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MickeyJoTheatre

MickeyJoTheatrewww.youtube.com
Join Mickey-Jo from MickeyJoTheatre as he reviews the latest show from the West End, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-West End, Edinburgh Fringe and across the globe. As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers.

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Episodes

Fabian Aloise (Sunset Blvd., Evita, Much Ado About Nothing) - INTERVIEW

On Sunday 20th April, Mickey-Jo was joined at his live Cabaret show 'MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE' at the Phoenix Arts Club by the brilliant choreographer Fabian Aloise.Fabian, who is currently working on the upcoming West End revival of EVITA, has worked alongside Jamie Lloyd on recent productions of Sunset Blvd, Much Ado about Nothing, and more.Check out what happened when Fabian shared some fascinating insights from his varied career, including working alongside the iconic Ann Reinking, transforming...

May 04, 202523 min

Who was snubbed by the TONY AWARDS? | The shows and performers who weren't nominated in 2025

The nominations were announced for the 2025 Tony Awards, celebrating the last of the best year of Broadway's plays and musicals.Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending and Buena Vista Social Club led as the most nominated musicals, with considerable success for John Proctor is the Villain, The Hills of California, and Oh, Mary!.But, as always, not every deserving show, creative, and actor could be recognised for their work - so in a Broadway season that included performances from Nick Jonas, Denze...

May 04, 202542 min

Why *some* critics hated THE GREAT GATSBY | Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the show's ★ review in the West End

A musical adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY, which began at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, has opened month at the London Coliseum. The show began performances at the Broadway Theatre in New York last year and starred Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, with Ryan McCartan and Sarah Hyland later taking over the leading roles. The West End cast includes Jamie Muscato (Moulin Rouge, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie & Clyde, Heathe...

Apr 30, 202530 min

meet the new stars of CABARET... | Rob Madge and Hannah Dodd to star in the West End revival

It was announced today that Rob Madge and Hannah Dodd would succeed Billy Porter and Marisha Wallace as The Emcee and Sally Bowles in the West End production of CABARET.The revival, which has been directed by Rebecca Frecknall, reconceived the Playhouse Theatre in London as the Kit Kat Club when it first opened in 2021 and has since starred many brilliant performers in these iconic roles.Check out Mickey-Jo's recap of this exciting news to find out why he's particularly excited about this latest...

Apr 30, 202519 min

Boop! The Musical (Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway) - ★★ REVIEW

During Mickey-Jo's most recent trip to New York City he saw a bunch of this season's newly opened Broadway shows, including BOOP the musical.The show, which currently plays at the Broadhurst Theatre, stars Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop.Check out the full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the show, and don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments...•00:00 | introduction01:13 | overview05:26 | the story12:32 | biggest problem17:33 | creative highlights22:09 | performances• get tickets t...

Apr 28, 202530 min

Predicting the 2025 Tony Award Nominations with Aeron James | Which Broadway plays and musicals will get nominated?

The 2025 Tony Award Nominations are set to be announced this week, recognising some of the best of the last year of Broadway plays and musicals.With likely recognition for some of this year's biggest shows including Sunset Boulevard, Oh Mary!, Maybe Happy Ending, John Proctor is the Villain, Gypsy, Operation Mincemeat, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Stranger Things: the First Shadow, and more - there's plenty to discuss!Check out what Mickey-Jo and @AeronJames had to say about their expectations ah...

Apr 28, 202549 min

The Great Gatsby (London Coliseum, West End & Broadway Theatre, Broadway) - ★★★ REVIEW

A musical adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY, which began at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, has opened this week at the London Coliseum.The show began performances at the Broadway Theatre in New York last year and starred Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, with Ryan McCartan and Sarah Hyland later taking over the leading roles.The West End cast includes Jamie Muscato (Moulin Rouge, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie & Clyde, Heat...

Apr 27, 202542 min

PADDINGTON is getting a West End musical! | New adaptation of beloved story to open at Savoy Theatre

The beloved character Paddington Bear is set to be the next star of the West End, as it was officially announced today that Paddington the Musical would open later this year in London.The brand new stage adaptation of the Michael Bond story and the STUDIOCANAL films will premiere at the Savoy Theatre in the West End in November 2025. Luke Sheppard (The Little Big Things, Starlight Express) will direct, with Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale writing the score and book respectively.Check out this the...

Apr 27, 202523 min

Purpose (Hayes Theatre, Broadway) - ★★★★★ REVIEW

When Mickey-Jo was recently in New York, he saw PURPOSE, the new play from Branden Jacobs Jenkins.The piece was commissioned by Steppenwolf and is currently being performed at the Hayes Theatre in New York in a production directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad.Check out Mickey-Jo's full review to find out how he responded to this staggering production, its impactful performances and its provocative conversations...•00:00 | introduction01:50 | overview / synopsis07:50 | continuing themes14...

Apr 24, 202528 min

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Post Show Q+A with writers Jethro Compton and Darren Clark

On Monday 21st April 2024, Mickey-Jo had the privilege of hosting an exclusive post show talkback with the Olivier Award winning writers of the West End's newly crowned Best New Musical, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Jethro Compton and Darren Clark.With some questions from Mickey-Jo and others from the many members of the audience who had been in attendance at that evening's performance, the pair discussed the joys and challenges of this intricate show, what sparked the original idea, and...

Apr 23, 202524 min

Redwood starring Idina Menzel (Nederlander Theatre, Broadway) - ★★ REVIEW

During my most recent trip to New York, I caught a bunch of Broadway's most recently opened musicals, including REDWOOD at the Nederlander Theatre. Tony Award winner Idina Menzel (Rent, Wicked, If/Then) stars in the story of a woman driven by a heartbreaking loss to the solace of a redwood forest. Through the kindness of strangers and a new perspective, she will find catharsis—and rediscover the strength to carry on. Check out this full review to find out what I thought of the show, and share yo...

Apr 21, 202521 min

Stevie Doc & Tobias Turley (Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream) - INTERVIEW

Tobias Turley and Stevie Doc were last seen on stage together in the West End production of MAMMA MIA! after winning the roles of Sophie and Sky in the ITV competition series Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream.Following their time together in the show, the rising stars are reuniting on 10th May at Cadogan Hall for a special concert.Ahead of the performance, Mickey-Jo chatted with the pair via zoom about the West End experience, onstage mishaps, and what we might hear at their show next month...• get tick...

Apr 20, 202524 min

You can see Mickey-Jo on stage this weekend! | MickeyJoTheatre LIVE / The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

OHMYGOD HEY!This bank holiday weekend you can catch Mickey-Jo on two different London stages, with his own show MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE and a talkback at The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.On Sunday 20th April, Mickey-Jo is back with MickeyJoTheatre LIVE at the Phoenix Arts Club with special guests Lewis Cornay, Allie Daniel, and Fabian Aloise for an evening of chat, live musical performances and stagey trivia! Then, on Monday 21st April, Mickey-Jo is hosting a talkback with Jethro Compton and Da...

Apr 19, 202514 min

Did George Clooney break Broadway? | The problem with the GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK box office record

The Broadway production of the new play GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, co-written by and starring Hollywood star George Clooney, has recently broken box office records.Grosses of more than $3.7 million dollars across a week of performances have made this production the highest grossing play in Broadway history, in spite of the mixed-positive reviews it received when it opened recently.Check out this new episode for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the issues behind Broadway box office records, the impact on t...

Apr 18, 202528 min

Ghosts (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London) - ★★★ REVIEW

This week Mickey-Jo headed to the Lyric Hammersmith in London to see GHOSTS, Gary Owen's new contemporary adaptation of the classic Henrik Ibsen play. In this new updated version, Victoria Smurfit stars as Helena Alving alongside Callum Scott Howells as her son Oz. This world premiere production re-situates this classic story into the modern day, and follows in the footsteps of similarly re-lensed classics in the Lyric’s recent history including A Doll’s House and Accidental Death of an Anarchis...

