College Productions

[digne]

I just managed to get a return for the matinee - one seat left on the website if anyone needs it.

[FrontroverPaul]

Me too, had to leave my house in Kent immediately after booking and rush to the station but should just make it in time. Slightly stressed out as train is currently going very slowly but really excited. If anything comes up for Bandstand tonight - currently sold out - I'll book that too

[frankubelik]

When I worked in "the business" over twenty years ago, I was fortunate (or sometimes not) enough to see so many student productions. It gave me the opportunity to see some classic Broadway shows including LITTLE ME, MERRILY, PROMISES, INTO THE WOODS, COMPANY, MAN OF LA MANCHA, BYE BYE BIRDIE and a truly stunning and inventive CABARET directed by Matt Ryan. Happy Days.

[Dr Tom]

Les Miserables - Mountview

Very much enjoyed this yesterday afternoon, although I suspect if this was a professional production it would get both 1* and 5* reviews.

This was a modern day urban take on the musical, which could never happen in a professional production while this is running in the West End. I can't imagine a Cameron ever allowing a character to sing sitting on a toilet with her knickers down, or the four letter words used getting into the main script (only between the songs, which were kept lyrics untouched). And good to see a few non-traditional relationships highlighted on stage.

There was a nice scaffold effect on three levels which worked well. 

This doesn't translate perfectly to the modern day. It is very strange to see people communicating using mobile phones at the start and end, then them suddenly disappearing for the middle section of the show where communication has to be by letter. I do feel some parts were more developed and polished than others, but it is a long show so a lot to work on (3 hours 5 minutes, longer than the West End version). 

The vocal performances were mixed, but this is a student production (and probably also an audition for one of the biggest employers of musical theatre students in the West End). Some people didn't sing quite in time with the music, which I presume must have been a deliberate choice as it happened too often to be accidental. Singing in regional UK accents also takes some getting used to.

The highlights in the Claude-Michel cast were Harry Goodson-Bevan as Marius (who could easily be planted straight into the main show), Yazmin King as Eponine and Georgia Mann as Cosette.

My seat in the top level was awful, with a bar in view. But the people near me were masked, unlike most of the audience who just ignored the instructions.

Very glad I got chance to see this. It is a pity alternative stagings like this can't get a bit of further life, even though a few tweaks would be needed.

[danb]

Ahhh I remember when it was 3 hours long…those were the days. You didn’t get heart palpitations from the tempo and could almost work out who people were before they died. Halcyon days.

[Theatre Fan]

Some gorgeous production photos have been posted, from the Mountview production of Les Misérables -

/?sfnsn=scwspmo

[Dr Tom]

Nov 8, 2021 20:08:00 GMT Theatre Fan said:

Some gorgeous production photos have been posted, from the Mountview production of Les Misérables

With 217 photos, they're really trying to do their best to showcase the production and everything the students did, but without being able to share any videos or audio.

[FrontroverPaul]

Nov 7, 2021 20:45:43 GMT Dr Tom said:

Les Miserables - Mountview

Very much enjoyed this yesterday afternoon, although I suspect if this was a professional production it would get both 1* and 5* reviews.

This was a modern day urban take on the musical, which could never happen in a professional production while this is running in the West End. I can't imagine a Cameron ever allowing a character to sing sitting on a toilet with her knickers down, or the four letter words used getting into the main script (only between the songs, which were kept lyrics untouched). And good to see a few non-traditional relationships highlighted on stage.

There was a nice scaffold effect on three levels which worked well. 

This doesn't translate perfectly to the modern day. It is very strange to see people communicating using mobile phones at the start and end, then them suddenly disappearing for the middle section of the show where communication has to be by letter. I do feel some parts were more developed and polished than others, but it is a long show so a lot to work on (3 hours 5 minutes, longer than the West End version). 

The vocal performances were mixed, but this is a student production (and probably also an audition for one of the biggest employers of musical theatre students in the West End). Some people didn't sing quite in time with the music, which I presume must have been a deliberate choice as it happened too often to be accidental. Singing in regional UK accents also takes some getting used to.

The highlights in the Claude-Michel cast were Harry Goodson-Bevan as Marius (who could easily be planted straight into the main show), Yazmin King as Eponine and Georgia Mann as Cosette.

