MickeyJoTheatre

The much-talked about upcoming West End revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE has officially been postponed and will not run next summer at the Barbican. The musical, written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, was set to star Wicked movie alums Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, who have both departed the production this Summer as ticket sales have been delayed. Find out why the show's Barb...

Yet another Broadway show has announced it will close in the first week of 2027, and this time it's the long running jukebox musical, & JULIET. The show, which expands on Shakespeare's most famous romantic tragedy with the songbook of Max Martin, has been playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York since late 2022. Here are Mickey-Jo's thoughts on why the show will end, as well as why...

The musical KIMBERLY AKIMBO is making its UK Premiere at the Hampstead Theatre in London, starring Maria Friedman. The show, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, was previously seen on Broadway where it won awards including the Tony for Best New Musical. Find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show which he saw thrice across the Atlantic, and how he felt about the creative choices of...

After missing out on the chance to see it during its since cancelled run in Woking, Mickey-Jo headed to Cardiff earlier this week to watch the new UK Touring production of Burlesque. The musical adaptation, seen previously under different creative teams in Manchester and London, is based on the film of the same name starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. Amidst alleged backstage chaos, here are Mic...

The fan favourite musical BEETLEJUICE, which has haunted three Broadway houses finally made its way to the West End earlier this year, but will close earlier than planned. The musical adaptation of the classic film announced today that it will conclude its run at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in January 2027. Find out why the show is coming to an end and how this ties in to its international...

Jinkx Monsoon is the latest star of the West End production of Oh, Mary! The hit comedy play written by Cole Escola continues to run at the Trafalgar Theatre. Jinkx makes her West End debut in the show, which opened last year starring Mason Alexander Park, and won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. After last week's gala night performance, here are Mickey-Jo's thoughts about J...

Following the recent news that Ariana Grande will not appear in next year's London revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, it has been announced that Jonathan Bailey will also depart the production. Find out more about the potential reasons behind this decision, as well as its implications for the upcoming revival and whether it will still go ahead... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack news...

In the midst of seeing 50+ shows in a week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Mickey-Jo saw exactly one production from the Edinburgh International Festival - Angels in America. This condensed, single play version of the two part epic from Tony Kushner has been directed by Ivo Van Hove and is a remounting of an earlier run in Amsterdam. Find out what Mickey-Jo thought of this adaptation, these crea...

It was announced earlier today that the Broadway production of SIX, currently playing at the Lena Horne Theatre, would end its run at the beginning of 2027. The musical, which began performances in 2020, but was unable to celebrate its official opening night until New York's theatres reopened in late 2021, is in its sixth year and has become a global phenomenon alongside its Broadway and West End...

The Comedy About Spies, the hilarious show from Mischief Theatre is back in the West End for a limited run at the Adelphi Theatre. Mischief Theatre are the maniacal, award-winning minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong as well as The Comedy about a Bank Robbery, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and many more. Find out which of their co-stars makes them laugh the most onstage, what we can expect from their zan...

With the proshot recording of HADESTOWN having recently been released in cinemas to tremendous success, theatre fans are once again talking about the Tony Award winning musical. Today, Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts on the most impactful performances I've seen in the show, between the West End, Broadway and international productions.  Hear what Mickey-Jo has to say about alumni including J...

After a semi staged concert presentation in 2023, DEATH NOTE the musical is back in London with a fully staged production at the Barbican Centre. Based on the hugely popular manga and anime, the musical stars Xander Pang as Light Yagami, Colin Ryan as L, Stephanie Zaharis as Misa Amane, Telly Leung as Ryuk, and Grace Mouat as Rem. Find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the narrative, score, staging, a...

When a Broadway show becomes a long-runner, its lifetime spanning multiple decades, it's hard to imagine that it could ever close. However, recent grosses for the musical Wicked seem to suggest that the show, which was recently adapted for screen, has been slowing down at the box office, with some of its lowest weekly earnings in years. Today, Mickey-Jo is posing the question "what would it take f...

A brand new stage play based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" stories by George RR Martin has opened at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon. The hotly anticipated play, titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King, is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, and is an immediate prequel to "A Game of Thrones". Find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the story, the performances...

A new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS opened last night at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, in London. This new, outdoor production is directed and choreographed by the venue's artistic director Drew McOnie, and will embark subsequently on a UK Tour. Find out what this production of the show is like, how it compares creatively to recent revivals elsewhere and why the press night performanc...

Last week Mickey-Jo saw four completely different productions in the space of 72 hours: • 9 to 5: the Musical on tour • Love's Labours Lost at Shakespeare's Globe • Grease: the immersive Movie Musical • The Car Man at Sadler's Wells Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of each of these productions, their new interpretations, and their creative choices... check out Mickey's weekly substack newsletter:...

Mickey-Jo recently headed back to JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the London Palladium, but this time he wasn't seated in the auditorium, but stood onstage. This production is offering dozens of audience members at each performance the chance to book onstage standing tickets and experience the show from an intimate, alternative vantage point. This experience came with many logistical requirements as wel...

In a bombshell announcement, it has been confirmed this evening that Ariana Grande will not appear in next year's London revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. The pop star, who was set to make her London musical theatre debut alongside Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, will no longer star in the show as she concludes a concert tour and faces increased public commentary. Find out more about the...

The theatre industry has recently seen casting controversy on either side of the Atlantic, with Boy George departing from his planned stint in the West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar days before he was scheduled to perform, and Geno Segers announced as Broadway's newest Hades in the Tony Award winning musical Hadestown. While the reaction online to political statements from each actor has b...

Mickey-Jo headed to the Almeida Theatre, with some nervous anticipation, to see their new production of Sarah Kane's CLEANSED. This play, first seen at the Royal Court Theatre in the late 1990s, is preceded by its reputation for extreme cruelty and graphic violence, prompting audience members to faint, walk out and publicly decry it. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of his first experience of the...

Last week Mickey-Jo saw two of this summer's buzziest cultural arrivals: the new film adaptation of THE ODYSSEY written and directed by Christopher Nolan and the stage adaptation of THE ORESTEIA at the Bridge Theatre written and directed by Simon Stone. Today, Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts about each of these creative projects alongside one another, talking through their adaptations, endings,...

A conversation has been taking place recently on social media about the stamina and fortitude of Broadway performers in 2026 vs their golden age counterparts. Today, Mickey-Jo is asking what's changed about Broadway and the world surrounding it in the last century that has prompted this shift. Additionally, Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts on why theatre actors perhaps shouldn't be performing 8 s...

A few days ago, TRAINSPOTTING the musical opened at Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End. Among the reviews have been many of the most critical verdicts a new London opening has received in some time, prompting the question: why did the critics hate Trainspotting the Musical? sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com • 00:00 | introduction 02:34 | my re...

There is yet more drama in the world of BURLESQUE the Musical as it was announced earlier this week that its two concurrently readying UK productions would each face some postponement. The show's London return, at the Arts Theatre at Marble Arch, has been delayed to 2027 and will no longer play at the same venue, while the UK tour has cancelled its first stop in Woking and will now begin performan...

Earlier this week, MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. The new musical, written by Mark Sonnenblick, stars Ben Platt and sees the off West End venue reconfigured as an intimate 1960s Cabaret space. Check out Mickey-Jo's spoiler-free and spoiler inclusive thoughts in tandem about this affecting new musical with a pastiche score... • 00:00 | introduction 02:49...