So what have you seen or going to see?

[Phantom of London]

Whats on your show radar.

Thursday I saw a Midsummer's Night Dream at the open air, tonight I saw A Doll's House at the Young Vic (first time I have been to that theatre), going to then have a dose of the National and seeing London Road on Monday and The Last of the Haussmans on Saturday where I am treating my old Mum, got a £12 ticket, thanks to help from TheatrePaul a couple of months ago, cheers and very much appreciated.

In the mean time I hope to fit in Soho Cinders.

[Bob30]

I'm seeing Kiss Me Kate on Monday, before seeing it again on the 16th August and the Les Miz (for the first time) on the 18th August :)

[Phantom of London]

I hope you enjoy Les Mis it is my favourite musical of all time, as it is sung through it is a very heavy musical (a splendid 49 course meal), if you are unfamiliar with the score I would urge you to listen to some of the songs before you go, but put it on shuffle, so not to give away the terrific story.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I would actually encourage the opposite (though you don't HAVE to listen to either of us two!) Don't make a special effort to listen to it, let the piece capture you through its own strengths as a piece of theatre. Its score book and lyrics are all powerful enough to tell you that story. I'll never forget my first time seeing it and it will always be my baby.

I myself am off to see The Wizard of Oz and Singin' In The Rain on Saturday (both second time)!

[Bob30]

Ahh i've already watched Les Miz 25 and listened to the original cast recording, but i have o idea of how it is staged at all as the concert is very limited, so i look forward to seeing it properly staged :)

Although i have not allowed myself to listen to or read the plot for Kiss Me Kate so i will be going in with an open mind (I don't do this with many productions as i normally listen to the Cast recording countless times before seeing a show!)

Clap - I am very jealous, was hoping to catch Wizard of Oz before it closed but will probably have to wait for the production to tour!

Hope you both enjoy your theatre trips! Phantom i hope to hear your thoughts on Soho Ciders, it sounds really interesting!

[ClapYo'Hands]

The Wizard of Oz is fantastic and there's no doubt in my mind that it'll tour eventually. It's done quite well in London.

I am the opposite to you Bob, I always try to avoid reading about or listening to a show before I see it!

I personally didn't think Soho Cinders was very good when I saw it last year. That being said, it may have had drastic improvements since!

[zyx987]

Last week I went to see The Match Box at the Liverpool Playhouse, which was an amazing piece of theatre with a superb performance by Leanne Best.

This week I caught the current tour of 42nd Street in Blackpool and thought it was awful.

Now I've got a three week break until I hit London at the end of August and hopefully 12 shows in 6 days.

[bob8rich]

Last Sunday I saw the sensational Chloe Hart in cabaret at the Union - an amazing night, made even more amazing by some incredible vocal performances by Chloe's guests, especially Gina Beck, Rebecca Trehearn, Charlotte Scott & Liam Doyle. (My BWW review here:
http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-CHLOE-HART-REDESIGN-Union-Theatre-July-22-2012-20120723)

Not seeing anything this coming week but after that August will be theatre-packed! Seeing one of my closest friends making his West End debut in Spamalot on Aug 8 before heading up to Edinburgh for a few days to see 5 musicals (Towards the Moon, Streets, 1000 Suns, Active Virgin and Company). Will be stopping off in London on my way back from Edinburgh for The Songwriters' Union at the Union Theatre on Sun Aug 12 - a cabaret of new writing with a fantastic cast of West End vocalists singing the songs of Anderson & Petty, Laura Tisdall and Christopher J. Orton (including songs from the new musical My Land's Shore by Chris Orton and me). The following night I'll be seeing Mack and Mabel at the Southwark Playhouse.

I'll be making a whistle-stop trip to London just for the day on Sun Aug 19 to see what should be an awesome cabaret at the Hippodrome of songs by American composers Georgia Stitt, Michael Patrick Walker and Scott Evan Davis with a cast including Lauren Samuels, Damian Humbley, Caroline Sheen & Simon Thomas. (Has anyone heard the new album of songs by Scott Evan Davis, "Cautiously Optimistic", btw? It is seriously stunning.)

Then the following weekend I'll be back in London again for 4 shows in 2 days - the National Youth Music Theatre production of JRB's 13; London Road at the National; Curtains at the Landor; and Soho Cinders. (I absolutey adore the Soho Cinders live concert ambum, so really looking forward to that!)

[Bob30]

Clap - I always try to not listen to a show before seeing it but never have the control!

Although when i do manage to not listen to or watch any videos of a show , i love the experience of discovering a show, think this is why i enjoyed She Loves Me and Sweeney so much (I had only seen the poor excuse of a film for Sweeney which omits all the good songs and lyrics!)

[bob8rich]

Yeah, when seeing a brand new show, I would always prefer in an ideal situation to not listen to an album of the score before seeing the show. There's nothing more exciting than hearing a great score for the first time in a theatre and in the context of the show. (And it it happens to be a crap score, it's certainly best not to hear it beforehand as it would put me off seeeing the show at all lol.)

[sparepart973]

I have quite an ambitious theatre schedule for the rest of the year!

September
Soho Cinders, Carousel (Barbican), Without You (Menier), London Road, Singin in the Rain.

October
Finding Neverland, Ghost (final mainee and final performance), Les Miz, Taboo

December
Bodyguard, Kiss Me Kate, American Idiot
Broadway shows: Evita, The Amy Project, Rebecca, Newsies, Spiderman
Chicago: War Horse, Book of Mormon
Boston: Pippin

January
Viva Forever, Hello Dolly
Rebecca (final performance and matinee in Stuttgart)

Phewwww..Can't wait!

[rockyhorrorfan]

Next London shows for me are Mack & Mabel, Soho Cinders and West End Fest. After that I've got the new Phantom in Edinburgh at the end of September.

In Glasgow in November I'm planning on seeing The Woman in Black (yet again); The Ladykillers (second time); Chicago (yet again) and maybe One Man, Two Guvnors (second time)

In December I'm seeing A Chorus of Disapproval; Privates On Parade; Daddy Long Legs; Merrily We Roll Along (still waiting for booking to open) at Menier; 12th Night; Kiss Me Kate; Warhorse (second time); Taboo (and hopefully a musical concert to round things off).

Next March in London I'm booked for Book of Mormon and Peter & Alice.

[ClapYo'Hands]

rockyhorrorfan, do you have any idea what date exactly tickets for Merrily We Roll Along go onsale? It's one of my favourite shows and most anticipated show of this year!