MickeyJoTheatre

A new revival of the cult hit musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee recently arrived off Broadway, at New World Stages. The new production of the zany comedy stars Kevin McHale (Barfée), Philippe Arroyo (Chip), Jasmine Amy Rogers (Olive), Justin Cooley (Leaf), Autumn Best (Logainne), Leana Rae Concepcion (Marcy), Matt Manuel (Mitch), Lilli Cooper (Rona), and Jason Kravits (Panch). Che...

This year, the final few weeks of theatregoing brought Mickey-Jo the most powerful theatrical experience when he caught a performance of ALL MY SONS. This new production of the often produced Arthur Miller Play is directed by Ivo Van Hove and stars Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End. Check out this full review to find out why Mickey-Jo was so enraptu...

The latest new stage show from the hilarious Mischief Theatre Company (The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About Spies) is Christmas Carol Goes Wrong. The new comedy, originally seen on screen, is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre in the West End and once again features the beloved characters of the Cornley Drama Society. Find out what this production is like, why it made Mickey-Jo laugh, a...

Earlier this month Mickey-Jo had the extraordinary privilege of sitting down with stage co-stars and real life newlyweds Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. The pair, who have performed together in the West End and on Broadway in Hadestown, are currently starring as Sally Bowles and The Emcee in CABARET at the Kit Kat Club. Find out what the fan favourite performers had to say when I asked them about...

Last month, during Mickey-Jo’s most recent trip to New York City, he finally experienced Masquerade, the Off-Broadway promenade production inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The show, which welcomes masked audience members in groups to a series of strikingly styled rooms, tells the story of The Phantom and Christine in an intimate, mysterious setting. Check out what Mickey...

Earlier this month, the musical adaptation of FREAKY FRIDAY arrived at Home Manchester for its UK professional premiere. The show, which debuted some years ago in the US and was filmed for the Disney Channel, stars Rebecca Lock and Jena Pandya as a mother and daughter inspired by those from the iconic story. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, its resemblance to other Freaky Friday stori...

Last month, WICKED: FOR GOOD, the second part of the film adaptation of the global musical phenomenon Wicked, finally arrived in cinemas. The film, directed by Jon M Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (13 the Musical) as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey (Company) as Fiyero. The supporting cast also includes Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum....

Among the alternative theatrical offerings in London this festive season is the return of KENREX, seen previously at Southwark Playhouse and now at The Other Palace. The creative feast of a show, featuring live music, is co written by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian and brings true crime explosively to the stage. Check out this full review to find out more about the truly gripping show, and then...

The hit comedy play OH, MARY! has finally arrived in the West End, opening earlier this week at London's Trafalgar Theatre. Stage and screen star Mason Alexander Park leads the production as Mary, a role originated by writer Cole Escola and played subsequently by performers including Betty Gilpin, Tituss Burgess, Jinkx Monsoon, and Jane Krakowski. Check out this full review to find out what the sh...

Following the recent cinematic release of WICKED: FOR GOOD, it has been rumoured that two of the musical adaptation's stars, Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande, will reunite on stage in a new revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. The production, as yet unconfirmed, is slated to play a limited run in Summer 2027 at the Barbican Theatre in London. Check out this theatre news recap to find out th...

It was announced this week that the award winning off-Broadway cult hit musical TITANIQUE would finally transfer to Broadway. The parody musical will play a 16 week limited run at the St James Theatre, with original star and co-creator Marla Mindelle starring as Celine Dion. With many sharing thoughts about this unexpected news, check out what Mickey-Jo thinks, what the real goal of the run may in...

Last month, Mickey-Jo was in New York for the opening of the new musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the Longacre Theatre. The show, which previously played at the Kiln theatre and Criterion Theatre in London as well as the American Repertory Theatre, stars Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts as Dougal and Robin. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, what it has in common w...

