It was recently announced that actor and social media personality, Dylan Mulvaney, would join the Broadway cast of SIX the Musical alongside other new cast members including Abigail Barlow and returning members of the original Broadway company. In an increasingly dangerous climate for the trans community, this news has unearthed criticism, with the show's X account becoming temporarily private in order to limit what the producers have characterised as bullying. In a theatre news recap, Mickey-Jo...
Jan 21, 2026•28 min
After reported rumours, it has now been confirmed that a major new revival of the musical SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE will open at the Barbican in London in Summer 2027. The musical, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985, was written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, and will star Wicked stars Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande. In this theatrical news recap, Mickey-Jo is sharing all of the information that has been announced so far as well as his thoughts on this upcoming product...
Jan 19, 2026•22 min
With so many major casting changes having recently been announced for Broadway, Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts on some of the most high profile headlines. From returning stars at The Great Gatsby to departing Robots at Maybe Happy Ending, let's take a look at current casting trends and see what they can tell us about the evolving Broadway landscape... 00:00 | introduction 02:50 | miscellaneous shows 08:17 | Maybe Happy Ending 13:17 | Operation Mincemeat 18:50 | Death Becomes Her 23:54 | Titan...
Jan 19, 2026•36 min
Mickey-Jo's first week back at the theatre in 2026 concluded with the press night of HIGH NOON in the West End, a new stage adaptation of the iconic 1952 Western film. The play, which stars Billy Crudup and Denise Gough, takes place in real time as the clock ticks down to the fateful arrival of a train. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of this production, its creative choices, its performances, and whether it really needed to be on stage in the first place in this full review... • 00:00 | introd...
Jan 13, 2026•25 min
Mickey-Jo has a substack now!! For a while Mickey-Jo has wanted to create a way of staying up to date with the reviews, features, interviews and vlogs he shares across multiple platforms, and now here it is! Designed by Mickey-Jo's brilliant fiancé @aeronjamesuk , this weekly update will let you know what Mickey-Jo has been seeing, and will even contain exclusive teasers of the theatre trips, travel and content to come. Head to https://mickeyjotheatre.substack.com/ to subscribe for free! About M...
Jan 13, 2026•1 min
Just before the weekend, the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's STARLIGHT EXPRESS announced a final extension and with that, a closing date in May of this year. The show, which has been running at a temporary theatre in Wembley Park, London, is a multi-award winning revival of the long-running show which perhaps did not capture the same excitement as its predecessor. Check out this theatre news recap for some insights as to why Starlight Express' Wembley home has always meant it would be...
Jan 11, 2026•23 min
The first West End press night of the year for me was WOMAN IN MIND at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. This 40th Anniversary Revival of the celebrated play by Alan Ayckbourn stars Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the new production and its central performances... • 00:00 | introduction 02:56 | synopsis / material 09:48 | this production 15:54 | performances 21:31 | conclusion About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a s...
Jan 11, 2026•23 min
An explosive intermission argument between audience members at Mamma Mia! on Broadway has made headlines this month and been seen across social media. The confrontation has reignited a recurring dialogue around theatre etiquette and audience behaviour, which Mickey-Jo will be discussing once more today. • 00:00 | introduction 02:17 | what happened? 13:18 | why Mamma Mia? 23:09 | the underlying reason 28:57 | conclusion About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a socia...
Jan 08, 2026•30 min
Just before the end of 2025, Mickey-Jo spent 12 consecutive days seeing theatre, including two new productions of dance-centric musicals based on classic films. Singin in the Rain is currently playing a limited run at the utterly unique Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester while a new production of Top Hat runs at the Southbank Centre in London ahead of a full UK tour. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of each production in this double feature review! • 00:00 | introduction 02:15 | Singin in the ...
Jan 08, 2026•27 min
As a new year of theatregoing begins, Mickey-Jo is glancing ahead to his most anticipated shows of the Broadway season and letting you know what he suggests seeing in New York this Spring. Check out which already open shows Mickey-Jo recommends revisiting as well as which upcoming openings bear the Mickey-Jo seal of approval. • 00:00 | introduction 01:50 | already open 10:08 | Spring shows 17:46 | Spring shows 27:01 | unannounced / off-Broadway About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in th...
