(May. 15 1:09 PM) - In 1994 Anthony Rapp was working at a Starbucks and about to audition for Rent a new musical by a young guy named Jonathan Larson. An inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York’s Lower East Side, it was based loosely on Puccini’s La Bohème. Anthony got the part, but Jonathan died suddenly the night before the musical’s off-Broadway premiere.

(May. 15 12:30 AM) - Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Chocolate Factory Productions previously announced the transfer of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party to Wyndham’s Theatre from tonight, 15th May.

(May. 15 12:30 AM) - Following a sold out run in 2011, the Menier Chocolate Factory welcomes back groundbreaking ventriloquist Nina Conti, working on brand new material for her new show for 5 performances only, from tonight 15th – Saturday 19th May. This material will form the basis of Nina's new show, Dolly Mixtures at the Pleasance Dome 1st - 27th August as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

(May. 15 12:30 AM) - John Addison was previously announced to play Sebastian and complete the cast for the London revival of The Thing About Men, due to open at The Landor Theatre tonight, 15th May 2012 for a strictly limited four week run. Theatrica Ltd have not been able to announce John until now, due to his placement and filming schedule for the latest ITV series, Superstar; dedicated to helping Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber find his next title role in Jesus Christ Superstar.

(May. 14 9:48 AM) - Siobhan Dillon and Mark Evans from GHOST: The Musical will release their cover of the Righteous Brothers song ‘Unchained Melody’ on the 11th of June on Sain Records. This is the first track to be lifted from Mark Evans debut English album ‘The Journey Home’, which will be released on June the 18th.

(May. 14 9:39 AM) - West End stars Dave Willetts (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats, Ragtime, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and Marti Webb (Blood Brothers, Tell Me On a Sunday, Evita, Cats) will join forces to headline the legendary Broadway musical 42nd Street as it embarks on a national tour of the UK from 1st June 2012, playing 23 venues to the end of the year.

(May. 14 7:27 AM) - Andrew Lloyd Webber will receive a BASCA Fellowship at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday 17 May. The BASCA Fellowship is the highest accolade which a composer can receive, bestowed by composers in the UK. It recognises unique creative talent in music writing together with iconic achievement for and on behalf of composers. BASCA Fellows are exceptional artists and ambassadors for the song-writing and composing profession and BASCA’s role within it.

(May. 14 6:44 AM) - Billy Elliot the Musical, now in its eighth year, will release a further 640,000 tickets this week, taking booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 21 December 2013. Check out the production photographs below.

(May. 14 6:42 AM) - Vicky Featherstone will replace Dominic Cooke as the Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in London from April 2013.

(May. 14 6:27 AM) - Derren Brown’s 2012 Olivier award-winning show SVENGALI will take up residence at London’s Novello Theatre for 27 performances only, from July 12 – Aug 11. This is the last chance to see the live show that has performed in over 150 venues across Britain.

(May. 14 6:19 AM) - Nickelodeon, Life Like Touring and Daniel Sparrow & Mike Walsh Productions will present the UK premiere of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys, arriving at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a limited three week run from 28 August to 16 September 2012.

(May. 14 6:10 AM) - Twelve year old Harrison Dowzell from Nottinghamshire is to become the thirtieth boy to play the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Harrison, who joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical today, 14 May 2012, will alternate the role of Billy with Harris Beattie (13 year old from Aberdeen, Scotland), Kaine Ward (13 years old from Hertfordshire), Ryan Collinson (13 years old from Southport) and Adam Vesperman (13 years old from Seattle, Washington, USA) He will be the 65th boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film.

(May. 14 12:30 AM) - West End smash hit musical We Will Rock You's special tenth anniversary celebration show takes place at the Dominion Theatre, London, tonight, May 14.

(May. 14 12:30 AM) - Today, May 14, 2012 independent label SimG Records releases the Original Cast Recording of A Song Cycle For Soho, a project created for Mercury Musical Developments members to practice their song writing skills, followed by a showcase presented at Soho Theatre during Feb/March 2012.

(May. 13 4:59 PM) - It's very rare that you see a touring production as large and as lavish as the current UK tour of Wonderful Town. "It's great!" says Michael Xavier, who plays the male lead Bob Baker.

(May. 13 1:07 PM) - For over 25 years, Dave Willetts has been one of the UK's leading theatre musical stars, praised by critics and contemporaries alike for his worldwide performances in musicals including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Cats.

(May. 13 1:30 AM) - Stage Door Records in association with David Essex present the digital release of select theatrical titles from David Essex's musical back catalogue including MUTINY! and FRIENDS. Today May 13th, 2012 the following titles will be made available for digital download on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and other digital e-tailers in all worldwide territories.

(May. 12 12:30 AM) - Iron Shoes previously announced the national tour dates for its production of Mad About the Boy. The production will receive its London première at the Unicorn Theatre tonight 12 May before embarking on a UK tour.