News: The Theatre Channel announce Stephen Schwartz Spectacular for Episode 8

Adam Blanshay Productions, Park Theatre, Playbill and The Theatre Cafe announce the latest episode in acclaimed web series The Theatre Channel, to be streamed from Friday 17 September.

The episode is set to be a Stephen Schwartz Spectacular, featuring music from shows by the beloved composer, who has penned massive musicals including Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Prince of Egypt and many more.

Under the new direction of Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Fabian Aloise, Schwartz’s modern masterpieces are set to come alive, led by a sensational cast, including leading West End women Alice Fearn (Wicked, Come From Away), Louise Dearman (Wicked, Evita), and Christine Allado (The Prince of Egypt, Hamilton).

Further casting includes Stewart Clarke (Be More Chill, Fiddler on the Roof), Melanie Le Barrie (Wicked, & Juliet), Cedric Neal (Back to the Future the Musical, Motown: The Musical) and the cast of the critically-acclaimed Pippin revival at Charing Cross Theatre with “Magic to Do”.

This marks the first time The Theatre Channel has created a music video in collaboration with a production currently running in the West End.

This episode will be narrated by Stephen Schwartz himself, offering exclusive insights into his legendary career and the continual revivals of his work.

With his numerous productions playing across London (Pippin, Charing Cross Theatre; The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre; Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre), Schwartz will lend himself to an unforgettable finale with The Cafe Five.

After a successful collaboration with Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in their Rodgers and Hammerstein themed episode, The Theatre Channel will continue to partner with theatrical venues to celebrate the return of live entertainment. The new episode is a co-production with Park Theatre, where musical Rags was a critical smash in early 2020.

Stephen Schwartz comments, “I’m honoured to be collaborating with The Theatre Channel on Episode 8, featuring my theatre songs. I’ve very much enjoyed and admired the previous episodes, so I know I and my work are in very good hands. An MTV/VH1-meets-Musical Theatre hybrid, The Theatre Channel uses the skilful and imaginative videos they produce to offer new perspectives on musical theatre songs, rediscovering them through a new lens. With “my episode” –Episode 8 — we plan to give fresh and modern twists to some popular favourites and offer some “hidden gems” as well.  As a certain Glinda once said: “I couldn’t be happier.”

The cast will once again be joined by resident ensemble The Cafe Five, which includes Anthony Starr (Guys & Dolls), Danny Becker (The Prince Of Egypt), Kayleigh Thadani (Disney’s Aladdin), M-Jae Cleopatra Isaac (The Book of Mormon) and Vicki Lee Taylor (A Chorus Line).

Combining the thrill of stage and screen for an episodic musical revue of beloved classics, The Theatre Channel is an up close and intimate experience from the comfort of your home. Episodes are available to watch via stream . theatre.

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