All stories by Matt Wolf on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

You Stupid Darkness!, Southwark Playhouse review - an intriguing muddle by Matt Wolf

Overlong Sam Steiner play needs clarity to go with its compassion Armageddon would appear to be at the gates in Sam Steiner’s intriguing if ramshackle play, a co-production between Paines…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 11:24AM
Friday, January 17, 2020

Claire Moore on Getting Booed for Her Role as a Baddie in London's Mary Poppins by Matt Wolf

Claire Moore was Sarah Brightman’s replacement more than three decades ago as Christine Daaé in the West End’s The Phantom of the Opera and has rarely been long absent from the London s…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 03:42PM
Thursday, January 16, 2020

Feuding Families Take Center Stage by Matt Wolf

From the bloodbath of “The Duchess of Malfi” to the intergenerational confusion of “Snowflake,” family disputes are at the center of three plays in London.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:06AM
Sunday, January 12, 2020

New York theatre reviews roundup – not all of Broadway has the blues by Matt Wolf

Heavy topics abound, but there’s still room for a laugh and a song – from an Alanis Morissette musical to a dildo-waving new play

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:42PM
Monday, December 30, 2019

2019 Wrap-Up: Best London Performances of the Year by Matt Wolf

Newcomers and veterans were both given chances to shine on the London stage this year. Below, listed in no particular order, are five performances for which we will have fond memories of wel…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 06:18PM
Saturday, December 28, 2019

2019 Wrap-Up: Best London Shows of the Year by Matt Wolf

Arthur Miller may have been ubiquitous on the London stage this year, but there was no shortage of homegrown British talent—from that fearless octogenarian Caryl Churchill at the Royal C…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 10:24AM

Best of 2019: Theatre by Matt Wolf

The classics got a shake-up, while provocative new writing came mostly from America Political dysfunction and societal distress led many amongst us to the brink this year, so where better th…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 04:24AM
Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Curtains, Wyndham's Theatre review - unexpectedly giddy fun by Matt Wolf

Late-arrival to the West End is broad, brash - and delightful Who knew? This West End premiere of the 2007 Broadway entry from the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Ch…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 12:24PM
Monday, December 16, 2019

West End Girl from the North Country Star Katie Brayben on the Pleasure of Bringing Dylan Classics to Life by Matt Wolf

Katie Brayben won a 2015 Olivier Award for her star-making performance as Carole King in the West End premiere of Beautiful. Since that time, she shifted genres to star in a revival of the n…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 02:03PM
Friday, December 13, 2019

Teenage Dick, Donmar Warehouse review - a fearlessly acted, well-intentioned mess by Matt Wolf

Mike Lew's riff on Shakespeare needs more art to go with its heart If good intentions were everything, Teenage Dick would be the play of the year. As it is, this British premiere at the Donm…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 11:54AM
Saturday, December 7, 2019

Jodie Prenger on Starring in London's A Taste of Honey and Naming Her Pet After a Fabulous Diva by Matt Wolf

Jodie Prenger came to attention as the winner of the BBC reality TV competition series I’d Do Anything in 2008, as a result of which she got to play Nancy in Oliver! in the West End for th…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 07:54AM
Thursday, December 5, 2019

Brave new world: why the capital's theatres have never been so important by Matt Wolf

As they take on more challenging themes, provocative material and divisive subjects, the capital’s theatres have never felt so vital.

SOURCE: www.standard.co.uk at 07:44AM
Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Boy Friend, Menier Chocolate Factory - fun but featherweight by Matt Wolf

Period confection in three acts could use pruning There’s slight (White Christmas, to name but one) and then there’s The Boy Friend, a period musical so unabashedly vaporous that if yo…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:48AM
Friday, November 29, 2019

The Wolf of Wall Street, 5-15 Sun Street review - energetic but to what end? by Matt Wolf

Jordan Belfort memoirs translate unpleasantly, even unnecessarily, to the stage Of all the groups you probably wouldn’t want to be part of, surely the hyper-adrenalised, hardscrabble popu…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 06:36AM
Thursday, November 28, 2019

White Christmas, Dominion Theatre review - breezy but bland by Matt Wolf

Seasonal entertainment is cheerful if essentially dull Nostalgia for things that probably never were is an animating theme in politics these days.

