Latest news with #EvanHansen
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Liam Rudden's Must See Theatre this month
The calm before the storm that is the Edinburgh Festivals may leave Edinburgh stages bare but a London theatre break promises something special this month. As Edinburgh theatres fall into their usual pre-Fringe slumber this month, there's only one big touring production heading to town in July and that is Dear Evan Hansen at The Playhouse (1-5 July). The Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical is packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade. All his life, Evan Hansen has felt invisible. But when a tragic event shocks the community and thrusts him into the centre of a rapidly evolving controversy, he is given the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to be somebody else. With a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman, book by Steven Levenson and direction by Adam Penford, the Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, this brand-new production marks the first time the Broadway and West End phenomenon has toured the UK. It stars Scottish musical theatre star Ryan Kopel in the title role, with Sonny Monaghan appearing as Alternative Evan at matinee performances. I caught up with both Ryan and Sonny as they prepared to take Dear Evan Hansen on the road, you can meet them here. Running time 2 hours 40 minutes including interval, tickets here. With a dearth of shows in the Capital, you could do worse than planning a theatre break this month, and if that means a trip to London, get in early as there's still time to catch the final week of London Theatre Direct's Big Summer Theatre. Now in its second year, the event, which runs until Monday 7 July (keep your eyes peeled though as it was extended by a further week last year), allows you to choose from more than 40 musicals and plays, including The Devil Wears Prada, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Back to the Future the Musical, Clueless the Musical, Matilda the Musical, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and save up to 50% off, with tickets from just £15. This year, however, don't just see the on stage magic, experience it with a series of exclusive photo experiences. Now you can step onto the stage after seeing Hadestown, Titanique, Starlight Express, Fiddler on the Roof and The Great Gatsby, to pose for a professional photo moment – have your photo taken on stage after seeing Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre, snap a pic with a Titanique cast member on the Criterion Theatre stage, toast your West End debut with a complimentary drink and photo op at Fiddler on the Roof, feel like a winner when you race onto the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre stage for a Starlight Express photo op – no skates required, but a complimentary drink is a must – or join the roaring 20's party with an old sport from the The Great Gatsby cast, as you pose on stage with them at the London Coliseum. Ready to make your summer unforgettable? Explore all participating shows and secure your seat at the hottest event of the season here. Back in Edinburgh, there's a chance for little ones to get their introduction to theatre at The Playhouse when, for one day only, The Dinosaur That Pooped – A Rock Show (24 July) comes to the Greenside Place venue for two performances at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. When Danny and Dino's favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest to get the last two tickets. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan. Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino's rumbling tummy save the day? Adapted from the No1 best-selling books by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter, the whole family will have a poopy good time enjoying a brand, new story for the stage. Featuring new songs by the McFly favourites Fletcher and Pointer, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of poo. Running time 1 hour with no interval. Tickets here. Now if ever a venue was made to host a production of the work of Transporting author Irvine Welsh, it surely has to be the old Leith Town Hall Theatre, now better known as Leith Theatre, and that's exactly what the venue is set to do when it brings Porno (18 & 19 July), to 28 Ferry Road. Adapted by Davie Carswell from Welsh's novel of the same name, the stage production of Porno started life as 50 minute one-act play at The Pleasance as part of the 2022 Fringe, however, it's the full-length version that comes to Leith Theatre, one that has already sold out runs at the Liverpool Olympia, Crewe Lyceum, Manchester Waterside as well as a seven week season at the Art's Theatre in London's West End. Porno, the follow up novel to Trainspotting, reveals what has become of Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Begbie some 15 years on from their original exploits. It goes without saying, sure that swearing, drug use and language of a sexual nature are the order of the day, which makes the 13+ advisory seem quite liberal. Running time 2 Hours including interval. Tickets here Next month, of course, we'll be spoiled for choice as the Festival and Fringe comes around once again. The Edinburgh Reporter will once again exclusive carry my Fringe Hot Ticket hit lists, in the meantime you can keep up to date with the shows coming to Edinburgh in August that are catching my eye by visiting And please do keep an eye out for the three shows I'm directing. If you like a supernatural tale or two, Fallen Angel, my new one-man play, and The Omega Factor: By The Pricking Of My Thumbs, by Natasha Gerson and myself, might be right up your street. If it's comedy you're looking for, check out Hingin' Oan Fir Googsie, by John McColl, starring River City's Jimmy Chisholm, will definitely be worth a look. Tickets here. Until August, happy theatre going, Liam Like this: Like Related
