Tim has three wondrously varied gigs coming up in the next couple of months so here are a few details and ticket links for your perusal:
As you might have noticed Tim tweet yesterday, on Saturday 22nd October 2011, at 10.30pm, he’ll be joining the lovely Alex Horne and his marvelous band, along with the other special guest that evening, Bruce Airhead, for The Horne Section at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End. It’s a unique blend of late night musical and comedy jazz. Further details can be found via the ticket link below. Tickets are priced between £15 and £25.
Friends of the Earth present their comedy evening: Laugh or the Polar Bear Gets It on Friday 18th November 2011, at 7pm at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London. Tim joins many other big names on the bill: Dan Antopolski, Greg Davies, Simon Day, Justin Edwards as Jeremy Lion, Richard Herring, Josie Long, Francesca Martinez, Lucy Porter and Rob Rouse, with music from special guest Badly Drawn Boy. All profits from the event go to Friends of the Earth and their vital environmental campaigning.
It turns out that if you don’t buy Tickets priced from £19.50, to this, that poor polar bear gets it!
As if stepping up for ‘Snowy’ and the planet wasn’t enough, on Wednesday 23rd November, at 7.30pm, Tim is back performing at the Royal Albert Hall. This time raising funds for The Prince’s Trust at their Rock Gala 2011. Assembling to raise the very high roof of that hall, along with rock legend Pete Townshend are YolanDa Brown, Kenney Jones, Mark King, Julian Lennon, Cerys Matthews, Imelda May, Charlie Siem and Midge Ure. You’ll find more information about The Prince’s Trust and the various ticket prices via the link below. Tickets
So there really does seem to be something for everyone there.
Anyone already booked?
I could take this post either way. I could go with Elvis puns, because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love The King? Or, I could go on about how ironic it is that Tim’s playing a town whose name means the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power, given his beliefs.
I think I’m gonna go with Elvis…
Tim and his distinct lack of (blue suede) shoes will be bringing the (jailhouse) rock to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, on the 5th November! Tickets go on sale tomorrow at this link here so be sure to get in quick as you don’t want to be all shook up when you find out it’s sold out and be sure to put in the right address as these are tickets that you won’t want returned to sender!
Mind you, if you’re lonesome tonight, there’s a presale password available so you can buy your tickets now! The word you’ll be needing to do that is REESE.
Hi all. As some of you may have heard, our lovely wee musical, Matilda, is being postponed by a week so we can make sure that when it does open, it is fully functional, safe, and generally totally excellent.
This is not an uncommon occurrence in shows of this size (Spiderman anyone?), but it is very disappointing for those who had tickets for the cancelled shows. I know the affected group will include a lot of people who frequent this website, because you are the people who always come to everything first! It is for that reason a huge pity.
Here is a statement from the RSC:
The RSC has today announced that the first five previews of Matilda The Musical will no longer take place. The production will now play at the Cambridge Theatre from Tuesday 25 October and opening night will be held on Thursday 24 November.
The structural work and extensive installation required for the show has taken longer than planned and it is with regret that the Company has had to take the decision to delay the cast’s move from the rehearsal rooms to the stage.
People who have booked for the cancelled preview performances are being contacted directly by the RSC and their ticketing partners, and alternative performance dates offered.
André Ptaszynski, Executive Producer, Matilda The Musical, said: “Every musical theatre production of this scale goes through similar challenges during this pre-opening period, but Matilda has a cast made up of three different teams of young actors and four young actresses in the title role. This means that, unlike other shows, we cannot extend everyone’s working hours, take shortcuts and reduce the number of dress rehearsals to meet the date of the first preview. We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to people who had booked for these early performances and we are working hard to ensure that the re-booking or refunding process is as quick and as easy as possible.” www.matildathemusical.com
André’s quote is most pertinent: the RSC would – in other circumstances – have pulled out all stops to accelerate the “tech-run” period of rehearsals. But every time we make a change – even if it’s just adjusting a dance step or moving a piece of scenery – it has to be rehearsed by three teams of actors… It actually comes down to genuine concerns about safety, as well as a desire to make sure the show is as good as it can be. This show may well run for a considerable time, and it would be short-sighted to cut corners. Be assured that a great deal of negotiation and soul-searching has gone into this very tough decision.
