StageDoorCast

Finally ! and not before time we hear you say we launch Season 2 of StageDoorCast. Well we have been waiting for things to perk up and today we talk Carousel at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, South Pacific at Chichester Festival Theatre as well as a discussion about when does re-imagining a show actually create a completely new piece of work. BIG WARNING !!! THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS. If you are waiting to see either of the above maybe wait until you have seen them and then join the conversation. Mail us : mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk or join our Facebook Group and send us messages that way. Please tell your friends about us and send ideas for future shows.

It's our Christmas Show! And the official end of Season 1. No show reviews this time but a discussion about how we can restart our lives after the Pandemic and how our beloved Musical Theatre comes back to us. Richard shares some of his Christmas activities and Cliff recalls a cinema visit a lifetime ago. Plus we chat about what to look forward to over the Christmas period. Season 2 will start as soon as we can see a sign that Theatre can get up and running again. When that will be is anyone's guess but let's hope for early Spring. From us all at StageDoorCast have a very happy and restful holiday break. Please stay safe. Why not spend some time listening to our back catalogue? It will keep you out of mischief! Please tell your friends about us and leave a review on Apple podcasts, it would help us greatly grow the show. Ideas and comments always happily received at mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

We're half way through "Lockdown Two The Sequel", so we turn our attention to what is available as streamed content and review three recent offerings and we have suggestions for more. We think about the possibilities that may come if an effective vaccine is available and look forward to a time when real theatre is available to us all again. Cliff is brave enough to mention the C word as our next show will be early in December and we talk about the sad loss of Bobby Ball and Des O Conner who both graced the Traditional Panto stage in the past.

Richard and Cliff are thinking about tiers this week and talking about allocation of much needed funds to artistic organisations. They look back at the long life of Herbert Kretzmer acclaimed songwriter, and best known perhaps as the lyricist for Les Miserables although his artistic output is far greater than simply that, and discuss the exciting news about the Les Mis Concert being staged in London over the Christmas period, although sadly even at the time of recording tickets are sold out. There is news of a new appointment, and Richard reviews live streams from the Crazy Coqs. We also preview a couple of forthcoming shows there which you can also book as live streams. As always please send news and views to us: mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kretzmer https://www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs/

We are back with a bang and we are delighted to welcome as our special guest Susie Winkworth. Susie is a professional Cellist and Arranger whose tweet streams over the past couple of weeks @winkmusicuk have garnered more than 75 thousand shares and retweets and highlight perfectly the dilemma facing the creative sector and it's mostly freelance staff of world class performers and technicians. Susie joins us to discuss the current situation and tell us about an initiative on 6th October "Let Music Live" which is worthy of all our support. You can find more information about this on Instagram and Twitter @letmusicliveuk Also check out Sonia Friedman's response on this at: https://www.soniafriedman.com/news-press/sonia-friedman-comments-on-the-chancellors-announcement-on-thursday-24th-september-2020 The Cinderella Lockdown supercut is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3VLhrlw5cA Magic with the Musicals is here: https://planetradio.co.uk/magic-with-the-musicals/player/316084/ Richard also manages to bring us a review and we talk about the next few months and how Theatre and Music is going to come back. Do check out Susie on Twitter and please share with us your stories and experiences of being in a creative role during lockdown. As always email us : mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk We will be back in two weeks with more news and views. See you then!

We are still in lockdown, well mostly, so we present another special and yes eagle eyed listeners will notice that Episode 26 appears to have gone missing in action but in truth we started production on that a few weeks ago and couldn't get logistics sorted so Episode 27 it is! We review all of the current news theatrical and beyond with regard to the current crisis, discuss how we are going to get back to normality and we are delighted to welcome as our Special Guest Alistair Woodgate of Green Room Productions to talk about the impact lockdown has had on amateur theatre and the prospects going forwards.

