Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is an improvised comedy, musical theatre show founded in London in 2008. It has toured the UK extensively, usually sells out at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe every year, had its own BBC Radio 4 series in 2011 and a performed a 10-week run in London's West End in 2015.
The objective of the show is to create a musical based on suggestions from the audience. It is chaired by Dylan Emery and Sean McCann and stars Ruth Bratt, Justin Brett, Pippa Evans, Susan Harrison, Adam Meggido, Philip Pellew, Andrew Pugsley, Lucy Trodd, and Sarah-Louise Young as the core cast of comic actors.[1]
After making a debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008,[2] the show began a residency at the Kings Head Theatre[3] before transferring to The Drill Hall.[4] It has toured the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Canada, India, Belgium, Italy and Hong Kong, and in 2010 began recording a 25 minute version for BBC Radio Four.[5][6] In February 2011 it opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End.[7] In September 2015, it opened at the Apollo Theatre in the West End for a limited run of 10 weeks.[8]
The show has occasionally featured guest performers, including the British comic actor Matt Lucas,[9] Mike McShane, Channel 4 newscaster John Snow, Nicolas Parsons, Jim Bowen, radical vicar and peacemaker Donald Reeves and others. It has been honoured with several industry awards including the Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe Award and in 2016 won the Olivier Award for best entertainment and family show. [10]
Showstopper! was created by Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery. Musical Director is Duncan Walsh Atkins.
References
- ↑ [1] Nimax Theatres, retrieved 06-09-2015
- ↑ Fringe Review Fringe Review, 06-10-2008 retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ TimeOut.com The best musical improvisational group we've ever seen., Time Out 29-06-2009, retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ The Drill Hall Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ bbc.co.uk Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ Guardian.co.uk Rewind radio: Vanessa Feltz; Music Planet; Showstopper – review, retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ Guardian.co.uk What to see: Lyn Gardner's theatre tips, retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ [2] Nimax Theatres, retrieved 06-09-2015
- ↑ The Independent Little Briton with a large talent, 05-05-2009 retrieved 11-02-2011
- ↑ http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/london-shows/show/item342673/showstopper-the-improvised-musical/?utm_source=OlivierSite&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Winners-list&_ga=1.164731263.1937601600.1443817070