Jan 06, 2026•32 min
After seeing almost 300 shows in 2025, Mickey-Jo is looking back over some of his favourite shows from the last year. From the West End to Broadway, these are the shows Mickey-Jo was the most enthralled, astonished and excited by. Stay tuned for many more reviews coming in 2026... • 00:00 | introduction 02:48 | 15. The Last 5 Years 05:52 | 14. Hole 08:02 | 13. Oedipus 10:12 | 12. Liberation 12:41 | 11. Purpose 14:56 | 10. Inter Alia 17:15 | 9. Bat Boy 19:42 | 8. The Years 22:17 | 7. Cyrano de Be...
Jan 03, 2026•43 min
After seeing almost 300 shows in 2025, Mickey-Jo is looking back over some of his least favourite shows from the last year. From the West End to Broadway, these are the shows Mickey-Jo was disappointed by including the likes of The Queen of Versailles, The Tempest, Freaky Friday, and more. Stay tuned for Mickey-Jo's roundup of the year's best shows coming soon, and for many more reviews in 2026... • 00:00 | introduction 03:07 | The Tempest 05:24 | The Maids 07:11 | Oedipus 09:42 | White Rose 11:...
Jan 03, 2026•35 min
A new revival of the cult hit musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee recently arrived off Broadway, at New World Stages. The new production of the zany comedy stars Kevin McHale (Barfée), Philippe Arroyo (Chip), Jasmine Amy Rogers (Olive), Justin Cooley (Leaf), Autumn Best (Logainne), Leana Rae Concepcion (Marcy), Matt Manuel (Mitch), Lilli Cooper (Rona), and Jason Kravits (Panch). Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show when he saw it last month for the very first time... • 00:...
Dec 29, 2025•25 min
This year, the final few weeks of theatregoing brought Mickey-Jo the most powerful theatrical experience when he caught a performance of ALL MY SONS. This new production of the often produced Arthur Miller Play is directed by Ivo Van Hove and stars Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End. Check out this full review to find out why Mickey-Jo was so enraptured by this production, its striking creative choices, and how it spoke to a contemporary audience.....
Dec 29, 2025•30 min
The latest new stage show from the hilarious Mischief Theatre Company (The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About Spies) is Christmas Carol Goes Wrong. The new comedy, originally seen on screen, is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre in the West End and once again features the beloved characters of the Cornley Drama Society. Find out what this production is like, why it made Mickey-Jo laugh, and what Mischief fans will love about it... Wishing everyone happy holidays during this festive seas...
Dec 29, 2025•25 min
Earlier this month Mickey-Jo had the extraordinary privilege of sitting down with stage co-stars and real life newlyweds Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. The pair, who have performed together in the West End and on Broadway in Hadestown, are currently starring as Sally Bowles and The Emcee in CABARET at the Kit Kat Club. Find out what the fan favourite performers had to say when I asked them about the emotional meaning of sharing the stage together, the experience of filming the Hadestown proshot...
Dec 29, 2025•31 min
Last month, during Mickey-Jo’s most recent trip to New York City, he finally experienced Masquerade, the Off-Broadway promenade production inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The show, which welcomes masked audience members in groups to a series of strikingly styled rooms, tells the story of The Phantom and Christine in an intimate, mysterious setting. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, including breathtaking highlights and some frustrating shortcomings as well...
Dec 26, 2025•46 min
Earlier this month, the musical adaptation of FREAKY FRIDAY arrived at Home Manchester for its UK professional premiere. The show, which debuted some years ago in the US and was filmed for the Disney Channel, stars Rebecca Lock and Jena Pandya as a mother and daughter inspired by those from the iconic story. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, its resemblance to other Freaky Friday stories, and its material in this full review... • 00:00 | introduction 01:30 | overview / synopsis 07:58...
Dec 22, 2025•27 min
Last month, WICKED: FOR GOOD, the second part of the film adaptation of the global musical phenomenon Wicked, finally arrived in cinemas. The film, directed by Jon M Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (13 the Musical) as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey (Company) as Fiyero. The supporting cast also includes Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. In the final installment of his WICKED WEEKENDS series, Mickey-Jo is considering the possibility of...
Dec 20, 2025•26 min
Among the alternative theatrical offerings in London this festive season is the return of KENREX, seen previously at Southwark Playhouse and now at The Other Palace. The creative feast of a show, featuring live music, is co written by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian and brings true crime explosively to the stage. Check out this full review to find out more about the truly gripping show, and then book to see it for yourself... • 00:00 | introduction 03:22 | synopsis / overview 08:17 | creative c...