So while you are socially distancing and responsibly going out for your daily exercise may we present just about thirty minutes for your listening pleasure. We talk about the challenges that are facing the theatre world both now and in the future as hopefuly we emerge from the Corona crisis, We reflect on the problems for the amateur theatre business in the week when most spring seasons would be starting and we think about how the future might look in a few months. We also talk about the wide range of theatrical offerings now available online including the Les Mis concert and pick up on some news items from the week. The Stage Link: https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/the-50-best-stage-shows-to-stream-right-now-musicals We will return with our "One Year Anniversary Show" in a few weeks! Watch this space!

We're in lockdown so from our respective locations we bring you a quick news update. And we need your help. We want to do a special show next time and we need a good subject being as news and reviews are currently non existent. Send your ideas and suggestions to us at mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk And stay safe ! Cliff and Rich

As you can imagine things are now a bit different here at StageDoorCast HQ but we are doing our best to bring you a show with news, views and something hopefully to take your mind off the troubles that we are all currently facing. So with appropriate Social Distancing we carry on with a couple of reviews, some news and opinion and thoughts on the future. We will return with a planned recording on April Fools day and we hope you all keep safe and well until then. Don't forget "Wash Your Hands" Best wishes Cliff and Richard https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Normally when I write these show notes I try and find a silly joke for the title but this really is a serious reflection on the state of UK Musical Theatre. Richard brings us several reviews, we talk about the sad demise of what was meant to meant to be a bright new shining light and our talking point is the end of the Epic Musical! As always we are really interested to hear your views, email us at: mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk And a small request, if you listen to us via Apple Podcasts it would really help if you would consider leaving a small review as it helps others find our podcast, thank you. Our next recording is on 18th March slightly later than our normal fortnightly service owing to work issues, apologies. The link to The Stage article about the decline in 2019 is here https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2020/west-end-theatregoing-dips-in-2019-due-to-dark-theatres-and-renovations/

Despite the possibility of Richard's Coffee machine intruding onto our recording, we return fearless as ever with a true miscellany of news and view and a couple of reviews for your listening pleasure. We travel to Wembley Park for "The Wedding Singer" and Dunstable for "Buddy The Musical", now in it's 30th year. We cover casting news for "Hairspray", "The Last Five Years" and much more and bring news of Ball and Boe and the chance to catch them in the Cinema if you can't get along to the O2. We also preview the 'Whats On Stage Awards" Our talking point is Juke Box Musicals and where they stand in Musical Theatre generally, listen to us and send in your views to mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk Finally we have a recommendation for a new show, "Fires Our Shoes Have Made", a challenging subject and story but very highly recommended which can be seen on March 15th as part of the Camden Peoples Theatre 25th Anniversary Celebrations. A booking link can be found here: https://www.cptheatre.co.uk/production/fires-our-shoes-have-made/

It's been a funny old fortnight but we struggle on for your listening pleasure. Cliff discusses 'Cats" the Movie which he has finally been to see, is it puurfect! or pawfull? Richard brings us a veritable feast of reviews including "Rags" "Freaky Friday" and a cabaret night from Andy Coxon, and we discuss lots of news including the many mishaps that have befallen "Les Mis" even before it's official opening and similar problems for "Waitress" involving extreme measures, and much much more. We preview West End Live, look at some lists of best shows for last year, which may surprise you but we will explain and try to shed some light. Another movie adaptation is on the cards and Sheridan Smith returns with a Stage Version of a recent TV Hit. We also discuss funding of original new musicals prompted by this article in the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/jan/22/british-musicals-at-risk-without-subsidies-like-other-theatre Let us know your views on this. Do you agree with our conclusions? Send mail to: mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

Happy New Year! In this Episode we discuss our Christmas Presents or lack of them! Richard shares some invaluable tips for keeping on top of your sock collection, and we head off down memory lane with a collection of old TV themes. We look back at the life and career of Jerry Herman who passed away on Boxing day at the age of 88 and the memorable shows and standards that he has left us. We review a few of the many excellent TV offerings that were on over Christmas, we revist the "Cats" movie with news of tweaks to the film, and Richard brings us our main review of "Goldilocks" at The London Palladium. Mishaps continue to dog "Les Mis" and we report on that. We look forward to the latest Cirque du Soleil show "Luzia" at the Royal Albert Hall and preview some offerings from the Arts Educational School in the next few weeks, "Freaky Friday" and "The Wild Party" We also take a good look at the report from Ticketsource highlighting local and community theatre trends which should be required reading for Musical Theatre Groups and Companies. You can find the report here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/blog/ticketsource-reveal-local-community-theatre-trends Thanks as always for your support, please ensure that you subscribe and also join our facebook group. Ideas and comments can be sent to us at: mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

