Le monde des musicals

Version 1

Bif Life (The) (2004-04-Theatre Royal Stratford East-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Theatre Royal Stratford East (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Saturday 17 April 2004
Première : Saturday 17 April 2004
Dernière : Saturday 29 May 2004
Mise en scène : Clint Dyer •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Claudia Cadette, Jason Pennycooke, Chris Tummings, Geoff Aymer, Marcus Powell, Maureen Hibbert, Victor Romero Evans, Lorna Brown, Yaa, Amanda Horlock, Neil Reidman

Version 2

Big Life (The) (2005-02-Theatre Royal Stratford East-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Theatre Royal Stratford East (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : Friday 04 February 2005
Première : Friday 04 February 2005
Dernière : Saturday 12 March 2005
Mise en scène : Clint Dyer •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Tameka Empson (Mrs Aphrodite), Victor Romero Evans (Ferdy), Neil Reidman (Bernie), Chris Tummings (Lennie), Marcus Powell {Dennis),
Jason Pennycooke (Admiral/Eros), Claudia Cadette, Amanda Horlock, Antonia Kemi Coker, Yaa
Commentaires : Originally staged as a try-out at Stratford East in April 2004, this was Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labours Lost” rewritten as a feel-good ska/reggae musical. A completely re-written version was staged at Stratford East for three weeks in February 2005 and, thanks to impresario Bill Kenwright, it transferred and was acclaimed as the first British black musical.

Version 3

Big Life (The) (2005-05-Apollo Theatre-London)

Type de série: West End Transfer
Théâtre: Apollo Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 4 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Wednesday 11 May 2005
Première : Monday 23 May 2005
Dernière : Saturday 01 October 2005
Mise en scène : Clint Dyer •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Tameka Empson (Mrs Aphrodite), Victor Romero Evans (Ferdy), Neil Reidman (Bernie), Chris Tummings (Lennie), Marcus Powell {Dennis),
Jason Pennycooke (Admiral/Eros), Claudia Cadette, Amanda Horlock, Antonia Kemi Coker, Yaa
Commentaires : Originally staged as a try-out at Stratford East in April 2004, this was Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labours Lost” rewritten as a feel-good ska/reggae musical. A completely re-written version was staged at Stratford East for three weeks in February 2005 and, thanks to impresario Bill Kenwright, it transferred and was acclaimed as the first British black musical.
Presse : NICK CURTIS for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Cheery, agreeable but undemanding." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "One of the exhilarating things about The Big Life is that it is joyous while depicting - without either mitigation or rancour - the experience of first-generation Caribbean immigrants."
BRIAN LOGAN for THE GUARDIAN says, "Infectiously energetic and big-hearted."
CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, " A terrific show."
JEREMY KINGSTON says, "Energy and exuberance are what the show displays in abundance."

Version 4

I Was Looking at the Ceiling … (2010-07-Theatre Royal Stratford East-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Theatre Royal Stratford East (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 5 mois 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Wednesday 07 July 2010
Première : Wednesday 07 July 2010
Dernière : Saturday 17 July 2010
Mise en scène : Kerry Michael • Matthew Xia •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Cynthia Erivo (Leila), Jason Denton (David), Anna Mateo (Consuelo), Stewart Charlesworth (Mike), Leon Lopez (Dewain), Natasha J. Barnes (Tiffany), Colin Ryan (Rick)
Commentaires : John Adams is the minimalist composer best known for his operas “Nixon in China” and “The Death of Klinghoffer”. This “musical” is a mixture of song-cycle, opera, blues, rock, gospel and funk and is performed with no dialogue. It was first staged in May 1995 in Berkeley, California, and its title is based on a comment by one of the survivors. This was a joint production between the Barbican and the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. The critics were divided on whether this was an opera or a musical, and whether it belonged in a concert-hall rather than a theatre. However, there was much praise for the performers.

Version 5

Porgy and Bess (2006-10-Savoy Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Savoy Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 5 mois 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Wednesday 25 October 2006
Première : Thursday 09 November 2006
Dernière : Saturday 05 May 2007
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Cast: Clarke Peters (Porgy), Nicola Hughes (Bess), O-T Fagbenie (Sportin’Life), Cornell S John (Crown), Edward Baruwa, Yolanda Grant-Thompson, Ruby King, Lorraine Velez, Des Coleman, Anton Stephans
Commentaires : Notes: Trevor Nunn had directed the opera “Porgy and Bess” at Glyndebourne in 1986, and that production, conducted by Simon Rattle, was re-created as a television opera in 1993, and re-staged for a one-night concert version at the 1998 Royal Albert Hall Promenade Season. This, however, was produced as a “musical” not an opera. Working with the Gershwin estate, Nunn used dialogue from the original novel and subsequent Broadway stage play to replace the recitatives with naturalistic scenes. He also considerably reduced its running time. He did not cast operatic voices but relied on musical theatre actors as leads. Gareth Valentine re-scored the work for a 20-strong orchestra (as opposed to the 50 piece symphony orchestra of the Glyndebourne version).
In spite of generally welcoming reviews the show did not attract an audience, and closed after just a few months.
Presse : NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, " Ardent production." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, " 'Electrifying' is an overworked word in the critical lexicon, but if ever a show deserved it, it is Trevor Nunn's magnificent revival of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess." SCOTT MATTHEWMAN for THE STAGE says, "A visual and aural spectacle." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "If the show now seems a museum-piece, Nunn's production invests it with social detail...this is an essentially conservative show." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Nunn’s company brings enormous energy and plenty of class to Ira Gershwin’s libretto."

Version 6

Soul Sister (2012-08-Savoy theatre-london)

Type de série: West End Transfer
Théâtre: Savoy Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Monday 20 August 2012
Première : Thursday 23 August 2012
Dernière : Saturday 29 September 2012
Mise en scène : Pete Brooks • Bob Eaton •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Emi Wokoma (Tina Turner), Chris Tummings (Ike Turner), Sharon Benson, Nadine Higgin, Ngo Ngofa, Joanne Sandi
Presse : "The words “a star is born” can be hazardous, but Emi Wokoma, who plays Tina Turner in this “bio-musical”, is blessed with star quality and a voice that’s rawly emotional yet also regal. ." Henry Hitchens for The Evening Standard

"Is as much a gig as a piece of theatre...It is for an audience that is willing to give, in order to receive, a seriously good time: they will not be disappointed." Laura Thompson for The Daily Telegraph

"An upscale, highly entertaining tribute show." Paul Vale for The Stage

Version 7

Take Away (2011-06-Theatre Royal Stratford East-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Theatre Royal Stratford East (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Thursday 16 June 2011
Première : Thursday 16 June 2011
Dernière : Saturday 09 July 2011
Mise en scène : Kerry Michael •
Chorégraphie : Jason Pennycooke •
Producteur :
Avec : Stephen Hoo (Eddie Woo), Gabby Wong (Angela), Gloria Onitri (Sheila), Natasha Jayetileke (Dillon), Marcus Ellard (Reese), Shelley Williams (Guardian Angel), Pik-Sen Lim (Widow Chu), Windson Liong (Lum), Ozzie Yue (Henry)