⭐ THEATRE FAN – TOP RUMOURED SHOWS OF 2022 ⭐
Now that we’re getting into the thick of 2022, let’s take a look at some the most anticipated shows that are rumoured to be coming to a theatre near you (and give an update on the status of the show, where possible). Here is the Theatre Fan – Top Rumoured Shows of 2022.
Beetlejuice – The Musical
The critically-acclaimed and beloved Broadway musical Beetlejuice will be heading to the West End in 2023, it has been rumoured.
The musical is reportedly set to come to London in Spring 2023.
Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious new musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.
Beetlejuice has music & lyrics by Eddie Perfect with a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King.
Update – Pretty certain this will be haunting the West End from the beginning of next year.
Elf The Musical
Elf The Musical will be heading back to the West End, it is rumoured.
The festive musical will reportedly return to the West End, for a limited run, in time for Christmas 2022.
Based on the hit movie starring Will Farrell, this spectacular heart-warming story follows the fortunes of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.
With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Elf The Musical features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
A Chorus Line
Tony and Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas’ Spanish-language version of A Chorus Line will reportedly transfer to London, it has been rumoured.
The production is reportedly set to transfer to London, for a limited run in late 2022, with Antonio Banderas expected to star.
Banderas previously starred as director-choreographer Zach in the 2019 Spanish-language production of A Chorus Line, which premiered in his hometown of Málaga, Spain, as part of the inaugural season of his 900-seat theatre, Teatro del Soho Caixabank.
Banderas also co-directed the production with Baayork Lee, who played Connie Wong in the original 1975 production of A Chorus Line and has gone on to direct and choreograph more than 35 productions of the show.
A Chorus Line has a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban.
Spring Awakening
The critically acclaimed Almeida Theatre production of Spring Awakening is set for a West End transfer, it has been rumoured.
Winner of the Tony and Olivier awards for best musical, Spring Awakening tells a story of adolescent anarchy, set to one of the most loved scores of the 21st century. A group of teenagers – silenced and controlled by a censorious society – discover a new world of feeling and freedom outside the classroom, with beautiful and devastating consequences.
Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold (Ink, Albion) directs the first London revival of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s (American Psycho: A New Musical, Almeida Theatre and Broadway) acclaimed musical, based on the ground-breaking and once-banned 19th century play by Frank Wedekind.
Update – The show was reportedly set for a West End transfer – Autumn 2022 but unfortunately those plans seem to fallen through. I’m hopeful the show will return next year though, fingers crossed.
Oliver!
A new revival of the award-winning musical Oliver! is set for the West End, it is rumoured.
Cameron Mackintosh has reportedly began plans to bring the beloved musical back on stage, with the show not having been in the West End since 2011.
The new revival will reportedly be coming to the Prince Edward Theatre after Mary Poppins closes.
Lionel Bart’s classic musical Oliver! is based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece.
Update – Originally planned for 2022, now look out for the return of this beloved classic – Spring 2023.
The Secret Life Of Bees
The critically acclaimed musical The Secret Life of Bees is reportedly set for a London run, it is rumoured.
Plans were reportedly in place for the show to make its London debut at the Almeida Theatre, though were likely put on hold due to the pandemic.
The show’s star LaChanze mentioned previously in an interview with Newsday, about the future of the show, teasing; “It has a future — that’s all I’m at liberty to say. But if you didn’t see it, you’ll have an opportunity to see it in the near future. I think we’re going to London, then returning to the States. That’s why my book isn’t finished yet. My acting career interrupts from time to time.”
South Carolina, 1964. Lily Owens, a restless white teenager, struggles with her merciless father and the haunting memory of her mother’s death. When Rosaleen, her black caregiver, is beaten and jailed for asserting her right to vote, Lily’s rebellious spirit is ignited. She and Rosaleen escape on an adventure where they are taken in by a trio of black beekeeping sisters. While Lily tries to unlock the secrets of her past, she and Rosaleen find solace in the mesmerizing world of bees and spirituality in this extraordinary tale of awakening, fellowship and healing.
The Secret Life of Bees is a musical written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat), with music by Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), lyrics by two-time Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam), and directed by Tony winner Sam Gold (Fun Home); based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd.
Update – No further info has been made available but this could be the currently unannounced musical set for the Almeida, I’ve heard about. Fingers crossed! ! !
Fiddler On The Roof
The award-winning revival of Fiddler on the Roof will reportedly embark on UK, it has been rumoured.
The UK tour would be following on from its sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory and hugely successful West End run.
Old traditions and young love collide in this joyous and timely celebration of life. Tevye’s daughters’ unexpected choice of husbands opens his heart to new possibilities, as his close-knit community also feels the winds of change blowing through their tiny village.
Featuring the iconic score including ‘Tradition’, ‘Matchmaker, Matchmaker’, ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ and ‘If I Were a Rich Man’, and featuring original choreography from Tony award-winning Jerome Robbins alongside new choreography by Matt Cole, Fiddler on the Roof bursts from the stage, bringing new life to one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
Fiddler on the Roof features music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and a book by Joseph Stein.
Update – Unfortunately the future of this award-winning revival seems to have been scuppered by the global pandemic. Such a shame, it was fantastic when I got to see it in the West End.
Memphis
The multi award-winning musical Memphis will reportedly embark on a new UK & international tour, it has been rumoured.
This would be the first time the UK has seen this show since it ended its critically-acclaimed run at the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre, in 2015, which had featured West End stars Beverley Knight, Killian Donnelly, Matt Cardle and Rachel John.
From the underground dance clubs of 1950’s Memphis, Tennessee, comes the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love.
Inspired by actual events, Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves– filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll.
Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical and two 2015 Olivier Awards, Memphis features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan.
Update – Unfortunately there has been no further details on this revival, leading me to believe it has also become a casualty of the pandemic. I would love for this show to return, so let’s hope I’m wrong on this one.
Mrs Doubtfire
The stage musical adaptation of the classic film Mrs Doubtfire is reportedly set for the West End, it has been rumoured.
The show has already been announced to premiere at the Manchester Opera House, playing a strictly limited season from 2nd September – 1st October 2022.
A hilarious and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, Mrs Doubtfire is the musical comedy we need right now.
Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.
Mrs Doubtfire has been created by a transatlantic team of award-winning artists, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, original music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, (the Tony Award-nominated team behind Something Rotten!, along with O’Farrell), direction by 4-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!), scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress), and music supervision by Ethan Popp (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).
Update – This show is rumoured to be heading to the West End a lot sooner than we think and could even see it before the end of 2022.
Rent
A new production of Jonathan Larson’s beloved musical Rent is looking to open in the West End, it has been revealed.
Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye revealed a new production of Rent is currently vying for an available theatre to open in London’s West End.
Rent is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson and is loosely based on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists living, loving and working in Manhattan’s East Village, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Throwing in my two cents, I think this could be a transfer of Hope Mill Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production, which would be very exciting.
Update – This was rumoured to be opening late 2022, with Spring Awakening vying for the same theatre. With the Spring Awakening transfer on ice for 2022, this could be back on for this year. Fingers crossed! ! !
This is just the known rumoured shows for 2022 and beyond, I’m sure there are plenty of surprises yet to be revealed. What show from the list would most like to see happen?
You can tell me via Twitter or Instagram, make sure you’re following for all the latest stagey news & rumours! ! !
Shaun – Theatre Fan