We are of course up to our elbows in Christmas prep but we have time to look at our favourite picks of Musical Shows on TV, catch a quick review of Curtains in its London home and ponder the early and mixed reviews for Cats the Movie. We also have our picks of the year. We return on the 11th January with Season Two, thanks for joining us on our journey, send your comments and suggestions to us at mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

We're are of course elbow deep in making mince pies, and drinking mulled wine but we couldn't leave you, our listeners without some Christmas Cheers! So join us on a trip over the last few months as we consider our picks for Shows of the Year and Richard reports back on "Curtains" in its London engagement. We also are pleased to present our picks of some of the best and most interesting Musical Theatre and Music related films that you can catch over the Festive Season on TV. We also unpick...

OK let's be honest, we did record this on the day before the General Election but, as we couldn't release it until Saturday eve, let's put all of that behind us and consider "Dear Evan Hansen", "My Best Friends Wedding the Musical", "Be More Chill" and "Pretty Women" amongst much else that we discuss in today's show. Be amazed as Cliff thinks he promunces something wrong, is wrong about that, and gets into a terrible kefuffle! And hear about our plans for the Christmas Special! And a special mention to anyone who guesses what we are talking about in the Pre titles! Hit us up at mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

Cliff returns from the heart of New York's Theatreland with our first, and we did trail it! Musical Theatre inspired Restaurant review! He also reviews "Come from Away", spoiler alert, we really like it! Richard brings us two and a half reviews of "Soho Cinders" and "Legally Blonde" and a final thought about "Falsettos" There is a stack of News to get through and Cliff has a mini rant about the early marketing for "Hello Dolly". We consider The new show from Williams and Walliams, "The Boy in the Dress" and talk about casting for "Back to the Future" We also talk about "Sleepless" the new musical after the film "Sleepless in Seattle" which opens next March but has some early previews before Christmas. And there is lots more fun and japes!

Just one week later another action packed show full of Theatrical goodness! Cliff has an effusive review already trailed for Green Room's "42nd Street". Richard tells of his love for "I Do I Do" upstairs at The Gatehouse which you can still catch this week, and "The Addams Family" and that's only to start. We discuss dodgy ceilings, new casting news and a lot of new shows that are around and about. A Charity Gala Performance at the Coliseum might take your fancy and we hear about a new Musical for next Autumn starring Beverly Knight. Richard previews the UK Theatrical premiere of Cinderella from Rodgers and Hammerstein and the new Morcombe and Wise show "Eric and Ern" which features Ruthie Henshall. We finish up with a heartwarming story amidst natural disasters and have a slightly more serious discussion about surge pricing and whether clapping should be banned!

There's lot's going on this week with the usual mix of News and Reviews and a lot of audience interaction as we bring you a batch of one word reviews. Lots of show news pre Christmas, "The Hoff" makes a return and we discuss something that to some extent we both find annoying. We also have a chat about the upcoming Evening Standard Theatre Awards and look forward to anther busy theatrical week. Send your News and Talking points to us at mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk

It's our Thirteenth Episode! I know who would have thought it, and despite illness striking Richard down as he returns from another nautical adventure we struggle on, with a packed show of news and views. Cliff reviews "Curtains" at the Palace Manchester, We have a good chat about Rags and why we think it's a must see after Christmas, we talk pricing for Sister Act at the Apollo next year and look at new shows coming in to town in the next couple of months and news about existing shows getting a new lease of life. We also feature our first one word review and look forward to a busy few weeks of Theatre Going. Join the Facebook Group, tell your friends and interact with us. Our email is mail@stagedoorcast.co.uk