My seat in the top level was awful, with a bar in view. But the people near me were masked, unlike most of the audience who just ignored the instructions.

Very glad I got chance to see this. It is a pity alternative stagings like this can't get a bit of further life, even though a few tweaks would be needed.

I was very lucky on Saturday and got a prime stalls seat for the same matinee you attended. Booked it over the phone at 10.45 and only made it to the theatre by slow trains 15 minutes before curtain up.

I sat next to a very nice lady who I think was the current Executive Director of Mountview and my seat had been returned by her. We got chatting before the show started and I mentioned that I had attended previous Mountview musicals, but wasn't notified of this show and almost missed out on seeing it ;  she then accompanied me to the box office during the interval and they added me to the emailing list for future shows. She also gave me some background info about how they were able to stage - and change - Les Miserables  - very close links to Sir Cameron Mackintosh hence the renamed Mack Theatre. She told me the young man playing M. Thenardier was German which I would never have guessed. I particularly like the performances of both the Thenardiers ( Timo Tatzber and Elspeth Day-Collins)  and Madame T was quite a woman !

I had no idea the show was a revised production before curtain up and it was never really made clear exactly what the protests were about. The mass shootings did seem a bit at odds with the present say setting including mobile phones and even a character eating KFC  but overall I felt it worked and there was some real talent on stage.

I tried to get a ticket for Bandstand in the evening but it was still showing as sold out at 12.30pm and the booking page was removed by 4.10pm. I also tried to book a seat at the evening performance at Mountview  - there were two different casts for the main roles -  but there were no returns at 4.15 and no guarantee there would be any later so decided to head back home.

[Dr Tom]

The Wedding Singer - Italia Conti

Another enjoyable show with some good jokes (if you remember the 80s) and some catchy songs.

I caught the Friday matinee and got the pleasure of being selected as "ugly guy" (although personally I think I'm not that bad looking when I have a mask on). All good fun and I was likely one of few audience members not related to anyone in the cast.

This was a final year production, although they're rather hampered by only having four or five male students in the final year (there were five men in the cast, but I think one was a second year). That means there are two sets of female leads, but only one set of male leads. Everyone I saw had a lot of potential, but my cast board photo didn't come out well enough to relay names.

The only other time I've seen this show was in Wembley with Kevin Clifton a while back. A very different cast of 80s tribute acts joining at the end, mostly due to the largely female cast.

One health and safety issue which I hope is being considered for the future. There was a knocked over glass of liquid midway through the second half, forming a puddle on the floor. For the next 20 minutes or so I could see people avoiding it but wondering why no one took the initiative to do anything about it. Finally someone whizzed on with a mop proceeding to extend the water over a much larger slippery area. During the finale, two of the ensemble went down. Thankfully both were okay and just got up and continued.

I've always enjoyed Italia Conti shows and this was no exception. It will be a shame for theatregoers when they move to Woking and the venue just isn't as quick and easy to get to, but it should allow them to upgrade the facilities.

[forevercolours]

Interesting thread here about the ArtsEd production of Spongebob. Not a good look for them especially after the recent controversy surrounding the actions of some staff members.

[Dr Tom]

Urinetown - Italia Conti

I caught this last Thursday evening. There's a lot of great music to this one.

I did get a programme too, so I know who was on.

As with the last show I saw at Italia Conti, this is a very female heavy cast. Sometimes, it comes across as if they have the show licenced and then do the best they can to match the people available to the roles.

I thought Sofia Cox, who played Hope Gladwell, had great presence and lots of potential. With that said, a good cast all around but there's a bit of inexperience there too. I look forward to seeing these students further into their education.

[Dr Tom]

The Spongebob Musical - Arts Ed

I saw this sellout production last Friday evening. You can't fault the professionalism of the production and this is really a perfect show for a young diverse cast, with no one looking out of place. Apart from one slip in the tap dancing scene, this would be ready to go into a commercial venue anywhere.

This very much reminded me of how this was staged on Broadway, just scaled down for the climbing scene. There is infectious smiling throughout.

Ciaran Rodger as SpongeBob and Ben Culleton as Patrick were perfect. Miles Harding as Sheldon Plankton is ready for a role as a pantomime villain anywhere.

