Latest news with #MoulinRouge!TheMusical
Time Out
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Everything you need to know about West End Live 2025 in Trafalgar Square this weekend: dates, timings and full lineup
Well, it's the right weather for it. The West End's annual free outdoor musical theatre festival West End Live returns right on time for the sunniest weekend of the year. Whether you've been planning your whole weekend around it for months now or you've only just heard of it and think it sounds like a fun idea, here we've everything you need to know. What happens at West End Live? It's basically an outdoor musical theatre concert. Performers from most musicals currently running in the West End – and a few coming to town soon – perform a song or two live, generally in costume, sometimes with full choreography bells and whistles. Where is West End Live? It's in good old Trafalgar Square, in its usual events area. When is West End Live 2025? This weekend: it runs Saturday June 21 11am to 5pm and Sunday June 22 noon to 5pm. Do I need a ticket? Nope, West End Live is free. HOWEVER it is enormously popular, particularly the first couple of hours on the Saturday when most of the really big hitters squeeze in their performance before their 2.30pm matinee. There is no truly great way of guaranteeing a slot here other than getting in early, though obviously Trafalgar Square is an open space and you should be able to hear the songs if you're in the general vicinity. If you want a more chilled out experience come down Sunday or later Saturday afternoon. Will anyone famous be performing? We tend not to know as the shows don't say in advance what songs they'll be doing and therefore who will be performing. However, it has been confirmed that Rachel Zegler will be representing Evita, though we don't know what song(s) she'll be doing (if it's too busy to get in then remember you can see her do 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' live on Argyll Street just a few hours later). Is there any shade? No! And on Saturday the temperatures are due to go as high as 32 degrees (Sunday should be a comparatively mild 26 degrees). Wear sun cream. Hydrate. Don't be a hero. Musical theatre needs you healthy. Complete West End Live 2025 lineup and set times Saturday June 21 11am – Disney's Hercules 11.05am – Moulin Rouge! The Musical 11.15am – Operation Mincemeat 11.25am – Wicked 11.35am – Hadestown 11.45am – The Devil Wears Prada Noon – Just For One Day 12.10pm – Evita 12.15pm – Cabaret 12.20pm – MJ The Musical 12.30pm – Matilda The Musical 12.35pm – Tina – The Tina Turner Musical 12.45pm – Hamilton 12.50pm – The Phantom of the Opera 1.05pm – Les Misérables 1.20pm – Back to the Future The Musical 1.30pm – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 1.40pm – The Book of Mormon 1.45pm – Clueless 1.50pm – The Great Gatsby 2pm – Mamma Mia! 2.10pm – Brigadoon 2.20pm – Starlight Express 2.30pm – Six 2.40pm – The Producers 2.50pm – Sabrage 3pm – Magic Mike Live 3.05pm – Burlesque The Musical 3.20pm – Sing Street 3.30pm – Westway Presents: Marisha Wallace 3.40pm – Coven 3.50pm – Roles We'll Never Play 4.10pm – National Youth Music Theatre 4.20pm – Divina De Campo 4.25pm – Oscar at the Crown 4.45pm – Finale and Farewell Sunday June 22 Noon – Disney's The Lion King 12.05pm – The Producers 12.15pm – The Great Gatsby 12.25pm – Fiddler on the Roof 12.30pm – My Neighbour Totoro 12.35pm – Pop Off Michelangelo! 12.50pm – Oliver! 1pm – Titanique 1.05pm – Calamity Jane 1.10pm – The Choir of Man 1.20pm – Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby 1.25pm – Lovestuck 1.35pm – Six 1.45pm – The Diana Mixtape 1.50pm – Janie Dee's Beautiful World Cabaret 2pm – Bat Out of Hell 2.15pm – The Addams Family 2.20pm – Magic Mike Live 2.30pm – Sabrage 2.35pm – Burlesque The Musical 2.45pm – The Frogs 2.55pm – Ride the Cyclone 3pm – Showstopper! The Improvised Musical 3.15pm – 101 Dalmatians 3.20pm – This is My Family 3.30pm – G4 3.45pm – Westway Presents: 20 Years of West End Live Concert 4.55pm – Finale and Farewell West End Live is in Trafalgar Square, Sat Jun 21 and Sun Jun 22.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Videos of Drag Queens at Trump Musical Performance Go Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Videos of drag queens attending a performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center theatre while President Donald Trump was also in attendance have gone viral online. Why It Matters Trump has a contentious relationship with the Kennedy Center, which he appointed himself to chair in February. He then announced that he was firing most of the board of trustees and said that he would be in charge of programming going forward. The president told reporters in February that he "didn't like what they were showing" at the Kennedy Center and that he would ensure that the programming was "good" and "not woke." Trump's planned attendance at this performance of Les Misérables had already been well publicized, as in May, the cast of the show was reported to be considering boycotting the performance. What To Know Videos on social media showed the group of drag artists walking into the theatre before the show began and being met with raucous applause. "Trump went to the Kennedy Center to watch Les Misérables and it turned into a drag show.... love it for him!" the account @WUTangKids wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in a post that has been viewed 1.2 million times as of press time. Trump went to the Kennedy Center to watch Les Misérables and it turned into a drag show 🤣….love it for him! — Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) June 11, 2025 This is a warmer reception than the president received, as he attended his first appearance at the arts venue since the venue's leadership was fired. Trump was met with boos and jeers at the performance, though this was ultimately drowned out by chants of "USA." Drag shows have long been a hot-button issue for Trump and his supporters, with lawmakers in several U.S. states enacting or attempting to enact laws that restrict drag performances. