2018 Musical Musings to Come – Top 10 picks –

2017 has been a great year of theatre with everything from Hamilton finally hitting the West End (in case you had missed that one) and the much talked about The Ferryman to a whole range of off West End shows having a huge impact on the theatre world. What will fill these holes that 2017 will leave behind….don’t despair 2018 have a whole host of shows to check out:

 

Eugenius:

Eugenius opens at The Other Palace on the 22nd January and runs through to the 3rd March. Last year there was a concert performance at the Palladium and now the Other Palace are putting on the full scale musical. This is a show where geeks rule and everyone finds the Superhero inside themselves. With Warwick Davies producing it. I’m intrigued to see this production.

Chess:

Chess is being brought to the London Coliseum for the first major West End Revival in over 30 years. The show is set against the backdrop of the Cold War where we see Russia pitted against America in the Chess world. With renown songs such as ‘I Know Him So Well’ and ‘Anthem’ backed by the English National Opera’s orchestra and chorus! Chess runs from the 26th April to the 2nd June.

 

The Rink:

The Rink is running at Southwark Playhouse from 25th May to 23rd June. Asides from this being a musical I’ve wanted to see for a long long time (the combination of Kander & Ebb and McNally just calls out to me) the production team behind this gives the show pulling power. Directed by Adam Lenson of 35mm, Songs For A New World and Superhero ‘fame’ and choreographed by Fabian Alosie of Our House fame. The Rink tells of Anna, an Italian housewife who runs a skating rink and is about to sell it until her estranged daughter returns.

Bring It On:

I was gutted when the tour of Bring It On got cancelled but then Southwark Playhouse came along and announced they were performing it and all was right with the world again. Bring It On is based on the movie of the same name which tells of teenage trials and tribulations of moving to a new school and starting a new cheer squad. Some little know person named Lin-Manuel Miranda was also involved in the music and lyrics for this show so if that’s not a reason to see it I don’t know what is! Bring It On runs from 2nd August to the 1st September.

Fun Home:

Fun Home is on at the Young Vic from the 18th June to the 1st September. This show has come over from Broadway and is based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. Alison has grown up in a funeral home and these memories merge with her college love and her coming out. I’m really keen to see what all the fuss was about on Broadway and the subsequent 5 Tony Awards!

Pippin.

My list looks full with Southwark Playhouse’s next season and this next one is continuing that trend. I last saw Pippin at the Menier Chocolate factory several years ago and I cannot wait to see Southwark Playhouse take on it. Pippin is about the journey of one man to find himself and his place and purpose in life. Keep your eyes peeled here for the review as I’m already booked in for press night. Pippin is playing from the 23rd February to the 24th March 2018.

 

The King and I

The Rogers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I hits the London Palladium and to make this even more exciting the original Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe reprise their roles in the show with a 50 strong cast. The King and I tells the story of the relationship between the King of Siam and English Schoolteacher, Anna. She is employed to try and modernize the country but their relationship takes it toll. I’m excited to see this show back on the big stage! The King and I runs from 21st June and is currently booking until 4th August.

Strictly Ballroom The Musical

I am a huge fan of Baz Luhrman, so to bring one of his iconic movies to the stage is music to my ears. The fact that Zizi Strallen is playing Fran, the female half of the star crossed dancing lovers only adds to that excitement. The musical features songs from the film including ‘Time after Time.’ It tells of champion dancer, Scott who pairs up with Fran who has two left feet in order to follow his heart. All of this on top of the fact  that it is choreographed by Drew MCOnie, of On The Town (Regents Park), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park), In The Heights, Hairspray and much more. Strictly Ballroom opens on the 16th March and runs until 21st July.

Company

No year is complete without a Sondheim revival and 2018 is no exception. Company however has been reimagined and Bobby becomes Bobbi, played by Rosalie Craig. Couple her with Patti LuPone and this alone is enough to tempt me to the show. The show tells of Bobbi’s 35th birthday party where her friends are asking why she is not married and why she hasn’t found love yet. The show is due to offer a modern look on relationships .We have a while to wait as Company doesn’t open until 26th September and is booking until 22nd December 2018 at the Gielgud Theatre.

Little Shop of Horrors at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

This is running from the 3rd August (previews until 10th August) to the 15th September at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. The shows at Regents Park are always of the highest quality and this looks to be no exception. Little Shop of Horrors tells of a plant which feeds on an unusual food. The plant brings fame and fortune to Seymour but will this be enough to win the love of Audrey.

These are my top 10 musicals to see in 2018 although I’m sure as the year goes on and more shows are announced this list is going to grow rapidly!! What other musicals are on your list to see?

If you liked this you might also like my roundup of 2017 theatre.