Celinde Schoenmaker News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: SIGNIFICANT OTHER hits Broadway, while SWEENEY TODD and 'JOAN OF ARC' start tonight Off-Broadway!

Ben Forster will extend his run as 'The Phantom' until Saturday 2 September in the smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA'. Now in its 31st year at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End, the show also stars Celinde Schoenmaker as 'Christine Daae' and Nadim Naaman as 'Raoul'.

After the resounding success of Rodgers & Hammerstein's State Fair (Cadogan Hall November 2016) and the sell out concert of Alan Menken & Lynn Ahrens' A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre, December 2016), with numerous five star reviews for both performances, The London Musical Theatre Orchestra is delighted to announce the first concerts of its 2017 season.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's ever popular State Fair received its symphonic premiere on Sunday night at London's beautiful Cadogan Hall. The London Musical Theatre Orchestra, a 32-piece orchestra under the baton of founder and conductor Freddie Tapner, brought the rich music of the 1996 Broadway production about the Frake family and their trip to the Iowa State Fair, to life. In a double first for the LMTO, this was also the first full scale public performance by the company which debuted its inaugural gala, in June of this year, to a packed house at Bishopsgate Institute where they are orchestra in residence.  The concert was directed by award winning director and Evening Standard Awards nominee Thom Southerland featuring a cast of West End stars Wendi Peters, Clive Carter, Richard Fleeshman, Emma Hatton, Oliver Savile and Celine Schoenmaker. The score features favourites including It Might as Well Be Spring, You Never Had It So Good and The Man I Used to Be.

Ben Forster became a household name when he won Andrew Lloyd Webber's Superstar TV competition and went on to lead the UK arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. His West End work includes Evita and Elf: The Musical, and he's currently starring as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's ever popular State Fair will be performed for the first time on the London stage as a symphonic concert by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra under award winning director and Evening Standard Awards nominee Thom Southerland. 

Last night, the West End production of Phantom of the Opera made history as the first musical to broadcast live directly to Facebook, in honor of the production's 30th anniversary. Check out photos of the event below, and watch the video stream here!

On Monday 10 October, the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA', at the Her Majesty's Theatre, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a very special charity gala performance in aid of The Music in Secondary Schools Trust. Tickets are on sale now via Her Majesty's Theatre Box Office.

As the smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA heads towards its 30th birthday at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End, Ben Forster continues to star as 'The Phantom' alongside Celinde Schoenmaker as 'Christine Daae' and Nadim Naaman as 'Raoul'.

Alongside performing as Raoul eight times a week in The Phantom of the Opera in the West End, Nadim Naaman has somehow found the time to record his second album, Sides, with independent record label Auburn Jam Music. The CD is split into two sections; the first being original songs penned by Naaman himself and the second half consisting of personal favourites from musical theatre including ones that have shaped his career until this point.

West End performer Nadim Naaman, currently filling the boots of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, will be releasing his second album Sides with independent label Auburn Jam Records on June 20th , with an album launch gig at The Hippodrome, London on Sunday June 19th at 3pm.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OEPRA currently stars John Owen Jones as 'The Phantom', who has played the role more times than any other actor in the West End production's history; Celinde Schoemaker as 'Christine Daae', Nadim Naaman as 'Raoul, Michael Matus as 'Monsieur Firmin' and Christopher Dickins as 'Monsieur Andre'.

WEST END HEROES, hosted by Christopher Biggins, the hugely popular star of musical theatre, screen comedies, panto dame extraordinaire and one of Britain's best-loved TV personalities, again united the country's top military musicians with even more West End performers and productions in a dazzling showcase of show-stopping numbers, unlikely song mash-ups and stunning choreography and precision drilling to raise funds for the Help For Heroes charity. Scroll down for photos!

A spectacular concert Kings Of Broadway which celebrates the music of legendary Broadway composers Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne will be performed for one night only  at The Palace Theatre, London on Sunday November 29.

A spectacular concert Kings Of Broadway which celebrates the music of legendary Broadway composers Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne will be performed for one night only  at The Palace Theatre, London on Sunday November 29.

Christopher Biggins launched the 2015 West End Heroes gala concert at the Dominion Theatre with a little help from some military friends....

From Monday 7 September 2015, there will be major cast changes in the smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End.

Acclaimed songwriter Scott Alan returns to London for a two-week residency at The Hippodrome Casino. Featuring a different guest each night, the nine concerts will celebrate Alan's work in nights filled with heartfelt songs, the stories behind them and many surprises.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Les Miserables on 8 October 2015, 30,000 limited edition postcards have been produced with specially commissioned photography. They will be available on a first come first served basis from Monday 20 April to anyone who books a ticket in person via the box office at the Queen's Theatre. Check out a first look at the postcards below!