Musical Con announces special guests for 2023 🎭
The first ever UK musical theatre convention returns
Big news for musical theatre fans! Musical Con, the convention celebrating all things MT is returning to London in 2023!
Musical Con will take place on 21st and 22nd October 2023 at the ExCeL in London giving musical theatre fans the chance to meet the stars, celebrate the shows and learn from the pros.
Who will be appearing at Musical Con 2023?
Special guests announced include superstar ambassadors Aimee Atkinson, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Ben Forster, Shanay Holmes, Lucie Jones, Jon Robyns, Jodie Steele, Miriam Teak Lee & Layton Williams. This year, the convention will also feature stars the film Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, Alisha Weir (Matilda) and Meesha Garbett (Red Beret Girl).
Lucie Jones said: 'Musical Con is a place where all of the fans, of all different musicals, can come together under one roof and celebrate something that we all love. I'm so excited to see people in their favourite cosplay, taking part in a workshop, or just meeting someone they love!’
The star-studded line up also includes Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Bronte Barbe, Courtney Bowman, Tom Francis, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Dom Hartley Harris, Holly Anne Hull, Cassidy Janson, Aisha Jawando, Hannah Lowther, Grace Mout, Natalie May Paris, Josh Piterman, SVN, Tosh Wanogho-Maud, Michael Xavier and many more. A complete list of the 2023 guests announced so far is available on the event website, with plenty more stars, creatives and industry professionals to be announced later in the year.
Speaking about Musical Con, Layton Williams said: “This convention is something really special. The energy in the room was just insane. The atmosphere was unreal. It was iconic!” with Trevor Dion Nicholas adding: “This was a historic event. There has never been anything like it. It was a truly magical weekend!”
Musical Con is produced by Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes of West End Musical Productions, with co-producer Shanay saying: “This really is for the fans! It’s the convention our community deserves, and we are delighted to be returning in 2023!”
Tickets for the 2023 event are now on sale.
Check out some of our favourite musicals:
Hamilton
Hamilton is one of the biggest musicals of the decade - no question. Chronicling the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, this musical modernises his story, thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda's incredibly clever musical numbers and the rap that flows through the whole show. The original production was filmed over the course of several performances in 2016, which was then edited together as one show and released on Disney+ in July 2020.
After its first showing in January 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda's biographical theatre show has reached new heights each year of its existence, winning a plethora of awards including 11 Tony awards, the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, seven Laurence Olivier Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The original cast was made up of Lin himself as Hamilton, Phillipa Soo as his wife Eliza, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Eliza's sister Angelica, with Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson as George Washington and Daveed Diggs playing the dual role of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson.
Dear Evan Hansen
With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – the brains behind La La Land and The Greatest Showman – Dear Evan Hansen was always going to be worth seeing. The plot follows the titular character who struggles with social anxiety, constantly feeling like an outcast and ignored by his peers and family. When a tragic incident happens, Evan accidentally gets swept along and becomes important under false pretences.
The first performance of the show took place in July 2015, and has gone on to win six Tony awards (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Ben Platt, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Rachel Bay Jones, Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for Alex Lacamoire) and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album among others.
The original cast starred Pitch Perfect's Ben Platt as Evan Hansen, with Rachel Bay Jones as his mother Heidi and Laura Dreyfuss as his love interest, Zoe Murphy. The original West End cast has starred Sam Tutty as Evan. Ben reprised the role for the film version of the musical, which was released in the UK in October 2021.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
A story about overcoming prejudice to live your dream, Everybody's Talk About Jamie follows the life of a 16-year-old boy from Sheffield, who longs to become a drag queen and perform on stage. Based on a TV documentary, Dan Gillepsie Sells – lead singer and songwriter of The Feeling – teamed up with writer and lyricist Tom MacRae to create the gorgeous songs.
The show was first performed at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in February 2017, running for just two weeks there before it moved to the West End in London from November that year. The original cast starred John McCrea as Jamie, with Josie Walker playing his mum Margaret. The is currently on a UK and Ireland (and Los Angeles) tour starring Layton Williams as Jamie.
A film version of the show was released on Amazon Prime in September 2021 starring Max Harwood as Jamie, Richard E. Grant as Loco Chanelle and original Jamie star John McCrea as a young Loco. Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan will play Miss Hedge, with Shobna Gulati reprising her role as Ray and Sarah Lancashire playing Jamie's mum Margaret. Tom MacRae and Dan Gillespie Sells have teamed up once again to write the screenplay.