-and-Ryan-Kopel-(Evan-Hansen)--Photo-Marc-Brenne.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dear Evan Hansen: Scottish stars of new Edinburgh Playhouse musical tell how parents thank them at stage door
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish stars of musical Dear Evan Hansen have told how parents have spoken to them at the stage door to thank them for highlighting teens' mental health struggles. Ryan Kopel, who plays Evan Hansen, and Lauren Conroy, who portrays Zoe Murphy, in the musical, due to open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week as the final stop on a UK tour, said different generations of families had spoken to them about how the show had resonated with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show, which Mr Kopel described as a 'stand-alone play with songs', rather than a traditional musical format, tackles issues of anxiety and teen suicide. 'It's one of those shows that when we were growing up, expanded beyond the world of theatre and penetrated culture more,' said Mr Kopel, from Kirriemuir in Angus. 'We've had such an amazing experience on this show that doesn't happen with every show. But people will come to the stage door and tell us what the show means to them and what story they connected with, which has been incredible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lauren Conroy as Zoe Murphy and Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen in musical Dear Evan Hansen. | Dear Evan Hansen 'One of the best messages I ever got was a mum who had come with her daughter and her own mum - three generations of women. She told me that after the show her daughter had said 'that's exactly how I feel'. She herself said she completely related to the struggles of the parents in the show and her mum, the grandma, said it framed mental health in a way they had never spoken about before and she never understood it. 'I really do think it taps into something different for every generation.' The cast of Dear Evan Hansen, which will open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week. | Dear Evan Hansen Ms Conroy, who is from Glenrothes, said: 'There's so much in it that can resonate with teenagers, but also with everyone - parents too. There's such a scope of real emotions.'
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dear Evan Hansen: Scottish stars of new Edinburgh Playhouse musical tell how parents thank them at stage door
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish stars of musical Dear Evan Hansen have told how parents have spoken to them at the stage door to thank them for highlighting teens' mental health struggles. Ryan Kopel, who plays Evan Hansen, and Lauren Conroy, who portrays Zoe Murphy, in the musical, due to open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week as the final stop on a UK tour, said different generations of families had spoken to them about how the show had resonated with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show, which Mr Kopel described as a 'stand-alone play with songs', rather than a traditional musical format, tackles issues of anxiety and teen suicide. 'It's one of those shows that when we were growing up, expanded beyond the world of theatre and penetrated culture more,' said Mr Kopel, from Kirriemuir in Angus. 'We've had such an amazing experience on this show that doesn't happen with every show. But people will come to the stage door and tell us what the show means to them and what story they connected with, which has been incredible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lauren Conroy as Zoe Murphy and Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen in musical Dear Evan Hansen. | Dear Evan Hansen 'One of the best messages I ever got was a mum who had come with her daughter and her own mum - three generations of women. She told me that after the show her daughter had said 'that's exactly how I feel'. She herself said she completely related to the struggles of the parents in the show and her mum, the grandma, said it framed mental health in a way they had never spoken about before and she never understood it. 'I really do think it taps into something different for every generation.' The cast of Dear Evan Hansen, which will open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week. | Dear Evan Hansen Ms Conroy, who is from Glenrothes, said: 'There's so much in it that can resonate with teenagers, but also with everyone - parents too. There's such a scope of real emotions.'
