• Love Never Dies (2CD+DVD Special Edition) from Amazon.co.uk (£13.99)
• Love Never Dies (MP3 Download) from Amazon.co.uk (£7.99)

Prices correct at time of blog publication, but may have changed - check before you buy

REVIEWS

Read Matthew Hemley’s review for The Stage. Also mentioned in our paper review:

• Quentin Letts, Daily Mail
• Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph
• Benedict Nightingale, The Times
• Paul Taylor, The Independent
• Michael Billington, The Guardian
• Bill Hagherty, The Sun
• Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com
• Ben Brantley, New York Times

See also: Mark Shenton’s reviews round up on his daily blog for The Stage

Gemma Collinge wants to be a star - and BBC3 sitcom The Gemma Factor shows her going about it all wrong. Actress Anna Gilthorpe, who plays Gemma, talks to Scott Matthewman about her own experiences and how she does, or doesn’t, share Gemma’s own aspirations.

And although Gemma’s scrapes are the source of comedy, for The Stage’s agony uncle John Byrne it’s the humour of recognition, as events in the sitcom ring true to so many young performers’ lives. He shares his tips for how people can avoid falling into the clutches of the rogue agents and instead concentrate on success.

• The Gemma Factor, Tuesdays on BBC3 at 10.30pm (and available on iPlayer)

To listen to the podcast:

The preferred way to listen to the podcast is through iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes, then not only will you get this edition of the podcast, but you will automatically receive further editions, for free, as they are released. The iTunes edition of the podcast also has additional photography and chapter marks for easier navigation.

• Listen and subscribe now in iTunes (recommended)

A lower quality MP3 version can be played below:

Susan Elkin, The Stage’s education and training editor, visits the Drill Hall in London, which is the home to new drama school the Musical Theatre Academy, which offers a two-year MT course.

She meets MTA principal Annemarie Lewis Thomas and three of the college’s first intake of students, and we end with a musical number from the students.

• Susan Elkin writes a regular blog on education and training issues for The Stage. Find it at http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/education
• The Musical Theatre Academy website is at http://www.themta.co.uk
• Visit our new training coursefinder at http://www.thestage.co.uk/training

To listen to the podcast:

The preferred way to listen to the podcast is through iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes, then not only will you get this edition of the podcast, but you will automatically receive further editions, for free, as they are released. The iTunes edition of the podcast also has additional photography and chapter marks for easier navigation.

• Listen and subscribe now in iTunes (recommended)

A lower quality MP3 version can be played below: