TONY LOVERS

The brilliant West End sensation 'Buddy' is back!

Over forty years ago, the man who changed the face of popular music tragically died in a plane crash aged 22.

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story tells of the three years in which he became the world’s top recording artist with a show that features over twenty of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits including Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, Heartbeat and Raining In My Heart.

Buddy has had audiences on their feet in every corner of the globe. ‘The World’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musical is a toe tapping, hand clapping extravaganza which will have you up and dancing in the aisles’.

Showing at the Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street.

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TONYLOVERS OPINION

You will be dancing in the aisles, this is a must for any Buddy Holly or rock n roll fan.  Tells the tragic story of Buddy's life but is great fun and massively entertaining.

"Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome, in cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret!"

Cabaret finally returns to the London stage in a major new West End production.

Kander and Ebb's remarkable musical turns the pre-war Berlin of 1931 into a dark and sexually charged haven of decadence, its extraordinary and morally ambiguous inhabitants determined to keep up appearances as the real world - the world outside the comfortable sanctuary of the cabaret - prepares for the nightmarish chaos of war. Its stage and screen awards include 8 Oscars, 7 BAFTA's and 13 Tony Awards.

Join the legendary Sally Bowles live at the Kit Kat Klub: "a shimmering masterpiece of a show guaranteed night after night! It's divine decadence darling!"

Please note: This production of Cabaret is recommended as suitable for over 12s, subject to parental/teacher guidance, as the subject matter deals with adult themes and the staging includes some brief moments of nudity. 

Showing at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Box Office 0870 8300200

'That was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me baby and it didn't occur to me to mind. That was before President Kennedy got shot, before the Beatles came, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my dad. That was the summer we went to Kellerman's.'

Experience the excitement and romance of the blockbuster film - live on stage. featuring the hit songs from the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time including Time of My Life, Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby and Do You Love Me?

First dance. First love. You'll have the 'time of your life!' 

Showing at Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych. Box Office 0870 4000845

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TONYLOVERS OPINION

An interesting twist to the modern musical with some fantastic dance routines, lots of sex appeal and a stunning back track of songs. A great fun night out at the theatre.

Summer nights at London's Piccadilly Theatre are a blast

Grease is the world's No.1 greatest musical and the perfect feel-good family show. Grease brings with it the unforgettable hit songs from the movie including You're the One that I Want, Grease is the Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Sandy and Greased Lightnin'.

This time YOU got to pick Danny and Sandy by voting in ITV's Saturday night cliffhanger Grease is the Word. You chose Danny and Susan as your two brand new West End superstars.

Book now and bring your gang to meet the new Danny and Sandy along with those groovy T-Birds, sassy Pink Ladies and the whole gang at Rydell High. It's the biggest Rock 'n' Roll party of the year.

Don't miss it...it's electrifying!

Showing at the Piccadilly Theatre, Denman Street. Box Office 0870 0606630 or 0870 0600123

For a strictly limited 6 week run from 30th June, the stage production based on the Disney Channel Original Movie HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is going live in London.

Prepare yourself for the chance to see your favourite movie brought to life in the capital - this show is everything you love about the movie with added fun.

Watch the twists and turns of the lovable schoolmates - Troy, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class - as they surf the tricky tides of peer pressure and canteen cliques to follow their dreams and score the leads in the big school show, and a place in each others heart.

Opens 26th March 2008

Into The Hoods is a fabulous fusion of fairy tales, groovy tunes, wicked dance moves and cool movies. It's a funktastic reworking of Stephen Sondheim's classic musical performed by the multi-talented and critically acclaimed Zoonation.

Originating at Sadler's Wells, the show has been the smash hit of the last two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

Featuring music from Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Prince, Basement Jaxx, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Marley, The Chemical Brothers and many, many more.

Showing at Novello Theatre, the Strand. Box Office 0844 4825170

Mamma Mia indeed. Foot tapping, sing along fun from start to finish, a real feel good night out. A catalogue of Abba hits provide the perfect musical score.

Opens May 2008

Marguerite is a love story set in Paris during the Second World War and draws inspiration from one of the greatest of romantic novels, La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas.

Marguerite is the beautiful and notorious mistress of a high ranking German officer. Armand is a young musician half her age who falls obsessively in love with her. Their dangerous love story is played out against the background of Occupied Paris.

The show will be the World Premiere of a collaboration between Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre), the triple Oscar winning musical legend Michel Legrand (Windmills of Your Mind, Yentl, Summer of '42) and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer (Les Miserables).

Ruthie Henshall, the award-winning West End and Broadway actress, returns to the London stage to play the title role, with Julian Ovenden as Armand and Alexander Hanson as the German officer Otto.

Showing at The Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Box Office 0844 8442353

Spamalot is lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, it tells the story of the legend of King Arthur and his Kights of the roundtable. The show features beautiful scantily clad show girls, homicidal rabbits, cows and french people ! It is a musical quite unlike anyother.

This new musical is directed by the Oscar-winning Mike Nichols, with a book by the third tallest python, Eric Idle, and an almost but not quite entirely new score by Eric Idle (no relation) and John du Prez.

Spamalot won more Best Musical awards than any other show in New York when it opened on Broadway in 2005, including the Tony for 'Best Musical'

Starring Alan Dale as King Arthur. From Jim Robinson in Neighbours to media mogul Bradford Meade in the smash hit Ugly Betty and from tycoon Caleb Nichol in cult series the O.C. to Vice President Jim Prescott in the award winning phenomenon 24, Alan Dale is without doubt one of the most familiar faces on TV today.

