| Magical Broadway nights
One of the most popular shows on Broadway, Mamma Mia, will come to London for five days, beginning Dec. 18. Mamma Mia is well-known for its ABBA music, such as Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money and Take a Chance on Me. "I think everybody will enjoy Mamma Mia," said Broadway in London spokesperson Patrick Harrison. "This show is currently one of the hottest tickets in New York and London (England)." Illusionist David Copperfield (Jan. 15), Blast (Jan. 28-20), Chicago (Feb. 19-20) and Evita (March 10-11) round out the season. Blast, Chicago and Evita have a combined 14 Tony awards. "Lovers of the classic Broadway musicals will love Gypsy, Chicago and Evita," Harrison said. "Lovers of music will be blown away by Blast, while Cirque and David Copperfield will draw a non-typical theatre-going crowd to the John Labatt Centre." Last year, 2,000 subscriptions were sold for the season.
'Lion King' crowned in South Africa
The musical is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and the South African run has been called a homecoming for the show whose score, choreography and story all have roots in the country. "There would be no Lion King without South Africa. This is where the umbilical cord was first cut," said Oprah Winfrey, whose guests at the opening included all 149 pupils from the girls academy she opened near Johannesburg this year. Winfrey was greeted by an actor dressed in a Zulu warrior costume who danced for her as singing and drumming stirred excitement. "There are going to be a lot of girls coming out tonight wanting to be in theater," she said. "So much for forensic science." Also attending the gala opening were director Julie Taymor, lyricist Tim Rice, Walt Disney Co. President Robert Iger and Thomas Schumacher, head of Walt Disney Theatrical Productions.
Temperature Rising: Lauren Kennedy & Alan Campbell
The temperature is rising on Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy as Broadway stars and off-stage couple Alan Campbell (Contact, Sunset Boulevard) and Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard) have taken the creative reigns for the up-coming 2007 season. Campbell steps in as the Artistic Producer while his wife, Kennedy directs Romance/Romance. Hot Summer Nights is a professional theatre company whose mission is to serve the citizens of Raleigh, Wake County and Eastern Carolina by "keeping the lights on" and producing professional theatrical performances in the Kennedy Theatre at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts during the summer months. Let's take a moment to talk with this talented (and loving) team... Eugene Lovendusky: Good morning and thanks very much for taking the time out of your busy summer schedules to chat with BroadwayWorld.com! For those theatre fans who don't know, what is Hot Summer Nights all about and what can audiences expect to find this season? Lauren Kennedy: Audiences can expect an intimate night of theatre! The six shows are picked for their variety as well as their merit.
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