Waitress
Based on a film starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, this show is about – you guessed it – a waitress. Jenna yearns to start a new life away from her abusive husband, and when she unexpectedly falls pregnant, she becomes even more determined to leave. Jenna takes part in a pie-making contest in the hopes of winning the jackpot and leaving town, but when she starts to have feelings for her gynaecologist, things start to get a bit messy…
First performed in the US in August 2015, the songs were written by Sara Bareilles, best known for her 2007 hit 'Love Song'. It opened on the West End in February 2019, with American Idol and Smash star Katharine McPhee playing Jenna and 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer as Ogie. The musical didn't return to the Adelphi in London after the COVID-19 pandemic but instead embarked on a UK & Ireland tour.
The show was nominated for four Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Jessie Mueller and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Christopher Fitzgerald. It was also nominated for the 2017 Best Musical Theater Album Grammy Award. It's also up for Best New Musical and Original Score or New Orchestrations at the 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards.
The Phantom of the Opera
One of musical king Andrew Lloyd Webber's absolute classics, it's no surprise that Phantom of the Opera is the second longest-running West End musical (after Les Misérables) and is the longest running musical on Broadway. Based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, the story follows the titular Phantom, a disfigured music genius who lives in a labyrinth underneath the Paris Opéra House who becomes obsessed with singer Christine.
Phantom opened on the West End in 1986, starring Michael Crawford as the eponymous Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine with both reprising their roles in the Original Broadway production. A 2004 film starred Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, and a special performance at the Royal Albert Hall celebrated the show's 25th anniversary starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess.
The show has won four Laurence Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Michael Crawford, Most Popular Show and the Magic Radio Audience Award. It's also the recipient of seven Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Michael Crawford and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Judy Kay among others. A sequel show, Love Never Dies, premiered in 2010.
Mamma Mia
As a pioneer of the jukebox musical, Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of ABBA, following the story of Sophie Sheridan who discovers she has three possible fathers after reading her mum's old diary. She invites all three to her wedding in the hope of working out which one her dad is, and chaos ensues…
The show opened in the West End in April 1999, starring Siobhán McCarthy, Jenny Galloway and Louise Plowright. The film adaptation was released in 2008, starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Julie Walters. A sequel was released in 2018, and there's been talk of making it a trilogy.
The show won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2000, with Jenny Galloway taking home the Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical, and it was also nominated for five Tony Awards. It is currently the seventh longest-running show in West End history.
Wicked
Based on the book of the same name, Wicked is a re-telling of The Wizard of Oz but told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. Before the events of The Wizard of Oz, Elphaba was actually best friends with Glinda the Good Witch (previously Galinda), and the musical discovers just how they ended up being mortal enemies. The music was written by Stephen Schwartz, the mastermind behind Godspell, who also contributed lyrics to Disney films Pocahontas and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as The Prince of Egypt.
Wicked opened in June 2003, starring Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel as Elphaba, and moved to Broadway in October that year, with Joel Grey joining as the Wizard. There has been talk of a film adaptation since 2004, and things are looking up now that Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande have been cast as the leads. The show has won three Tony Awards, one Laurence Olivier Award and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Dreamgirls
Inspired by the likes of The Supremes and James Brown, Dreamgirls is a story of a female singing trio in the 1960s who become popstars. The music was written by Henry Krieger with lyrics by Tom Eyen, and standout songs include 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going', 'Listen' and 'One Night Only'. The show was first performed on Broadway in December 1981 starring Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, Jennifer Holliday as Effie White and Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson.
The show has won six Tony Awards including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and two Grammy Awards: Best Cast Show Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday. A film adaptation was released in 2006 starring Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé and Anika Noni Rose, as well as Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Jennifer Hudson won a Golden Globe for her performance in the film.
Matilda
Matilda the Musical is based on Roald Dahl's novel, following the life of a bright young girl who is stifled by her surroundings and develops the gift of telekinesis. The music and lyrics were written by Tim Minchin, a comedian and writer best known for his unique musical comedy shows, and the show was originally staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at its Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
It moved to the West End in November 2011, and has won five Tony Awards and seven Laurence Olivier Awards, as well as a nomination at the 2014 Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theater Album.
Oliver!
