While Mickey-Jo was in New York, he stopped by the Samuel J Friedman Theatre to meet Jasmine Forsberg, one of Broadway's most exciting rising stars.Jasmine, who caught international attention with her showstopping rendition of 'Heart of Stone' as Jane Seymour in Six, was previously seen in Here Lies Love and is now part of the stellar company of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends.Check out what Jasmine and Mickey-Jo discussed ahead of his visit to the show...• get in person / live stream tickets to ...
Jun 11, 2025•25 min
This weekend, the 2025 Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the best of the last year of Broadway theatre.This year's ceremony was hosted by Cynthia Erivo (Wicked, The Color Purple) and saw wins for Darren Criss, Nicole Scherzinger, Cole Escola, Sarah Snook and more.Some of the award winning shows included Maybe Happy Ending, Purpose, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Buena Vista Social Club, and Sunset Blvd.In this episode Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts about the broa...
Jun 10, 2025•35 min
This weekend, the 2025 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the best of the last year of Broadway theatre. This year's nominated plays and musicals include Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her, Buena Vista Social Club, Sunset Blvd, Operation Mincemeat, John Proctor is the Villain, Purpose, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Oh, Mary! In Mickey-Jo's last episode before the awards, he is sharing info on how to watch the ceremony, which shows will be performing, and so...
Jun 08, 2025•23 min
This weekend, the 2025 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the best of the last year of Broadway theatre.This year's nominated plays and musicals include Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her, Buena Vista Social Club, Sunset Blvd, Operation Mincemeat, John Proctor is the Villain, Purpose, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Oh, Mary!Check out this video to find out who and what Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé @AeronJames think will win at this year's ceremony...•00:0...
Jun 07, 2025•54 min
After a previous teaser clip was shared, the first full trailer has now been released for WICKED: For Good, the hugely anticipated second part of the long awaited film adaptation of WICKED.The musical, which opened on Broadway just over 20 years ago, has already been adapted last year with the first instalment of a two part film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Join me and fellow theatrical enthusiast (and my stagey fiancé) Aeron James in reacting to the trailer for the first ...
Jun 05, 2025•39 min
Last week, a profile of the Tony Award winning actress Patti LuPone was published by the New Yorker in which she made controversial statements about fellow actresses Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald.Since then, the Broadway community has responded with an open letter advocating for a greater cultural shift in the theatre industry, punishment for harmful behaviour and championship of diversity.Find out what's happened since the drama first unfolded and what Mickey-Jo thinks of the open letter writt...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min
With the 2025 Tony Awards approaching, theatre fans worldwide are looking to Broadway and its many celebrated new plays and musicals In particular, many are wondering when this year's acclaimed shows (as well as a handful from previous seasons) will announce West End transfers.In today's episode, Mickey-Jo is sharing some industry insights and rumours about which Broadway shows might be next to transfer to London, and which we may never see...•00:00 | introduction02:44 | *were* transferring 08:3...
Jun 02, 2025•28 min
Earlier this year, it was announced that American actor and singer Kevin McHale would be making his UK stage debut in an off West End revival of the musical THE FROGS at Southwark Playhouse. McHale, who was an original cast member of the TV show Glee, was also seen recently in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center. When Mickey-Jo chatted with him ahead of the show's first performance, we chatted Sondheim, Glee stars on Broadway, the politicisation of the Kennedy Center...
May 31, 2025•26 min
Today, I'm very excited to let you know that my stagey fiancé Aeron James and I are on our way back to New York to catch the last few shows of the current Broadway season, as well as a few more surprises. But this time, we're also heading to Chicago to immerse ourselves in that theatre district and see a bunch more shows in a brand new state. Stay tuned for plenty of review and vlog style content coming soon here and across my other social media platforms, plus some extra surprises... 00:00 | ...
May 30, 2025•24 min
It has been announced that the musical CHESS will return to Broadway this year, with its first major Broadway revival since the original production in the 1980s.The show will star Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, with further casting to be announced along with the theatre the show will be playing at.Check out this theatre news recap for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the show, why this production offers it a chance at redemption, and whether he thinks it will be succesful... •00:00 | ...
May 29, 2025•25 min
This week, one of Mickey-Jo's most anticipated shows had its opening night: a brand new production of THE FROGS at Southwark Playhouse.The Frogs is among the most infrequently produced musicals with a score by Stephen Sondheim, and is based on the ancient Greek play by Aristophanes.This London production stars Dan Buckley (The Book of Mormon) alongside Kevin McHale (Glee), Victoria Scone (Rupaul's Drag Race), Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Death Note) and more.Check out the full review to find out what M...