Apr 18, 202526 min

Mickey-Jo's Off-Broadway Review Roundup (We Had a World, All the World's a Stage, The Jonathan Larson Project, The Magic City, Conversations With Mother)

During Mickey-Jo's most recent trip to New York City he saw five Off-Broadway shows alongside a busy roster of Broadway plays and musicals.These were:• Conversations with Mother at Theatre 555• The Jonathan Larson Project at the Orpheum Theatre• The Magic City at New Victory Theatre• All the World's a Stage at Theatre Row• We Has a World at New York City CenterCheck out that Mickey-Jo thought of each of these shows, share your own thoughts and recommend more off-Broadway theatre in the comments!...

Apr 16, 202544 min

Smash (Imperial Theatre, Broadway) - ★★★ REVIEW

During Mickey-Jo's most recent trip to New York, he saw SMASH, the new musical based on the NBC TV series of the same name. The show follows the chaos behind the scenes at 'Bombshell' a fictional musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.Directed by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman (The Producers), SMASH stars Tony nominee Robyn Hurder (Moulin Rouge) as “Ivy,” two-time Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas (The Prom) as “Nigel,” Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening, “Smash” TV Series) as “Tracy,” Jo...

Apr 15, 202537 min

Andrew Barth Feldman (We Had A World, Dear Evan Hansen, Snow White) - INTERVIEW

During Mickey-Jo's most recent trip to New York, he had the privilege of sitting down to interview rising Broadway and Hollywood star Andrew Barth Feldman.Andrew made his Broadway debut in Dear Evan Hansen as a winner of the 2018 Jimmy Awards, and has since been seen on stage in Little Shop of Horrors and on screen in No Hard Feelings and Saturday Night.Andrew is currently appearing in WE HAD A WORLD at New York City Center, a critically acclaimed new play from Joshua Harmon presented by the Man...

Apr 15, 202527 min

Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada in Cabaret | Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the new Broadway revival stars

The Broadway revival of CABARET, currently playing at the August Wilson Theatre in New York, has recently welcomed new additions to its principal cast.Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada now lead the show as The Emcee and Sally Bowles respectively.Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts on their performances and how the entire production fares...•00:00 | introduction02:18 | Orville Peck as The Emcee11:19 | standout moments18:07 | Eva Noblezada as Sally Bowles22:11 | the supporting cast• get tickets to see Mic...

Apr 15, 202528 min

The Last Five Years starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren (Hudson Theatre, Broadway) - ★★ REVIEW

Mickey-Jo recently headed back to New York to see some of this Spring's newest Broadway openings, including the new production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS.The popular musical, written by Jason Robert Brown, is finally receiving its Broadway premiere, and stars Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren as Jamie and Cathy.Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the new production, its stars, and what its biggest problem was...•00:00 | introduction03:12 | the problem13:29 | creative choice...

Apr 15, 202540 min

Retrograde (Apollo Theatre, West End) - ★★★★ REVIEW

The acclaimed play RETROGRADE, written by Ryan Calais Cameron and originally seen at the Kiln Theatre, has recently opened at the Apollo Theatre in the West End.The play documents a meeting between a young Sidney Poitier and the NBC lawyer who is trying to coerce him into denouncing his community leaders during the age of McCarthyism.Check out this full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on this fascinating play and its blistering performances...•00:00 | introduction02:01 | overview / analysis09:20...

Apr 07, 202521 min

The reason SUNSET BLVD is closing | Why Sunset Boulevard will end its Broadway run early

One of this Broadway season's most talked about shows is the new, Jamie Lloyd directed revival of SUNSET BOULEVARD. The production, which was first seen at the Savoy Theatre in the West End, stars Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond and Tom Francis as Joe Gillis. Despite the show's success and buzz, however, it was recently announced that the run would conclude in July, shortly after this year's Tony Awards. Is this the conclusion of what was always intended to be a limited run, or the result of...