Oliver! the musical is based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, following the story of a little orphan boy who undergoes various trials and tribulations, and ends up as part of a thieving gang in London. By the end of the show his parentage is discovered, and he's reunited with his family.
The stage show premiered on the West End in 1960 starring Ron Moody as Fagin and Barry Humphries as Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker. Phil Collins also had a role as a child, playing the Artful Dodger, and Blackadder's Tony Robinson was part of Fagin's gang. Michael Caine even auditioned for the role of Sikes, but lost out. It has won three Tony Awards and one Laurence Olivier Award. The 1968 film adaptation is possibly the most well-known iteration of the show, with Ron Moody reprising his role as Fagin and Oliver Reed playing Bill Sikes. Mark Lester played Oliver, with Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger.
& Juliet
Our second jukebox musical of the list, & Juliet features the music of prolific pop songwriter Max Martin, who is the brains behind some classic 90s songs such as '...Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way' and 'It's Gonna Be Me' by NSYNC. The story is all about what would have happened to Juliet if she hadn't died at the end of Romeo and Juliet.
The show premiered in Manchester in September 2019, and in the West End in November 2019. As it's such a new musical, it has not yet won any awards – but is nominated for a whopping nine Laurence Olivier Awards at the 2020 ceremony and winning three of them!
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Another ALW staple, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is based on the story of Joseph and his "coat of many colours" from the Bible's Book of Genesis. As Lloyd Webber's first musical to be performed publicly, Joseph has a special place in many theatre fans' hearts – especially as most of us have performed it at school at one time or another! The show was first performed as a 15-minute show at a school in London in 1968, and by 1974 it had developed into what we know and love today, premiering in Leicester.
The show has starred many famous faces through the years, with David Cassidy, Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Phillip Schofield, Stephen Gately and Lee Mead all playing the titular role. A 1999 film adaptation saw Donny reprise his role of Joseph, also starring Richard Attenborough as Jacob, Joan Collins as Mrs. Potiphar and Christopher Biggins as The Baker.
Six
Six is a modern re-telling of Henry VIII's six wives – but in this version, his ex-wives are all performing at a pop concert, performing songs that tell the story of his wrongdoing towards them so that they can decide who suffered the most and should become the lead singer of the group.
The idea for the show came from two students studying at Cambridge University – Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss wrote the play whilst studying for final exams. It was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, where it caught the eye of producers who put the show on professionally in December 2017. After a UK tour, Six found a home on the West End in January 2019 which is still going strong! The musical can also be found on another UK tour, on various cruises and on Broadway! The show was nominated for five Laurence Olivier Awards.
Chicago
Chicago is based on a 1926 play written by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about real-life crimes she reported on. The musical is all about Roxie Hart, who dreams of being a performer, and murders her lover when he tries to finish their affair. It also follows Velma Kelly, a professional performer who is serving time for the murder of her sister and husband – and how the pair attempt to become famous in order to get out of jail.
The original show was performed on Broadway in 1975, and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, as well as the Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album. A film adaptation was released in 2002 starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger as Velma and Roxie, with Richard Gere as Billy Flynn, Queen Latifah as Mama Morton and John C. Reilly as Amos Hart. The film won six Academy Awards, two BAFTAs and three Golden Globes.
The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt musical hasn't had the easiest of beginnings – after opening on the West End in February 2020, it was of course closed in March due to the COVD-19 pandemic. Thankfully, the show made a return the following year before they took their final bow in the West End in January 2022. The show made its debut in California in October 2017, and also saw performances in Copenhagen and Utah – but the West End version was "significantly revised" since its previous iterations.
The story of the show is based on the 1998 film of the same name, following the Biblical story of Moses and how he went from being a prince of Egypt to leading the Jewish people out of slavery. Five songs remain in the stage show from the film, including 'When You Believe' and 'Through Heaven's Eyes'.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Our final Lloyd Webber production on the list also has religious themes – Jesus Christ Superstar started life as a rock opera album musical before becoming a fully-fledged stage show. It follows the last week of Jesus' life before he was crucified, and shows Judas in a somewhat softer light than how he is traditionally thought of.
The show opened on Broadway in October 1971, and on the West End in 1972. Notably, ABBA's Agnetha Fältskog played Mary Magdelene at a performance in Sweden in 1972, and rock god Alice Cooper played King Herod in the show in 1996 in London. Tim Minchin played Judas in the 2012 arena tour, with Melanie C as Mary Magdalene.
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