Last month, WICKED: FOR GOOD, the second part of the film adaptation of the global musical phenomenon Wicked, finally arrived in cinemas. The film, directed by Jon M Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (13 the Musical) as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey (Company) as Fiyero. The supporting cast also includes Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum....

This week, Mickey-Jo was invited to attend the opening night performance of his most anticipated show of the year in London - a brand new revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS at the Bridge Theatre. This new production, directed by Jordan Fein, stars Katie Brayben, Jamie Parker, Kate Fleetwood, Chumisa Dornford-May, Jo Foster, Gracie McGonigal, and more in a dark take on th...

One of this season's first and most talked about new musical openings on Broadway was THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, a Kristin Chenoweth led star vehicle with a new score from Stephen Schwartz based on the documentary of the same name. The show, which opened to mixed reviews, had already set an early closing date of January 4th, but later brought this forward with the announcement that the show would cl...

The Royal Shakespeare Company's festive production has just opened, a new stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG. The production, directed by Daniel Evans, uses puppetry and live instrumental music to being the nostalgic children's story to the stage for a family audience, and will subsequently visit Chichester Festival Theatre in 2026. Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thoug...

Mickey-Jo has been thinking recently about why it is that theatre audiences seem to be enamoured with the notion of seeing a real life couple performing together onstage, even though they're portraying characters other than themselves. The answers may seem obvious, but there is some nuance to uncover here as we consider the various different ways in which a couple can perform together - as lovers,...

The Tony Award winning Broadway revival of the Musical Merrily we Roll Along has now been released in cinemas as a film, ahead of an upcoming feature film adaptation of the originally short-lived show written by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. This production, which played a limited run at the Hudson Theatre in New York, starred Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe alongside a s...

Last month, WICKED: FOR GOOD, the second part of the film adaptation of the global musical phenomenon Wicked, finally arrived in cinemas. The film, directed by Jon M Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (13 the Musical) as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey (Company) as Fiyero. The supporting cast also includes Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum....

One of the best pieces of theatre Mickey-Jo saw during his most recent trip to New York was LIBERATION, an extraordinary new play from playwright Bess Wohl, directed by Whitney White. The play, which sees a version of the playwright trying to reconcile a younger, empowered version of her late mother with the woman she knew, examines a consciousness raising group for women's liberation in 1970s Ohi...

Something Mickey-Jo has been wondering about for a while is why two of Broadway's biggest stars, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, have struggled to find a hit star vehicle on stage since their star-making turns in Wicked. The actresses, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, and who have gone on to become household names with considerable success on screen, both returned to Broadway th...

One of this season's most anticipated shows has recently opened at the Imperial Theatre, the first ever Broadway revival of CHESS. The musical, first seen on stage in the 1980s, depicts a chess-centred love triangle in the midst of cold war tensions, written by Benny Anderson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Sir Tim Rice. This new production, with a rewritten book by Danny Strong, stars Lea Michele (Funny Girl...

With drag performers including Jinkx Monsoon and La Voix having recently been announced for major stage projects in 2026, Mickey-Jo is wondering whether there's been a trend in how many drag queens (and specifically alumni of RuPaul's Drag Race) have taken to the stage in the last few years. Shows on either side of the Atlantic, including Chicago, Cabaret, Moulin Rouge, Everybody's Talking about J...

During Mickey-Jo's most recent trip to New York City he saw five off-Broadway plays, which were: • This World of Tomorrow at the Shed • Gruesome Playground Injuries at the Lucille Lortel Theatre • Prince F*ggot at Studio Seaview • Caroline at MCC Theatre • Initiative at the Public Theatre Check out that Mickey-Jo thought of each of these shows, share your own thoughts and recommend more off-Broadw...

After enormous anticipation that has only built during the show's preview period, Paddington the Musical has officially opened at the Savoy Theatre in London. The brand new stage adaptation of the Michael Bond story and the STUDIOCANAL films is directed by Luke Sheppard (The Little Big Things, Starlight Express) with Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale having written the score and book respectively. Ar...