Apr 07, 202519 min

Who will win at the OLIVIER Awards? | Predicting the 2025 West End theatre awards with Aeron James

The 2025 Olivier Awards are less than a week away, and will once again celebrate an extraordinary year of achievement in West End and London Theatre.In today's video, Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé Aeron James are predicting which shows, performers and creatives will win and should win in a year that included the likes of OLIVER!, HELLO DOLLY!, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, KYOTO, THE YEARS, GIANT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF,, and more.Check out today's new video for their th...

Mar 31, 202540 min

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors (Menier Chocolate Factory, London) - ★★★ REVIEW

Earlier this month, the hit Off-Broadway comedy Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors, opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.Mickey-Jo first saw the show at New World Stages in New York, and was intrigued to pay a return visit.Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought!•00:00 | introduction02:24 | synopsis / overview08:25 | changes / comedy13:32 | performances• About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a ...

Mar 25, 202521 min

Why the new SNOW WHITE doesn't work (2025 Disney Film Review)

One of the most divisive and talked about films in recent memory is SNOW WHITE, the Disney live action remake of the 1937 animated classic.The film stars Rachel Zegler as the titular princess alongside Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, with new songs accompanying some of the original tunes, penned by Pasek and Paul.Check out this full film review to find out why Mickey-Jo was disappointed by this high profile new release...•00:00 | introduction02:05 | the original film04:37 | the tone07:33 | the love...

Mar 23, 202532 min

Which Broadway shows would Mickey-Jo see? (Next Week) | Ranking the new plays and musicals in New York

With so many new plays and musicals opening in New York City right now, it can be hard to choose which Broadway shows to see this Spring.With another trip to Broadway next week (surprise!) Mickey-Jo is letting you know which shows he will be seeing, which he is still considering, and which he plans to skip.Let Mickey-Jo know your thoughts on these new openings in the comments below, especially if you've seen any of them already.•00:00 | introduction02:34 | I have booked to see...06:32 | I want t...

Mar 23, 202527 min

Did Broadway like OPERATION MINCEMEAT? | A review roundup for the West End musical transfer

The Olivier Award winning musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT has finally opened on Broadway, which also means it has received a slate of reviews from New York Theatre Critics.With the show having publicly questioned whether or not they were 'too British for Broadway?' many eyes will be on these reviews to determine the answer to that question.Join Mcikey-Jo for a thorough roundup of some of the show's positive, mixed, and negative critical responses, and don't forget to share your own thoughts in the c...

Mar 22, 202547 min

Edward II (Swan Theatre, RSC, Stratford-Upon-Avon) - ★★★★ REVIEW

Mickey-Jo recently headed to Stratford upon Avon, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, to see their new production of EDWARD II.The play, written by Christopher Marlowe, speculates about the reign of the troubled 14th century king, and his relationship with Piers Gaveston.Check out this full review for Mickey-Jo thoughts on the play, its queer themes, and this singularly passionate new staging starring co-artistic director Daniel Evans in the title role.•00:00 | introduction02:04 | overview / ...

Mar 20, 202521 min

Why is MEAN GIRLS closing in the West End? | News recap and rumours of the next musical at the Savoy

Earlier today, the West End production of MEAN GIRLS announced it would play its final performance at the Savoy Theatre on 8th June 2025, after around a year of performances.With the show having played a shorter run than the original Broadway production of the musical, Mickey-Jo is asking why such a commercial show hasn't been more successful.Plus, stay tuned until the end to find out which two musicals are rumoured to be heading to the Savoy Theatre...•00:00 | introduction02:36 | background / o...

Mar 20, 202520 min

Clueless The Musical (Trafalgar Theatre, West End) - ★★★ REVIEW

The iconic film CLUELESS has finally arrived in the West End, as a major new stage musical at the Trafalgar Theatre.The show features an original score from KT Tunstall and Glenn Slater and offers nostalgic 90s vibes alongside the film's iconic quotes and costumes.Check out what Mickey-Jo thought about the West End's latest show in this full review...•00:00 | introduction02:08 | overview07:30 | synopsis / storytelling12:37 | script / score17:27 | direction / design20:54 | performances• About Mic...

Mar 18, 202526 min
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