Not suitable for children under 8 years

Showing at The Palace Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue

Box Office 0870 830 0200

www.montypythonsspamalot.com

Opens 7th May 2008

After smashing box office records in theatres around the country this year, the phenomenal success that is Never Forget, is set to take the West End by storm.

Bursting with life, laughs and great songs, it features all your favourite Take That hits including A Million Love Songs, Could It Be Magic, Relight My Fire, Pray, Back for Good, Babe and of course, Never Forget.

Written by BAFTA nominated Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless and Clocking Off), Guy Jones and Ed Curtis, Never Forget follows the roller coaster journey of our young hero Ash, who's caught between love and loyalty as he becomes the main man in the unlikeliest Take That tribute band.

Audiences up and down the country have been thrilled by the high octane smash hit that is NEVER FORGET. Don't miss your chance to experience the ultimate feel good musical. Book your seats today for a night out you'll NEVER FORGET!

Showing at Savoy Theatre, The Strand. Box Office 0870 1648787

Opens 31st March 2008 and Ends 27th April 2008

A massive box office success in Spain, where it has already been seen by more than a million people, this is a magical, unforgettable family musical, sung and spoken in Spanish, with English sur-titles.

A bright and breezy colourful musical for children of all ages, it features 14 original songs, beautiful sets including a pirate galleon, and a cast of 25 to bring to life JM Barrie's immortal story of Peter, the mischievous boy who can magically fly.

Leader of the Lost Boys on the island of Neverland, Peter makes regular visits to the real world where he befriends the Darling children - Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael - and takes them from London to Neverland for a series of fabulous adventures.

Petulant fairy Tinkerbell, Red Indians and terrifying pirates, led by Peter's nemesis, the evil Captain Hook, who has a terrifying hook in place of the left hand he lost in a duel with Peter, are all brought vividly to life, a unique Spanish take on this most English fairy story.

Starring as Captain Hook and Mr Darling is Miguel Angel Gamero, Spain's leading musical theatre star, whose previous roles include Daddy Warbucks in 'Annie' and the narrator in Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers'.

This show has a pre-recorded soundtrack instead of music being played live at each performance.

Showing at Garrick Theatre. Box Office 0870 8300200

The Lord of the Rings opens in London May 2007.

The show is an adaptation from J.R.R Tolkiens book trilogy and will transform the theatre into Tolkiens middle earth for a spectacular event involving of 70 actors, singers and musicians. This will be a truely stunning show with amazing music, magnificent choreography and spectacular designs. A breathtaking journey of mystery and wonder...a fantasy like no other.

Showing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street.

Box office 0870 830 0200

ENDS 12th April 2008

The greatest piece of musical theatre performed as you've never heard it before - the South African way: 35 singers, marimbas, drums and township percussion. It's a story about the trials of life: growing up, finding the love of your life, learning to be wise. It's adventure, fairy story, comedy and drama, all set to glorious music. A delight for young and old alike.

Telling the story of Prince Tamino's quest to rescue Pamina - daughter of the Queen of the Night - from the Priest of the Sun, it's a heart-warming and comedic story of love, adventure and reconciliation.

Showing at Duke of York Theatre. Box offive 0870 0606623

Andrew Lloyd Webber returns The Sound of Music to the West End, with this vibrant and exciting new production.

The Sound of Music is based on the true and uplifting story of the Von Trapp family, which became a very sucessful Oscar winning musical film.

Its a family classic that has the power to thrill all generations. The show includes some of the most memorable (and sung along with) songs from the musical stage...'My Favorite Things', 'Edelweiss' and 'Do Re Mi, to name but a few.

Showing at London Palladium Theatre, Argyll Street

Box Office 0870 8300200

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TONYLOVERS OPINION

Its all you would hope for and more- even without Connie Fisher in the lead role, her understudy is just as fantastic.

A Tonylovers favorite. Brilliant, very funny script  and a fantastic catalogue of Queen songs performed to a very high standard. The costumes are amazing, the sets are awesome, go and be prepared to want to go back again and again. This one really does 'blow your mind'.

With groundbreaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this show changed the face of musical theatre forever.

Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and packed with memorable songs such as Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty, it has been described as "a masterpiece of musical theatre" (Daily Mail) and "a musical landmark" (The Guardian).

The movie version went on to win an incredible 10 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and further cemented the reputation of this undoubted masterpiece.

Now in 2008, 50 years after the show made its London debut, Joey McKneely's vibrant new stage production of the classic dance musical comes to London after wild critical acclaim in Tokyo, Paris and Beijing.

Showing at Sadlers Wells.

The Broadway hit musical Wicked comes to the West End. Its based on Gregory Maguire’s acclaimed novel, the spellbinding story  transports audiences to a spectacular fantasy world of wizardry, witchcraft, sorcery and spells. It tells the captivating untold story of an extraordinary friendship between two girls: the blond and popular Glinda and the misunderstood green girl, Elphaba, whose destiny is to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

A must see show, prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz'

Showing at The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road

Booking Office- 0870 4000751

www.wickedthemusical.com

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TONYLOVERS OPINION

Hugely entertaining, this show answers all those questions you didn't know you wanted to ask about the origins of the 'Wizard of Oz'.