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stewartstown residents share opposition to MARL transmission line
Jun. 21—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — Stewartstown-area residents gathered at the community building Saturday afternoon to learn about and share their concerns about the NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Resiliency Link project. "This is a raising local awareness effort here today, " said Kent Hunter, who lives on the next hill over from the community center. "We probably can't stop this but we can maybe impact where the route eventually ends up." MARL, as it's called, is a proposed transmission project to build a new 105-mile 500-kilovolt transmission line stretching from Greene County, Pa., to Frederick County, Va. Depending on the route selected, it could pass through Monongalia and Preston counties, along with Hampshire County and Mineral counties, Allegany Garrett county in Maryland and Fayette County in Pennsylvania. The project also consists of building a new 500 /138-kV substation in Frederick County, Va. Hunter was one of four speakers to address the residents. He said he learned about MARL in December after NextEra met with the Monongalia County Commission. He was among the landowners on the possible local routes who received a postcard from NextEra in February. Concerned, he contacted former Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer and Delegate Evan Hansen, and they got involved in the awareness-and-opposition effort. Among the concerns Hunter and others cited is, who pays for this. "It just takes away our land, " he said. "It doesn't help us in any way at all that we can find." And it will likely decrease property values of those whose land it crosses. At a May open house, NextEra's Kaitlin McCormick answered a question from The Dominion Post about the expected local benefits. She cited three: reliable power ; the opportunity for high-demand customers to interconnect ; and local tax revenue — $50 million to $100 million over the 40-year life of the project. Residents remain skeptical, though. Speakers several times cited a study by Cathy Kunkel, energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, that indicates West Virginia ratepayers will pay more than $440 million in increased electricity rates over the next 40 years for MARL and the related Valley Link Transmission line that is planned to run from the John Amos plant in Putnam County eastward to Frederick County, Md. PJM Interconnection, the regional 13-state power grid operator, selected MARL and Valley Link, among a number of projects, based on its long-range Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, to address reliability issues associated with loss of power generation sources, support for new power sources and additional electricity demand in the region. Public perception — echoed in Kunkel's report — ties much of that new demand to data centers in Virginia. Fleischauer, one of the speakers, said there's not enough local benefit to justify the rate hikes. "We don't see the value in being a pass through." Speaker Rachel Stevens, who lives just north of Bruceton Mills and whose neighbors are on a potential route, listed several areas of concern about the line. Along with diminished property values and higher electric bills, she cited possible environmental impacts along the route and the impacts on landowners who will be subject to possible eminent domain proceedings for the line's 200-foot right of way. Speaker Jim Kotcon, a retired WVU professor, explained some of the process ahead. After selecting a route, NextEra is looking to file applications with the state Public Service Commission and other state's regulators early this fall. A project timeline shows expected state regulatory approvals in spring 2027, start of construction in fall 2029, completion by fall 2031 and lines in service by winter 2031. PSC has 270 days from NextEra's application date to grant or deny approval, he said, and any eminent domain proceedings to gain access to land would begin after that. He suggested four strategies to respond: take the best possible offer for the right of way (but don't be the first to agree because they get the worst offers); work to get the line moved to another route ; make sure the line avoids public lands (though this would affect more private landowners); or simply just oppose the line. Fleischauer continued that line of thought. "There's hope that we can do something about this, " she said. The key fight will be when the PSC is considering approval. And "not in my back yard " won't sway them. They will need clear evidence that the line won't benefit West Virginia. During a public Q &A session, residents cited some other concerns, including the effects on Cheat Lake recreation and business with new, big, unsightly power lines passing overhead. One lakeside landowner said, "It's very disturbing." There was a general understanding that landowners along all the proposed routes aren't going to want the line in their yards and will be opposing it. Fleischauer said, "If we are going to succeed, we are going to have to make the most noise." Another community informational meeting is set for 1 p.m. June 29 at Rexroad Auction in Bruceton Mills.
Buzz Feed
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Rank The Best Broadway Shows Ever: Blind Ranking Game
Think you can handle the Broadway spotlight? Let's see! In this Blind Ranking game, you'll face a lineup of Broadway shows — one by one — and rank each from 1st to 7th faster than a quick-change artist. Sound like a day in "The Emerald City"? Think again! Here's the twist: you won't know if "Hamilton" or a less dazzling debut is next. 😬 Once your choice hits the stage, it's showtime — no changes, no encores. It's all about channeling your inner Evan Hansen, trusting those gut instincts, and making snap decisions like it's the biggest audition of your life. The golden rule? Trust your instincts... and prepare to potentially have a "Les Misérables" moment. Tap to start — and may your judgment be as sharp as a Sondheim lyric!