I know there has been some controversy with this production. I didn't pick up on this on Friday, but it is impossible to know if any changes had been made. But these are very important issues and certainly not ones to make light of.

With that aside, this is one of the rare student productions which I would have loved to have seen again.

[partytentdown]

What was the controversy?

[Dr Tom]

Mountview have just put their next set of shows on sale, including Company (in the Backstage Theatre) and Carousel (in the main theatre).

Carousel doesn't have many seats left. Company is unreserved seating, so it's hard to tell.

I'm sure both will be excellent, so book quick!

[FrontroverPaul]

Dec 16, 2021 13:03:57 GMT Dr Tom said:

Mountview have just put their next set of shows on sale, including Company (in the Backstage Theatre) and Carousel (in the main theatre).

Carousel doesn't have many seats left. Company is unreserved seating, so it's hard to tell.

I'm sure both will be excellent, so book quick!

Company completely sold out  when I tried to book earlier this evening. Carousel still has good availability for several performances.

I'll be checking back for Company returns nearer the time, Carousel booked.

[Dr Tom]

Dec 16, 2021 23:18:56 GMT FrontroverPaul said:

Company completely sold out  when I tried to book earlier this evening. Carousel still has good availability for several performances.

I'll be checking back for Company returns nearer the time, Carousel booked.

I'm sure a few will appear when they release the tickets they're holding for agents etc. But yes, these sell so fast (or some people get to book in advance). I'm sure I booked within 15 minutes of receiving the email and the dates I checked were two thirds full even then.

[Dr Tom]

And the Arts Ed musicals for January and February are now advertised as well.

Lysistrata Jones and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Tickets aren't yet on sale, but I'm sure it will be usual scramble for tickets sometime in January when they do get released.

[FrontroverPaul]

Mayflower - The Musical at The Mill Studio, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford on Saturday 12 February at 7pm.

A full-length concert presentation by musical theatre students of a brand new musical telling the story of William Bradford and the Pilgrim Fathers.

Only one performance ,I would attend but already have a show booked elsewhere.

[Dr Tom]

Dec 19, 2021 11:13:20 GMT Dr Tom said:

And the Arts Ed musicals for January and February are now advertised as well.

Lysistrata Jones and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Tickets aren't yet on sale, but I'm sure it will be usual scramble for tickets sometime in January when they do get released.

Lysistrata Jones tickets are on sale as of 12 noon today.

[FrontroverPaul]

Jan 7, 2022 12:00:11 GMT Dr Tom said:

Dec 19, 2021 11:13:20 GMT Dr Tom said:

And the Arts Ed musicals for January and February are now advertised as well.

Lysistrata Jones and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Tickets aren't yet on sale, but I'm sure it will be usual scramble for tickets sometime in January when they do get released.

Lysistrata Jones tickets are on sale as of 12 noon today.

Cheers for tip off. Booked for one of the matinees, significantly cheaper than the evening performances for some reason and will  book an evening musical to go with it. Looks like a fun show.

[FrontroverPaul]

Company at Mountview now has availability for several performances.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Arts Ed. is still not on sale.

Bridewell Theatre has Something Old ... Something New, a musical theatre review, presented by the Musical Theatre Academy, from 9 -12 March.

[Dr Tom]

Italia Conti musicals for March/April are Footloose, Carrie and Cry Baby.

They also have three plays coming up in February/March - A Small Family Business (Ayckbourn), Banana Boys (looks like this one is a gay coming of age story) and Innovation (drawing a blank with searches for this one).

The first two plays are on sale here:
www.gigantic.com/spring-season-italia-conti-tickets

[thistimetomorrow]

Bird College are putting on:
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2-5 Feb
- Crazy For ou 23-26 Feb
- Pippin 16-19 March
- Follies 27-30 April
- Bare the Musical 11-14 May


I'm sure it's somewhere very obvious, but I cannot for the life of me find any information on when booking opens for any of these shows or if public booking is even possible?

[showgirl]

Thank you, FrontroverPaul for the Arts Ed show info as I knew nothing of any of these college productions before but your post enabled me to see some future stars at yesterday's matinee of Lysistrata Jones. You however will be seeing the other cast, though the ensemble is the same.

[Dr Tom]

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at ArtsEd has just gone on sale. Runs 8 to 12 February.