It was in with the new and celebrating the previous at West End Live this weekend in London’s Trafalgar Square.
As a crowd of 35,000 cheered, the stage was stolen by the newbies performing for the first time at the festival-style stage of their enormous new roles.
Ultimately the present belonged to Zoe Birkett, the former Pop Idol contestant – who was explosive as the new Tina Turner simply three days earlier than she joins the sell-out stage present.
There was no signal of first-timer nerves as she shortly gained the crowd over with a strong mash-up together with Nutbush City Limits.
But the different newcomers had been decided to show they’d gained their stage stripes as they took their locations alongside formidable veterans at the ever-popular occasion.
Best New Musical Operation Mincemeat showcased its new forged, the new Babies the Musical confirmed terrific potential from younger performers as did the Edinburgh Fringe hit Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!
Alex Sawyer, who lately took over as the lead in Hamilton, was the first to actually get the enormous crowd going after a gradual begin to the present (be aware to producers: select banging huge numbers for a crowd this measurement).
No one might resist the barn-storming opening quantity or the monitor the present’s author Lin-Manuel Miranda reckons is the hardest to nail – the tongue twistingly quick My Shot.
Former X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke joined singing nuns – together with Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph – in her new position as lead in Sister Act whereas TV and movie star Adam Garcia showcased his spectacular dancing abilities in his personal manufacturing of Emerald Storm.
And Strictly Come Dancing star Layton Williams clearly had a ball as the new emcee in Cabaret.
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But whereas the new guys dazzled, previous palms proved they’re nonetheless the biggest crowd pullers.
Les Misérables’ ensemble in full costume ending on One Day More was the epic it all the time is whereas the title monitor from Phantom of the Opera was spine-tingling.
Six the Musical, in the meantime, had everybody singing alongside as first Catherine of Aragon after which Anne Boleyn bemoaned their lives with Henry VIII.
Meanwhile Mazz Murray – presenting this yr with former Les Mis star Bradley Jaden – confirmed why she’s Queen of the West End.
After disappearing from stage for a couple of minutes, she emerged in full Abba flared bodysuit to sing Dancing Queen and Waterloo … and lead the greatest singalong London has seen this yr.
West End Live is catnip to musical theatre lovers. Each yr, dozens of productions get collectively to placed on a full weekend of free leisure for followers who, this yr, queued via the evening for a coveted house at the entrance.
Lily Wilkins, 23, from Birmingham travelled the evening earlier than to sleep on the pavement together with her three pals. She stated: ‘It wasn’t chilly final evening however we had been too excited to sleep.
‘I can’t wait to see MJ the Musical and Next To Normal. I’ve acquired to get straight residence tonight cos I’m working tomorrow morning nevertheless it’ll be price it!’
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