May 29, 2025•36 min
Yesterday, a profile of the Tony Award winning actress Patti LuPone was published by the New Yorker, and it shocked the Broadway Theatre community. LuPone, who over the course of her multi-decade stage and screen career has starred in Evita, Company, and Gypsy, and simultaneously become known for her unfiltered comments and conviction, spoke out about fellow actresses Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In today's theatre news recap, Mickey-Jo is talking through the profile piece as well as the cont...
May 27, 2025•32 min
Mickey-Jo recently caught one of the West End's latest new plays: The Fifth Step, by David Ireland.The play, which was commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland and previously staged at the Edinburgh Festival, is currently running at @SohoPlace in London and stars Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman.Check out this full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the intense, 1 act, 2 hander as well as its themes and staging...•00:00 | introduction01:41 | synopsis / overview08:28 | themes / development1...
May 27, 2025•25 min
Next month, the 2025 Tony Awards will be presented in New York City to this season's most celebrated plays and musicals.This year's nominees include Cole Escola, Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss, Jonathan Groff, and more from shows including Maybe Happy Ending, Gypsy, Sunset Boulevard, John Proctor is the Villain, Operation Mincemeat, and Oh, Mary!Ahead of the ceremony (and our full predictions), Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé Aeron James are revealing which actors, creatives, and shows they *w...
May 26, 2025•41 min
On Sunday 18th May, Mickey-Jo was joined at my live Cabaret show 'MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE' at the Phoenix Arts Club by the extraordinary Carly Mercedes Dyer. Carly received an Olivier Award nomination for her hysterical performance as Erma in Anything Goes at the Barbican Centre, and has also wowed audiences in A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the UK tour of the Drifter's Girl. Just days before her debut cabaret show as part of Janie Dee's "A Wonderful World" cabaret fe...
May 25, 2025•16 min
Last night, Mickey-Jo attended the opening night performance of MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION at the Garrick Theatre in London.The George Bernard Shaw play is revived in a new production from Director Dominic Cooke starring real life mother and daughter Imelda Staunton and Bessie Carter as Mrs Warren and her daughter.Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the themes, the creative choices, and the performances...•00:00 | introduction01:36 | plot / themes 10:47 | shortcomings19...
May 24, 2025•31 min
In breaking theatre news, it has just been announced that the cult hit musical RIDE THE CYCLONE, which premiered in Canada ahead of an Off-Broadway run and subsequently found huge online popularity, will finally receive its professional UK premiere in 2025.The musical, which follows the afterlives of six teens from a Canadian chamber choir who perished in a rollercoaster accident, will open in November 2025 at Southwark Playhouse Elephant in London, with full casting to be announced.Check out to...
May 23, 2025•18 min
The Tony Award winning Broadway musical comedy SHUCKED has just arrived in the UK, with a London production at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.The cast for this charmingly corny show includes Steven Webb (The Book of Mormon), Ben Joyce (Back to the Future the Musical), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey), Georgina Onuorah (Hamilton), Monique Ashe-Palmer (Six), and more.Check out this full review to find out why Mickey-Jo loves this musical so much, and what the outdoor UK Premiere production is like!•...
May 21, 2025•30 min
One of this year's most Tony Award nominated Broadway shows is BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, the new musical at the Schoenfeld Theatre based on the 1999 documentary about the album of the same name.The semi-fictional jukebox musical, using Spanish language songs, follows, in parallel, the recording of the iconic album and the memories of its musicians amidst the Cuban revolution decades previously.Check out this full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of the show, and why it's so special...•00...
May 21, 2025•27 min
On Sunday 20th April, Mickey-Jo was joined at his live Cabaret show 'MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE' at the Phoenix Arts Club by the talented and hilarious Lewis Cornay.Lewis has recently been seen in the UK Touring productions of The History Boys and the Spongebob Squarepants Musical, but has also given terrific performances in John & Jen, She Loves Me, Whistle Down the Wind, and more. Check out what happened when they talked dream roles, teenage musical theatre fandom, and writing original songs. g...