To those who are booked to come during what was the first week, I dearly hope you can find a time to come back and see it… and that you won’t be too cross with us!
In case you’ve missed all the super-exciting American news that we’ve announced recently, here it all is in a neat, little roundup for your easy consumption!
Ready For This? DVD/CD
Tim’s first ever region 1 DVD will be released in the States tomorrow, available from all good retailers, as well as online from the likes of Amazon, Tower Records and Best Buy! It’s essentially the same as the UK Ready For This? DVD, but instead of the UK extras, you’re getting the animated Storm movie! And as if that wasn’t enough, the DVD will come with a bonus Ready For This? DVD as recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with a band and string quartet!
Fall Tour Dates
To coincide with this DVD release, Tim will be touring around America (with copies of the aforementioned DVD to sell) and there are still plenty of tickets available for the following dates!
And as a little something for everyone, non-Americans included, why not sign up to Tim’s mailing list? You never know what you might get sent through to your virtual inbox…
As opening night in the West End approaches Tim talks about the recently released cast recording and the preparations for the move:
Tell us about the cast recording.
Tim, Kerry, Adrianna and Josie (Original production cast from Stratford-upon-Avon November 2010)
Early on, there was debate about whether or not to release a live recording of the Stratford show. I was strongly in favour of holding out for the studio. A cast recording is an opportunity to create an independent piece of work. In the live show, there is so much going on at all times that an audience can’t possibly take in every lyric and every nuance of the orchestrations etc. In making the album, I wanted to make sure we could record and mix it to an extremely high standard so that there was a pure record of the songs.
It took a couple of weeks, in May, to record at Air studios in Highgate. It is an incredible place that was started by George Martin. It was recorded and mixed by the lovely sound engineer Rupert Coulson, and produced by the great Chris Nightingale. I rocked into the studio for three days in the week before I went to the US. I tweaked the structure of a couple of songs, did an arrangement of ‘When I Grow Up’ which will become the curtain call reprise, and put my nose in where it wasn’t needed every now and then. It was incredibly fun.
Yes! It’s the long-awaited, long-clamoured for announcement that Tim will finally be releasing a DVD in that popular NTSC, region 1 format!
On the 27th September, you will be able to get your paws on a US-exclusive version of ‘Ready For This?’ from all good DVD retailers, online from the usual places (you know, like Amazon, Tower Records, Best Buy, etc) and at his forthcoming US gigs!
The DVD features the same show that was released in the UK last year, recorded in 2009 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, with costumes, flashy lights, explosive pyrotechnics and a nice, shiny piano. Also, as if that wasn’t enough, you guys are super-lucky and will be among the first to own the animated Storm movie on DVD, as it’s been included as an extra!
The fun doesn’t stop there as there will be an additional sparkly* bonus CD of ‘Ready For This?’ as recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 2008, with a full band and a string section!
For those who are still unsure about the whole thing, or who simply want their appetites whetted, here’s a sneaky preview in the form of Confessions.
Finally, for those wondering about what’s happening with Tim’s stuff on iTunes, we can confirm that the ‘Ready For This?’ album will be available on there soon!
Tim will have to pack his extra strength hairspray with maximum hold to stop that wind messing up his hair… and brows when he returns to perform for you in November.
Chicago, IL
Vic Theatre
Thursday, 10th November 2011 8pm Tickets go on sale Saturday September 17th at 10am
It is a fully seated show and general admission so you’ll get more choice of where to sit the earlier you arrive. There will be no opening acts so Tim will be on stage at 8pm. Don’t be late!
Tim’s bringing his ass* to town! He’ll be performing two shows in beautiful Galway on the West Coast of Ireland as part of the Galway Comedy Festival.
Galway
The Radisson Live Lounge
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October 2011 at at 8pm. Tickets are priced at €25 and go on sale 9am on Friday 16th September.
The festival, which runs from the 26th – 31st October 2011, has an amazing line up of top international comedians and many varied events including a Donkey Derby*. Yes really! Full details of which can be found on the Galway Comedy Festival website and I believe it’s a Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland so plenty of time for fun.
Happy Roald Dahl Day, to you! To celebrate what would have been the great author’s 95th birthday, we’ve got, not one, not two but THREE pieces of exciting Matilda news!
Cast Recording
First off, today marks the release of the official cast recording on CD! The album was recorded with the original cast from the Stratford-upon-Avon run and will feature seventeen wonderful songs, as penned by our Tim, including ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘Revolting Children’ and ‘The Smell of Rebellion’. It will be available initially exclusively from the RSC and Matilda websites, who will ship internationally, with an iTunes release occurring on the 18th October to coincide with the musical’s first preview night at the Cambridge Theatre.
New Website
Secondly, the full Matilda The Musical website will be launched today, featuring more clips from the cast recording, in case you’re still unsure about buying yourself a copy, as well as being the one-stop shop for all the latest news and ticket buying information!
Matilda Casting
And finally, the news we promised a while ago – we can now reveal the four young actresses who will be playing the eponymous Matilda! Those names, in no particular order, are: Eleanor Worthington Cox, Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram and Sophia Kiely.
Eleanor Worthington Cox has previously been seen in Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat in Liverpool and Cleo Demetriou has been seen in the West End’s The Sound of Music and Les Miserables. Kerry Ingram’s name you might already recognise, seeing as she played Matilda during the show’s initial Stratford run, while Sophia Kiely will be taking on her first ever professional role!
The four Matildas: (l-r) Eleanor, Cleo, Kerry and Sophia.
Previous cast announcements for the adults and Matilda’s schoolfriends can be found here and here and tickets for the show’s initial booking period at the Cambridge Theatre, from the 18th October 2011 to 12th February 2012, are on sale now from the Matilda The Musical website.
It’s almost upon us!
The gorgeous Matilda The Musicalcast recording for which Tim wrote the music and lyrics, recorded with the original Stratford-upon-Avon cast, will be out next week. It will be released on Dahl Day, the 13th September 2011 and available from the shop in Stratford-upon-Avon and online from the RSC shop, where you can already pre-order it.
Click right here for a special surprise taster treat!
For those who’ve been asking: Yes, it will also be available from iTunes, but not until the 18th October which is the date of the first preview performance at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End.
There’s a lot planned for Dahl Day: As well as the CD release, the names of the four young actresses playing the role of Matilda will be unveiled. The rest of the cast was announced last month as we detailed in this blog post. So keep an eye on the Matilda The Musical website where you can sign up to the RSC mailing list, find links to them on Twitter and Facebook and crucially buy tickets to the show.
If you need to catch up with the Matilda The Musical story so far or would like to view videos and read some of the many four and five star reviews the show received in Stratford-upon-Avon, pop on over to the Matilda page.
Tim already knows he’ll enjoy the Dublin gigs in mid October so much that he’s added more dates in Ireland and will be back before the month of October can end. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9am:
Dublin
Vicar Street
Sunday 30th October 2011 Tickets
Tim is, once again, returning to Largo at the Coronet this autumn! He’ll be returning for his sixth show there on the 5th October.
Tickets to see your favourite piano-playing, panda-eyed dweeb are already on sale now from the box office, and judging by past shows, you’ll need to be quick to ensure you get your ticket!
If you’re elsewhere in America, don’t forget that Tim has other US shows scheduled this autumn – details can be found on the gigs page.
As we posted hereTim Minchin Vs The Orchestras – Round II, in Australia, goes on public sale today. Ticket links for all the shows are available via Gigs.
Due to the gratifyingly high demand for tickets in the pre-sale, a second show has been added in Melbourne on Tuesday 7th February 2012 at The Palais.
Tickets will be available online from Ticketmaster or 136 100.
UPDATE:
As tickets are flying out of the door a second Sydney show has now been added: Saturday 4th February 2012 at the State Theatre. Tickets available online from Ticketmaster or 136 100.
Yes! It’s the long-awaited, long-clamoured for announcement that Tim will finally be releasing a DVD in that popular NTSC, region 1 format!
Happy Roald Dahl Day, to you! To celebrate what would have been the great author’s 95th birthday, we’ve got, not one, not two but THREE pieces of exciting Matilda news!
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