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post in February, "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP." The 2025-2026 schedule, however, includes Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and Mrs. Doubtfire, all of which generally feature performers in drag. L: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the opening night of "Les Misérables" at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025. R: Drag queens walk together to the Kennedy Center to... L: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the opening night of "Les Misérables" at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025. R: Drag queens walk together to the Kennedy Center to attend the same performance. More/What People Are Saying Some social media users were critical of the drag queens' attendance and defensive over Trump. The X account @_e_tto_, in a post viewed 24,000 times as of reporting: "The empty seats and the scowls from his own crowd—some looking like they've stepped straight out of 'The Handmaid's Tale,' seething with rage at the mere sight of diversity—paint a perfect picture of MAGA's cultural war. The drag queens didn't just steal the spotlight—they exposed the fragility and fear at the heart of MAGA's so-called revolution." The TikTok account @3reecrossingradio, in a video viewed over 20,000 times, about the drag queens at the performance: "I don't know about you ladies and gentlemen, but we are in some interesting times. The X account @gogo22325, in a post viewed over 33,000 times: "I am a former broadway performer (and Les Miz cast member) and AEA. Drag queens were always filth and only found in late night sketchy dive bars. ALWAYS .The things that are glorified today are so disgusting . I could never return to the stage now." What Happens Next Whether actions like this from drag queen groups will continue remains to be seen, but given the current political tensions and the schedule of shows featuring drag performers, similar types of protests may occur at future events.
Time Out
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
This review is from January 2022. The friend who was supposed to come with me to 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' dropped out because of a migraine, and honestly, hard relate: director Alex Timbers's dementedly maximalist 'remix' of Baz Luhrmann's smash 2001 film is pure sensory overload. Frequently I found myself cackling hysterically at it, on my own, for no particularly good reason, other than how *much* it all is. If you can remember any of the 2001 film's music beyond 'Lady Marmalade' (here present and correct as show opener, complete with sassy, snappy choreography from Sonya Tayeh) you'll remember that the soundtrack largely consists of medleys of other people's songs. So we have 'Sparkling Diamonds', aka 'Diamonds are Forever' smushed into 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' or the semi-infamous 'Elephant Love Medley', a wilfully preposterous amalgam of the cheesiest lines from myriad famous pop tunes, a veritable one-track sex mix. You have to think that it's essentially this that drew Timbers and music supervisor Justin Levine to 'Moulin Rouge!', as they've gone absolutely nuts with the idea, pumping the story full of pop songs old and new, fragmented and whole. Like a glittery cow jacked up with some fabulous experimental growth hormone, 'Moulin Rouge!' is now bulked into a veritable behemoth of millennial pop bangers. There are the ones that were in the film. There are some that were around when the film was made but weren't included ('Torn'; no kidding, the theme from 'Dawson's Creek'). Then there are more recent numbers that might have been included if they'd been written at the time ('Hey Ya', 'Firework', 'Bad Romance', 'Rolling in the Deep', the riff from 'Seven Nation Army'). And finally there are a few cool oldies, notably a late '60s Stones medley and a run-through for Timbers's old collaborator David Byrne's 'Burning Down the House'. It is, by design, far too much. Derek McLane's ravishing set is a garishly pulsing wonderland of belle époque neon, a recreation of the iconic Montmartre nightclub the story is set in at the dawn of the twentieth century. Though it is in fact absolutely ages before we get even a hint of plot amid the barrage of anachronistic pop tunes. Around ten minutes in, a line of dancers are doing the can-can to a distorted metal version of the iconic dance tune, and Clive Carter's Harold Zidler – who we can just about gather is the master of ceremonies at the club – fires confetti at us out of his cane then wanders off. And at that point we're still not particularly close to the story starting: the sturm und drang barrage is awesomely OTT. There must be at least 50 songs in the mix here: it's less a jukebox musical than a frantically-pressing-shuffle musical. But it's also… ridiculous? And not in a good way? More so than the film, 'Moulin Rouge!' The Musical' is entirely leveraged on the idea that pop medleys are cool. But as somebody who very much lived through the mash-up craze of the '00s and has dim childhood memories of Jive Bunny And The Megamixers, my question is: are pop medleys cool? Or at least, cool enough to build an entire musical around? I mean, maybe: they're a lot of fun, and as a historical craze that seems to have a moment in the sun every other decade, the '20s are ripe for a revival. But the fact is the form is not so dizzyingly brilliant that I felt forgiving of the plot when it did finally crawl out of bed. Beneath the songs we're stuck with a generic plod through the romance of the club's doomed, beautiful star performer Satine (Liisi LaFontaine) and penniless American dreamer Christian (Jamie Bogyo) who falls head over heels for her when he comes to pitch some songs her way. The vivacious LaFontaine and likeable stage debutant Bogyo – he looks a bit like a more cheerful Adam Driver – are very watchable, but there are plenty of points in the second half where the songs stop for a long time and we're left with a plot that's both wearily tropey and awkwardly po-faced. Sure, it's the same plot as the film, which I'd say has aged well. But the film had Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor at the peak of their powers: LaFontaine and Bogyo are good, but they're not stars in the same sense. The film had the ravishing hyperreal twinkle of Lurhmann's lens, and a deft mastery of its own melodrama that falls rather flat in John Logan's book for the musical – the big emotions are going through the motions. There is an obvious comparison to be made to '& Juliet', the other big millennial pop musical in the West End right now. But '& Juliet' has a giddy silliness that makes the characters a joy to spend time with. Here they're just walking plot devices, killing time between songs. It's a very fun night out, guaranteed to push the buttons of anyone who grew up on 'Pop World', 2manyDJs, or indeed, the films of Baz Luhrmann. But for all its tongue-in-cheek chutzpah, when the music stops you're not left with much.