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:06AM

Musicals of Various Shapes and Sizes Arrive on London Stages by Matt Wolf

“Dear Evan Hansen” is the latest Broadway musical to open in the West End, along with the pop bonanza “& Juliet” and nearby, the quietly powerful “Ghost Quartet.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:06AM
Tuesday, November 26, 2019

& Juliet Star Miriam-Teak Lee Roars in the Splashy New West End Musical by Matt Wolf

Miriam-Teak Lee was something of an overnight sensation when she played Claire De Loone in the 2017 Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park revival of On the Town, since which time she went on to u…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:12PM
Friday, November 22, 2019

Dear Evan Hansen Director Michael Greif on Bringing the Tony-Winning Musical to London by Matt Wolf

Michael Greif has shepherded Dear Evan Hansen successfully into port many times at this point, but only now is the 2017 Best Musical Tony Award winner being seen outside North America. Its W…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 11:54AM
Wednesday, November 13, 2019

More Elaine Paige! The English Musical Theater Legend Weighs In on the Upcoming Cats Movie and More by Matt Wolf

In the first part of our chat with the ever-vital Elaine Paige, the English musical theater legend spoke about making the shift into radio and the excitement that has accompanied this unexpe…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:33PM
Friday, November 8, 2019

Elaine Paige on Being Known as the 'First Lady of the British Musical Theater,' Her Successful Radio Show & More by Matt Wolf

Elaine Paige needs scant introduction as the “first lady of the British musical theater,” a title that the veteran star of Evita, Cats, Chess and Sunset Boulevard, to name just a few of …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:03PM
Thursday, November 7, 2019

Claire Foy and Matt Smith Meet Again, Onstage by Matt Wolf

The stars of “The Crown” are back together in a production in London.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:33AM
Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Antipodes, National Theatre review - mysterious and gently momentous by Matt Wolf

Annie Baker's latest will divide opinion but reward devotees The National Theatre is forging its own special relationship with American playwright Annie Baker, having now produced three of h…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 04:36AM
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Josh Piterman on 'Screaming Like a Soprano' When He Learned He Would Star in London's The Phantom of the Opera by Matt Wolf

London has seen numerous Phantoms in the 33-plus years since the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera had its world premiere before going on to become a global phenomenon. Bu…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:18AM
Monday, October 28, 2019

Oliver Ormson on Bringing High Fidelity to London with a Fresh British Spin by Matt Wolf

High Fidelity didn’t last long on Broadway in 2006, but the musical adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel has had plenty of airings elsewhere since that time and is now in previews at southw…

SOURCE: Theatre.com at 02:59PM
Thursday, October 24, 2019

Little Baby Jesus, Orange Tree Theatre review - an early play thrillingly alive for now by Matt Wolf

Arinzé Kene play from 2011 packs a renewed punch Time has been not just kind but even crucial to Little Baby Jesus, the 2011 play from the multi-hyphenate talent Arinzé Kene, who since…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:24AM
Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Vassa, Almeida Theatre review - delayed opening doesn't land by Matt Wolf

Gorky play suffers an identity crisis in uneasily-pitched revival Even the mighty Almeida is allowed the occasional dud and it’s sure as hell got one at the moment with Vassa. Maxim Gork…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 07:48PM
Friday, October 18, 2019

Longtime London The Lion King Star George Asprey Reflects on the Show's 20 Years in the West End by Matt Wolf

The Lion King this month marks 20 years on the London stage, during which time it has become the sixth longest-running West End musical ever, with no end in sight. The iconic Disney musical …

SOURCE: Theatre.com at 02:08PM

Female Playwrights Are on Form (for the Most Part) by Matt Wolf

Whether it’s finishing what Jane Austen started, imagining the private conversations of first ladies or inserting the personal, on London stages female playwrights are mixing things up.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:33AM
Saturday, October 12, 2019

Tony Nominated Composer Dave Malloy on His Russian Inspiration and Hitting London with Preludes and Ghost Quartet by Matt Wolf

The Tony-nominated composer/lyricist Dave Malloy of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 fame hasn’t had a London presence until this fall, when he is unexpectedly being represent…

SOURCE: Theatre.com at 12:00AM
Friday, October 11, 2019

Groan Ups, Vaudeville Theatre review - adding ambition and emotion to the mix by Matt Wolf

The ever-likable Mischief Theatre's latest stretches them in new if still-unfinished ways If ambition were all, Groan Ups would get an A*. Marking the first of a very welcome three-show res…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 07:48AM
Thursday, October 10, 2019

Assassins, Watermill Theatre, Newbury - Sondheim musical in scalding form by Matt Wolf

Sondheim's 1990 show gets more disturbingly pertinent with every revival “Every now and then the country goes a little wrong”: so goes one of the many lyrics from the Stephen Sondheim-Jo…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 05:06AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre