MickeyJoTheatre

In an interview with Variety, Andrew Lloyd Webber has shared insights into the latest, hugely successful chapter of his theatrical career. With the announcement that 'Cats: the Jellicle Ball' is Broadway bound, and the Phantom of the Opera is back in New York with the immersive off-Broadway 'Masquerade', Andrew's focus now turns to Evita and his upcoming new musical The Illusionist. So, why is Jam...

Ahead of a day of tech rehearsal, Mickey-Jo sat down with West End star Jordan Luke Gage, who is about to open in the new musical Saving Mozart at the Other Palace Theatre in London. They chatted about his most recent stage roles, including as part of the original West End casts of Bonnie & Clyde and Titanique as well as his breakthrough performances in Bat Out of Hell and the original cast of...

A few months ago, I attended BEAM - a biannual, two day conference platforming new British musical theatre writing. Over two days at Birmingham Hippodrome, 28 different new musicals were pitched to producers, theatremakers and other industry professionals. Previously pitched musicals include Operation Mincemeat and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). In this special recap vlog, Mickey-Jo...

When Mickey-Jo was in the US last month, he saw two new musicals making their North American regional premiere - both of which started life in the UK. These shows were Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the American Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts and 42 Balloons at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Illinois. As well as reviewing both productions, Mickey-Jo is pondering the possib...

Just one day before making her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut, stage star Laura Benanti took a moment to chat with Mickey-Jo about her self-penned solo show and her new perspective on Broadway. The Tony Award winning actress will perform in "Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares" this summer in Edinburgh, before bringing the show to London's Underbelly Boulevard for two performances in early September. Che...

Last week, Mickey-Jo headed to the National Theatre in London to see one of this year's most anticipated new productions - Inter Alia starring Rosamund Pike. From the team that brought West End and Broadway audiences PRIMA FACIE (playwright Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin) comes this new collaboration depicting a judge trying to balance her important and demanding work within the legal sys...

Which shows are you most looking forward to on Broadway this season? With several plays and musicals already announced for the 2025 - 2026 Broadway season, Mickey-Jo is, for the first time, sharing his thoughts about these upcoming productions. From The Lost Boys and The Queen of Versailles to Oedipus and Waiting for Godot, here are Mickey-Jo's (way too early) picks for this next year's top ticket...

When BURLESQUE the musical opened at the Savoy Theatre in the West End this month, it received a huge variety of critical responses, from 5 star raves to 1 star pans in major outlets. In this review roundup, Mickey-Jo is reading from a selection of reviews as well as sharing his own insights about the show. • 00:00 | introduction 02:47 | The Guardian ★★★★★ 09:17 | The Telegraph ★★★★ 15:18 | The St...

It was announced yesterday that the West End production of MJ the musical, which follows a pivotal moment in the life and career of Michael Jackson will close in early 2026. The show will, by the end of its run, have played just under 2 years at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, while the musical continues to run at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway. In this theatre news recap, Mickey-Jo is sh...

Mickey-Jo recently sat down to chat with Jamie Muscato, the West End leading man currently starring as Jay Gatsby in THE GREAT GATSBY at the London Coliseum. The actor has previously wowed audiences in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award), Moulin Rouge, and the original West End cast of Heathers. They talked about wearing three piece suits...

Earlier today it was announced that stage and screen star Andrew Barth Feldman would join the cast of the Broadway musical MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, replacing Tony Award winner Darren Criss. Andrew will co-star with his real life partner Helen J Shen who plays Claire, taking on the role of the helperbot Oliver. Amidst some backlash as fans anticipated an Asian actor being cast in this role, Mickey-Jo is...

Last night, Mickey-Jo was invited to attend the gala opening night performance of BURLESQUE at the Savoy Theatre in London. The new musical, which premiered in Manchester last year, is based on the film of the same name starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. Amidst some alleged backstage controversy, here are Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the actual show onstage, and whether or not it is good enough for...

Last night, the stage musical adaptation of BURLESQUE, which premiered regionally in the UK last year, officially opened at the Savoy Theatre in London. Since before the London transfer began rehearsals, however, it has been surrounded by rumours of behind the scenes drama, with a change in creative team, a delayed first preview performance and, now an equity investigation. • 00:00 | introduction...

Last week, Mickey-Jo was invited to the opening night performance of one of his most anticipated shows of this year, Sing Street. The musical, which is based on the 2016 film of the same name, was set to open on Broadway in 2020 but was ultimately cancelled. Now that the show is making its London premiere, with a limited run at the Lyric Hammersmith, Mickey-Jo is letting you know just what it's li...

Earlier this week, Mickey-Jo spent two evenings at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, seeing two entirely different pieces of theatre. First he saw Laura Wade's new adaptation of The Constant Wife starring Rose Leslie, and the next evening was the press night performance of 4.48 Psychosis, a hugely impactful play by Sarah Kane recounted with the play's original cast. Check out t...

On June 22nd Mickey-Jo produced and hosted another evening of his regular Cabaret chat show, MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE! at the Phoenix Arts Club. One of his guests for the evening was the award winning rising star Jeevan Braich, who was cast as Rusty, starring in the West End return of STARLIGHT EXPRESS last year, and has recently returned to the role. When they sat down together, they talked through...

Yesterday it was announced that the current Broadway revival of Gypsy, starring Audra McDonald, would close earlier than planned on August 17th. This will make the show the latest in a string of musicals to abruptly cease performances after dwindling box office returns and awards disappointment. Over the last few months Boop, Dead Outlaw, Smash, Redwood, and Real Women Have Curves have also ended...

One topic that always sparks debate online amongst the theatre community is the creation and sharing of bootlegs (also called slime tutorials). Last week, the newly opened Off-Broadway production of HEATHERS came under fire from some fans by requesting that they not film the performance, and the debate about the ethical, financial and historical impact of bootlegs was instantly reignited. So, Mick...

Last month, Mickey-Jo was invited to attend the gala opening performance of HADESTOWN's Dutch premiere in Amsterdam. The award winning musical is playing for a limited run this summer at Theatre Carré in the Netherlands, with a majority Dutch cast performing the original production of the show in English. Check out this full review to find out Mickey-Jo's thoughts about the show, and how it feels...

Last week, Mickey-Jo had the joy of attending the opening night performance of TILL THE STARS COME DOWN at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London. The new play from Beth Steel, which was first produced at the National Theatre, has transferred into the West End amidst considerable acclaimed and takes place over the day of an increasingly frantic wedding. Check out Mickey-Jo's full review to find ou...

It has been reported that the musical adaptation of CLUELESS, which opened in the West End earlier this year, will close on 23rd August 2025. The production, which began performances in February of this year, will end its run earlier than originally planned, just a few months after MEAN GIRLS closed at the nearby Savoy Theatre. With news of a tour and rumours about the next shows at the Trafalgar...

Mickey-Jo recently returned to the West End production of CABARET at the Kit Kat Club for a gala performance welcoming their new stars, Rob Madge and Hannah Dodd. The revival, which has been directed by Rebecca Frecknall, reconceived the Playhouse Theatre in London as the Kit Kat Club when it first opened in 2021 and has since starred many brilliant performers in these iconic roles, recently celeb...

Having, in the last few weeks, seen revivals of Sunset Boulevard, Cats and Evita, Mickey-Jo was very intrigued to check out the Watermill Theatre's new production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. This revival, which sees a smaller company of actor-musicians take on the iconic rock opera, stages part of the show outdoors, with the audience travelling between two spaces. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought o...

Discomfort bubbles quietly among the New York Theatre community as producer Scott Rudin's controversial, and forewarned, Broadway return is announced. The industry giant, ousted from the community and the industry after allegations of abusive, violent behaviour emerged in 2021, has announced plans for his comeback, with a new play starring Laurie Metcalf set to open later this year at the Booth Th...

Last month Mickey-Jo had made plans to visit Chicago, Illinois for the first time when he discovered a production of CATS in the nearby town of Aurora. This revival, produced by the local Paramount Theatre, combines the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with a creative circus theme, staging and aesthetic, earning it the nickname 'Circus Cats'. Check out Mickey-Jo's full review to find out what this chil...