May 18, 2025•25 min
Earlier this week, Mickey-Jo was invited to attend the gala night of THE COMEDY ABOUT SPIES, the new show from Mischief Theatre.The company, who created the hit West End and Broadway show The Play That Goes Wrong, are premiering the new comedy at the Noel Coward Theatre in London.Check out the full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on this brand new show...•00:00 | introduction01:58 | synopsis / overview06:50 | disappointments?11:45 | highlights (SPOILERS)17:11 | creatives / cast• About Mickey-Jo:...
May 17, 2025•24 min
It was announced yesterday that TINA: the Tina Turner musical would close in the West End after 7 years.While the show has enjoyed considerable global success, and recently commenced its first UK Tour, this still raises questions about the place of jukebox musicals such as Tina in the current theatre landscape.It also raises questions about which show we might see next at the Aldwych Theatre in London... •00:00 | introduction02:29 | why it's closing09:01 | industry impact15:25 | next at the Aldw...
May 17, 2025•22 min
It's been announced today, that Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo will star in a stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula next year in the West End.The production, which has already been seen in Australia, will be adapted and directed by Kip Williams and comes on the heels of his previous staging of The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook.Check out this recap of today's news to find out what we can expect from this production, why the casting is so exciting, and Mickey-Jo's thoughts on wh...
May 13, 2025•23 min
The very last show Mickey-Jo saw on his most recent trip to New York was JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN by Kimberly Belflower.The play, which is set in Georgia in 2018, features Sadie Sink among a talented ensemble cast. It depicts a high school class who study The Crucible and respond to it in the context of the #MeToo movement which is dawning.Check out this full review to find out why Mickey-Jo thinks this play is so exciting and why he'd love to see it win the Tony Award this year...•00:00 | in...
May 12, 2025•34 min
On Sunday 20th April, Mickey-Jo was joined at his live Cabaret show 'MickeyJoTheatre: LIVE' at the Phoenix Arts Club by the wonderfully talented actress Allie Daniel.Allie, who is currently appearing in Hadestown (and had come straight from a matinee that afternoon!), will feature in the award-winning musical's upcoming filmed recording, having played one of the Fates, as well as understudying the role of Hermes, since the show returned to London in 2024.Check out what she had to say about her e...
May 11, 2025•24 min
HERE WE ARE, the final ever musical to feature a score from the legendary composer lyricist Stephen Sondheim, is currently receiving its European premiere with a run at the National Theatre in London. The musical, which features a book by the playwright David Ives, was originally seen Off-Broadway at The Shed in 2023, and is based on two films by Luis Buñuel, The Exterminating Angel (1962) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972).The London production features a star-studded cast includi...
May 10, 2025•40 min
A stage musical adaptation of the film A KNIGHT'S TALE recently began performances of its world premiere production at the Manchester Opera House.The musical uses a handful of iconic songs from the film's soundtrack as well as more rock anthems and dancefloor classics to tell the heroic story of William Thatcher, the aspirational peasant who pretends to be a Knight in order to enter jousting tournaments.Having attended the show's press night, and in lieue of a full review of the show, Mickey-Jo ...
May 08, 2025•30 min
After already finding success in Australia, the stage musical adaptation of the 1994 film MURIEL'S WEDDING has made its UK Premiere at Curve Theatre in Leicester.In the show, Muriel Heslop goes on the run from her entire life, all while fostering a secret dream of becoming a bride, a fantasy which she enjoys imagining almost as much as she enjoys listening to ABBA songs.In today's full review Mickey-Jo is sharing his thoughts about the production, how it works as a musical and who gave standout ...
May 07, 2025•33 min
At the end of 2024, a new bio musical based on the life of country music icon Dolly Parton was announced, with a global casting call to find undiscovered talent.A few months later, with the principal casting for the show's pre Broadway run in Nashville featuring none of the 15 finalists, many are asking questions about whether this was simply a promotional stunt.In today's episode, Mickey-Jo is discussing the industry realities behind the Dolly drama, and addressing this increasing trend of soci...
May 06, 2025•25 min
Mickey-Jo was recently invited to see THE BRIGHTENING AIR at the Old Vic Theatre in London, the new play from Conor McPherson (The Weir, Girl from the North Country).The play, which feels in many ways inspired by Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, is set in 1980s Ireland and depicts an uncomfortable family reunion during which discussions of faith and the mundanity of life give way to startling revelations.Check out this full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the characters, themes, and McPherson's d...
May 05, 2025•22 min
