Jonathan Kent News

On Sunday 16 May The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama's Keep Creating Gala, featuring appearances from alumni including Riz Ahmed, Dame Judi Dench, Sonia Friedman, Michael Grandage, Jason Isaacs, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Toby Olié, Sir Tony Robinson, Catherine Tate and more, raised over £26,000 to support Central students impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. 

No death of course is easy to absorb, especially one as premature and shocking as that of Helen McCrory, whose surrender to cancer late last week, age 52, came like the most brutal and sudden of thunderclaps. The announcement was made via Twitter on Friday by her husband, Damian Lewis, and I doubt I’m the only one who reacted with moist-eyed disbelief.

Earlier this month, we marked the 91st birthday of the living legend that is Stephen Sondheim with a look back at five London productions of his work that are embedded in my memory. This week, we honour a quintet of performances that has achieved the same result, even if this has meant choosing from an astonishing array of riches that could populate a column like this ten times over. In any case, here are just a few of the Sondheim star turns that linger in the mind.

'The phenomenal multiplatform debut of SUPERMAN & LOIS, which delivered for us in a big way on both a linear and streaming basis, is a testament to the creativity, hard work and dedication of the talented people who worked tirelessly in front of and behind the camera, especially in this challenging environment,' said Pedowitz.

The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has announced the cancellation of the first part of its run of Puccini’s 'Tosca.' The opera was set to run from January 13 – 23, 2021.

The international sales success of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, made by Nicholas Hytner and Kevin Loader for BBC One this spring, has enabled its collective of writer, actors, directors, producer and heads of department to make their second substantial charity donation to help those most affected by Covid.

Dame Maggie Smith will star in the upcoming film adaptation of 'A German Life,' a one-woman play from 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Atonement' screenwriter/playwright Christopher Hampton.

As part of the current season of one-person plays, The Bridge is presenting the now sell-out runs of David Hare's Beat the Devil and Inua Ellams' and Fuel's production of An Evening with an Immigrant.  Today additional performances will go on sale for both as the season is extended to 7 November 2020. 

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that star of stage and screen Dame Diana Rigg has passed away, according to the BBC. She was 82 years old.

Glyndebourne Open House throws open the opera's doors to everyone, everywhere. Join in at 5.00pm each Sunday and enjoy world-class opera in your living room for free.

London Theatre Company has made plans to re-open the Bridge Theatre during September and October, assuming that the Government gives the go ahead for indoor performances with socially distanced audiences. 

Even for those not around for the first TV broadcast in 1988, Alan Bennett's Talking Heads has had a long-lasting resonance. Winning two BAFTAs and an RTS award, the monologues have also been on the school curriculum for many. As monologues, they are much easier to film during these restricted times, but what these new versions prove is that the format still works brilliantly; as a showcase for some superb acting talent and for Bennett's own sharp and darkly witty scripts.

BritBox, the subscription streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV with the largest collection of British television content in North America, will launch the full BBC Television Shakespeare Collection on May 26.

Darren Criss and Zachary Quinto are set to star in the animated film Superman: Man of Tomorrow

Filming begins today on new productions of Alan Bennett's critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Talking Heads monologues, which first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the full company for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of The Height of the Storm, written by Tony Award® nominee Florian Zeller (The Father), translated by two-time Tony Award Winner Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) and directed by Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Jonathan Kent (Long Day's Journey into Night) concludes its Broadway run today, November 24 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Bella Bella, written and performed by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Casa Valentina, Torch Song, Hairspray) and directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced, The Niceties), is beginning its final two weeks of performances. The play must close on Sunday, December 1 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of The Height of the Storm, written by Tony Award® nominee Florian Zeller (The Father), translated by two-time Tony Award Winner Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) and directed by Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Jonathan Kent (Long Day's Journey into Night) is beginning its final two weeks of performances. After being extended, the play must close on Sunday, November 24 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced casting for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).