Dec 20, 2025•22 min
The hit comedy play OH, MARY! has finally arrived in the West End, opening earlier this week at London's Trafalgar Theatre. Stage and screen star Mason Alexander Park leads the production as Mary, a role originated by writer Cole Escola and played subsequently by performers including Betty Gilpin, Tituss Burgess, Jinkx Monsoon, and Jane Krakowski. Check out this full review to find out what the show's winning comedic formula is, how Mason's Mary compares with predecessors, and whether the show l...
Dec 19, 2025•28 min
Following the recent cinematic release of WICKED: FOR GOOD, it has been rumoured that two of the musical adaptation's stars, Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande, will reunite on stage in a new revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. The production, as yet unconfirmed, is slated to play a limited run in Summer 2027 at the Barbican Theatre in London. Check out this theatre news recap to find out the truth behind the rumours, what we know so far, and whether Mickey-Jo thinks the two screen stars a...
Dec 18, 2025•26 min
It was announced this week that the award winning off-Broadway cult hit musical TITANIQUE would finally transfer to Broadway. The parody musical will play a 16 week limited run at the St James Theatre, with original star and co-creator Marla Mindelle starring as Celine Dion. With many sharing thoughts about this unexpected news, check out what Mickey-Jo thinks, what the real goal of the run may in fact be, and what this tells us about the current state of the Broadway musical... • 00:00 | introd...
Dec 17, 2025•31 min
Last month, Mickey-Jo was in New York for the opening of the new musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the Longacre Theatre. The show, which previously played at the Kiln theatre and Criterion Theatre in London as well as the American Repertory Theatre, stars Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts as Dougal and Robin. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, what it has in common with Maybe Happy Ending, and who would enjoy seeing the show in New York... • 00:00 | introduction 02...
Dec 16, 2025•29 min
Last month, WICKED: FOR GOOD, the second part of the film adaptation of the global musical phenomenon Wicked, finally arrived in cinemas. The film, directed by Jon M Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (13 the Musical) as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey (Company) as Fiyero. The supporting cast also includes Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. In the third of a new series called WICKED WEEKENDS, taking place throughout the month of December,...
Dec 14, 2025•38 min
This week, Mickey-Jo was invited to attend the opening night performance of his most anticipated show of the year in London - a brand new revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS at the Bridge Theatre. This new production, directed by Jordan Fein, stars Katie Brayben, Jamie Parker, Kate Fleetwood, Chumisa Dornford-May, Jo Foster, Gracie McGonigal, and more in a dark take on the fairytale crossover musical with designs from Tom Scutt. As a devoted fan of the material, check o...
Dec 13, 2025•41 min
One of this season's first and most talked about new musical openings on Broadway was THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, a Kristin Chenoweth led star vehicle with a new score from Stephen Schwartz based on the documentary of the same name. The show, which opened to mixed reviews, had already set an early closing date of January 4th, but later brought this forward with the announcement that the show would close even earlier, on December 21st. With the show making headlines again and again, Mickey-Jo is bri...
Dec 12, 2025•35 min
The Royal Shakespeare Company's festive production has just opened, a new stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG. The production, directed by Daniel Evans, uses puppetry and live instrumental music to being the nostalgic children's story to the stage for a family audience, and will subsequently visit Chichester Festival Theatre in 2026. Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the brand new theatrical offering from the company that created Matilda the Musical and how th...
Dec 11, 2025•26 min
Mickey-Jo has been thinking recently about why it is that theatre audiences seem to be enamoured with the notion of seeing a real life couple performing together onstage, even though they're portraying characters other than themselves. The answers may seem obvious, but there is some nuance to uncover here as we consider the various different ways in which a couple can perform together - as lovers, enemies, or even divorcees. In the last few months, this has seemed to become more frequent, with A...
Dec 10, 2025•39 min
The Tony Award winning Broadway revival of the Musical Merrily we Roll Along has now been released in cinemas as a film, ahead of an upcoming feature film adaptation of the originally short-lived show written by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. This production, which played a limited run at the Hudson Theatre in New York, starred Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe alongside a stellar supporting cast, and now puts the audience closer than ever before to its emotional story, to...
Dec 09, 2025•34 min