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MAGA Kennedy Center Boss Demands Probe Into Its ‘Criminal Debt'
The head of the Kennedy Center, who was installed by President Donald Trump, has demanded an investigation into its 'criminal debt.' Richard Grenell has referred the Kennedy Center to federal prosecutors over its deferred maintenance and debt after a review 'found $26 million in phantom revenue, fake revenue,' The New York Times reported. The figures are from an audit by Donna Arduin, the center's new chief financial officer, though it was not immediately clear what dealings she thought warranted a criminal investigation. It is common for arts venues such as the Kennedy Center to operate at a deficit when they fall short of projected earnings. Grenell was installed as president of the Kennedy Center in February after Trump fired incumbent Deborah F. Rutter. Trump also removed the Center's Chairman, David M. Rubenstein, and awarded himself the position, vowing to make the venue 'non-woke.' A spokesperson for Rubenstein defended the financier's management of the Kennedy Center. 'With full transparency, the financial reports were reviewed and approved by the Kennedy Center's audit committee and full board as well as a major accounting firm,' he said, The New York Times reported. The Republican president's first act as chairman was to ban drag shows at the venue—though the center's 2025-26 season program announced Monday boasts performances of Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Monty Python's Spamalot, all of which typically feature actors in drag. Several high profile actors have refused to perform at the venue in response to Trump's ideological changes, among them a production of Hamilton which cancelled their planned run. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is usually a mainstay of the center's program, said it would not appear during the ballet season. Instead, the company said it will 'pursue an opportunity with a partner that has a global reach,' without providing details. Actors have also spoken out over Trump's changes to the Kennedy Center. Last week Robert De Niro used his acceptance speech at the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or lifetime achievement award to rip into the president. 'America's philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions,' De Niro said. 'He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education.' He added: 'The arts are democratic. Art is inclusive. It brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity. And that's why art is a threat. That's why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.'
Scotsman
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Edinburgh Playhouse is a spectacular show 'oozing glamour'
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Prepare to join the bohemian revolution as Edinburgh Playhouse transforms into the iconic Moulin Rouge. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... Adapted from Baz Luhrmann's famous 2001 film of the same name, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has been reinvented for the stage with brand new songs and all the spectacular flair you would expect from the world's most iconic can-can club. The musical brings to life the doomed romance between Satine, the "Sparkling Diamond" of the Moulin Rouge (played by Verity Thompson), and the penniless composer, Christian (played by Nate Landskroner). Joined by an eccentric ensemble of artists, poets and dancers, the lovers embrace the Bohemian Revolution of the 1890s. But the path to true love is never easy and the wealthy Duke (played by James Bryers) threatens to destroy their love affair, and the nightclub, if Satine does not succumb to his advances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Production wise, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a spectacular show, bursting with intricate details and lavish design. With a towering windmill and giant elephant, the decadent production is simply irresistible, oozing all the glamour you would expect from the Parisian party venue. While the musical retains all the hedonistic glamour of the original movie, Moulin Rouge purists may find the inclusion of new songs slightly off putting. Like the movie the soundtrack is pretty much a jukebox musical, including a mashup of classic tracks from the likes of Elton John and T-Rex – but unfortunately not all have made the final cut which feels like a loss considering the Like a Virgin scene in the movie is a perfect comedy sketch, something the stage production also sadly misses out on. Instead, new tunes from current artists like Lady Gaga and Adele have been woven into the songs. Pop classics aside, Satine and Christian's secret love ballad, Come What May, is the big number of the show, reminding the audience exactly what the bohemians stand for – truth, beauty, freedom and love. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is an eccentric love affair that is told beautifully for the stage, so don't miss your opportunity to join the can-can dancers while the show is in town. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is on at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 14 June 2025. Tickets are available ATG Tickets.
