Cameron Mackintosh: Last News

You could have heard a pin drop during the gala opening night of Opera Australia’s production of The Phantom of the Opera August 26 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. The audience was packed with celebrity Sydneysiders in bow ties and gowns but the real stars of the evening were Josh Piterman, Amy Manford, and Blake Bowden.This trio of truly gifted performers, surrounded by a stunning supporting cast and orchestra, powerfully delivered the musical’s signature songs, Music of the Night, Think of Me, All I Ask of You, the awesomely beautiful Masquerade, and of course the main title song, with vitality and power.This new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel, overseen by producer Cameron Mackintosh, and director Seth Sklar-Heyn is simply superb on every level.While the story of an obsessive and dangerous love in 19th-century Paris is now familiar to many, it’s the exquisite attention to detail which delivers the magic to this new staging.The  27-piece orchestra under the musical supervision of Guy Simpson is phenomenal, and the production is elevated even further by truly glorious stagecraft. The Phantom of the OperaThe lush costuming by Jill Parker, recreating the original designs of the late Tony award-winning Maria Bjornson is stunning, and the hair and wig design by Angela Cobbin is perfection.The lighting design by Tony Award winner Paule Constable and the sound design by Mick Potter is also extraordinary, with some terrific video and projection design by Nina Dunn.There is also a wonderful use of pyrotechnics throughout the show and of course the thrilling and iconic moment when the chandelier falls towards the heads of the audience still inspires

In a new photoshoot with her 11-year-old daughter in HELLO! magazine, Rachel Stevens talks of her pride in how Amelie is now the one poised to reach for the stars, since taking to the stage in Sir Cameron Mackintosh's Les Miserables – and reveals the advice she has shared.READ MORE: Rachel Stevens wears Kate Middleton-style dress and we love itThe former S Club 7 singer and Dancing on Ice star, who is also mum to Minnie, aged eight, tells HELLO!, "Amelie really does lead this herself – I'm encouraging but not pushy, and from all the learning I've taken from my career, I try to give her the best advice I can and be there to answer her questions."WATCH: Rachel Stevens and Rosie Nixon share their hair and skincare secretsShe adds: "I've always said to both my girls, 'Someone might open the door, but you're the one who has to go through and prove what you can do.' Who knows where life will take Amelie, but as long as she's doing something she's passionate about and she's happy, as her mum, that's all I could wish for."PHOTO: Rachel Stevens stunning shares photo of rarely-seen daughter MinnieLOOK: Rachel Stevens turns up the glamour in silky dressIn their first joint photoshoot and interview, Amelie tells how, "The best advice my mum has given me is never give up on your dreams. If you put your mind to something you love, you can do anything." Rachel and her daughter share a sweet embraceOf her famous mum, Amelie adds: "It is really weird and funny to think how my mum was a pop star before I was even born.

Cameron Mackintosh ,the London theatre owner and impresario, nixed the idea of having a host introduce artists performing at Tuesday’s one-night only Old Friends tribute show ,honoring the legacy of musical theatre genius ,Stephen Sondheim who died ,aged 91 last November.

All eyes were on Judi Dench .

Paradise Square makes quite the reach. A musical about the build-up to New York’s horrific Draft Riots of 1863 reaches to the past to tell us about the present. It reaches across cultures to tell us about assimilation and appropriation. It reaches across styles of music and dance to celebrate diversity and commonality. It reaches to contain both epic realism and mythical nostalgia. And somewhere along the line it reaches a point of no return, when all that reaching just wears itself out.

Jessie Buckley is riding high this week after celebrating her first Oscar nomination.The Irish star, 32, is set to fight it out in the Best Supporting Actress category after being recognised for her starring role in The Lost Daughter, alongside fellow nominee Olivia Colman. Jessie's nod from the Academy is sure to make her a well-known star – but avid TV fans may remember when she got her big break over 10 years ago, on a show which was worlds away from the glamour of Hollywood.

Alexandra Billings, a trans actor who made Broadway history when cast as Wicked‘s Madam Morrible in 2020, has issued a strong rebuke to Cameron Mackintosh over comments the British theater producer made opposing the casting of trans performers in classic roles.

Hamilton is set to make its return in London’s West End this summer.Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical will resume at the Victoria Palace Theatre from August 19, nearly 18 months after theatres shut their doors last March because of COVID-19.Hamilton, which first opened in London in December 2017, is now booking until February 2022, with the cast yet to be announced.Theatregoers who had tickets for shows that were cancelled due to the pandemic will have them moved to an alternative date, which will be a comparable day of the week and seat location.If the date is unsuitable, customers can exchange it for a different performance or request a refund.Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh told BBC News he was “delighted” to give the news of its return after

EXCLUSIVE: It’s A Sin actor Callum Scott Howells has signed with Duncan Millership at Anonymous Content.

More shows will close and not reopen and more theatres will go out of business, the chief of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre has warned.

“We will be back, but we need time to get back"

Cameron Mackintosh, one of the biggest names in British theater, has said that stage productions in the West End and on Broadway are unlikely to open until 2021. "For major producers both sides of the Atlantic, the truth is until social distancing doesn't exist anymore, we can't even plan to reopen," he said in an interview on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday.

By Tom Grater

By Tim Dams

We reported a couple of weeks ago that some pretty huge stage musicals were heading to a new YouTube channel to stream for free every Friday night. Well, we have some big news; one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous musicals will stream on the channel this Friday, The Phantom Of The Opera. The performance will be one from London’s Royal Albert Hall, recorded in 2011 to celebrate 25 years of the smash hit show. The Phantom Of The Opera YouTube stream will see Ramin Karimloo play the iconic Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine.

Many major West End productions are staying closed.

coronavirus pandemic.Sellout shows including Hamilton, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins and The Phantom Of The Opera will not be back until ‘as early as practical in 2021’, theatre owner Sir Cameron Mackintosh has confirmed.He said that while the Government was ‘engaging’ with the theatre industry, no support has been put in place, leading to the move.Mackintosh said: ‘This decision is heartbreaking for me, as I am sure it is for my employees, as everyone who has worked with me over the last 50 years, on or off the stage, knows how much I care about what I do and how I do it.‘Despite the Government engaging with the desperate pleas from everyone in the theatre industry, so far there has been no tangible practical support beyond offers to go