Broadway and West End theatre websites

If you are looking for information about musicals and plays on Broadway, as well as on the West End, here are some of the must-see websites.

Broadway.com
http://www.broadway.com/
This is a fun, newsy site covering many popular facets of musical theatre and plays. This is probably the most accessible of all of the international theatre sites. You can also buy tickets to most shows on Broadway, Off-Broadway and on the West End. While I still love this site, and it remains my go-to place for theatre news internationally, it is not as sophisticated as it was in years gone by. Many of us show-tune tragics still wistfully remember the great reviews and pieces by the legendary Ken Mandelbaum on the site before he retired.

Playbill
http://www.playbill.com/
This is the most comprehensive international theatre site. It is an excellent blend of reviews, feature stories, interviews and the very latest news. It is very easy to become addicted to the many informative pieces on offer on this site. You can also buy tickets for New York and London shows.

Talkin' Broadway
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/
A slightly off the beaten track site about Broadway, but still very interesting. I highly recommend the 'Broadway 101' section about the history of Broadway. I wrote a piece for my course recently on the history of Broadway and I found their information to be extremely thorough.

Musicals 101
http://www.musicals101.com/
Another slightly esoteric theatre website, but with some great information about theatre in general.

Internet Broadway Database
http://www.ibdb.com/
This is the official website database of Broadway theatre. It is unbelievably comprehensive and literally covers everything theatre-related in New York since Broadway theatre began over one hundred years ago.

Tony Awards
http://www.tonyawards.com/
The Tonys are the Broadway theatre awards, presented each year by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway Guild. Their website covers Tonys history since the awards started in 1947 and includes a wealth of information and photos.

Broadway: The American Musical
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/
This site complements the wonderful documentary series on American musical theatre. It is an easy to read, informative rundown of Broadway's history.

London Theatre Guide
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/
This site gives plenty of information and reviews about West End musicals and plays and how to purchase tickets to shows.

National Theatre Live

Last weekend I went to the Nova Cinema in Carlton, Melbourne with a group of friends to see a screening of the play 'One Man, Two Guvnors'. England's National Theatre have introduced a new way for people to view their productions, by streaming them live into cinemas around the world. This was actually a repeat of a previously broadcast performance. But whether it is live or recorded, the idea of showing these productions is a wonderful way for more people to view the shows, particularly with their original casts. The screening of ‘Guvnors’ follows the National’s previous success with screening the play ‘Frankenstein’, which I am yet to see.


‘Guvnors’ is an absolutely, outrageously hilarious resetting of a sixteenth century play in the 1960s, complete with musical interludes. It is easily one of the funniest experiences I have ever witnessed. One of my friends said she was watching two shows: one on the screen, the other me crying with laughter.


In ‘Guvnors’, James Cordon in the lead takes a legendary comic turn as the put-upon man looking after two ‘guvnors’ (bosses).  The entire cast was superb. Of particular note, though, were: Oliver Chris as ‘Stanley’, the private school educated toff; Daniel Rigby as ‘Alan’, the actor; and, Tom Edden as ‘Alfie’, the bumbling waiter. The latter stayed in character even for the bows, which left us laughing right until the final curtain.


‘Guvnors’, while still running in London’s West End, has since transferred to Broadway, with several members of the original English cast production. Indeed, James Corden recently won a Tony award for best actor for this play. There is so much to recommend in ‘Guvnors’. Really, if you don’t enjoy it then you must be without a funny bone in your body!

http://www.onemantwoguvnors.com/

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive