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On Thursday night Whatsonstage.com hosted an outing to see Maria Friedman’s critically acclaimed show Maria Friedman: Re-arranged at the Menier Chocolate Factory. After an evening of fantastic entertainment, we were treated to a post-show discussion with Maria and her long-standing musical collaborator Michael Haslam.

The show has received rave reviews (click here for Michael Coveney’s review) and based on last night’s performance it’s clear to see why. Maria was keen to emphasise early in the show that the songlist was not chosen on the basis of theme. Rather, she chose to celebrate the freedom of a concert format by “dipping into as many emotional spaces as possible” during the course of the evening. And she was certainly true to her word. From a poignant rendition of “You Are My Sunshine” to her seminal version of Sondheim’s “Broadway Baby”, she spanned genres and styles, remaining all the while utterly engaging.

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On Thursday (27 Mar 2008) night Whatsontage.com hosted a sold out Outing to see Howard Brenton’s powerful new political drama Never So Good, starring Jeremy Irons as former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. 150 Theatregoers joined us for a free drink and top price seats to see this world premiere at the National Theatre. With so many of us in attendance we were encouraged to pre-order our drinks for the interval and it was a good thing we did as the sell out performance’s audience filled the bar while Whatsonstage Theatregoers simply picked up their drinks and took the opportunity to mingle and discuss the show.

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On Monday night Whatsonstage.com hosted a long awaited and sold out event to see Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre. Over 200 Theatregoers joined us to watch this fantastic show and were treated to a post show reception with members of the cast. Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and features some of their  best loved songs, including “Earth Angel”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like  a Man”, “Sherry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.

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On Monday night Whatsonstage took 175 Theatregoers to the Comedy Theatre for the sell out Outing to The Lover/The Collection. The West End double bill features two dark and funny plays from Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter. Both plays sizzled with sexual tension as they twisted and turned through the dark and often bleak world that Pinter creates.

All of our Theatregoers were treated to a free programme and interval drink as they watched the show from their top price seats. After the show everyone was invited to a post show Q&A which was well attended by all. We were thrilled to welcome all four cast members, Gina McKee, Timothy West, Richard Coyle and Charlie Cox. Roger Foss led the discussion which covered a variety of topics, including how to tackle Pinter, how to handle the infamous Pinter pauses, and how to work together as a cast. Gina McKee discussed her role as the only female in the production and addressed the problems arising from performing plays written in a different era. Timothy West discussed Pinter’s popularity and appeal.

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On Wednesday night (13 February 2008) Whatsonstage.com hosted an Outing to Speed-The-Plow at the Old Vic. The event proved extremely popular, with tickets selling out within a matter of hours. The Old Vic’s production, headed up by artistic director Kevin Spacey along with Jeff Goldblum and Laura Michelle Kelly has proved to be a hot ticket with very few spaces remaining for the run.

Our Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers were treated to a free drink in the Pit Bar and a free programme as part of their Outing package. As they settled into their top price seats all of our Theatregoers were able to enjoy high energy performances from three fantastic actors.

Following twenty four hours in the lives of two film producers and their assistant, Speed-The-Plow looks at the ups and downs of the movie business. This revival of David Mamet’s play had its press night on Tuesday (12 February) and received fantastic reviews from critics across the board, including a four star review from our own Michael Coveney.

 http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821202897909

You can add your own comments about the event either here or on the main Discussion Forum. You can also add your verdict on Speed-The-Plow to our User Reviews for the show –
http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=206&action=users&show=L1866472063

I hope to see you all at the next Outing!

- Kate Jackson

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On Tuesday 5 February, Whatsonstage.com took 175 theatregoers to see Samuel West’s critically acclaimed revival of Patrick Marber’s poker based play, Dealer’s Choice at the Trafalgar Studios. As our theatregoers settled into their top price seats they were treated to a funny, poignant and challenging production which follows the staff of a small Italian restaurant as they prepare for a night of poker. As a special treat the first twenty people to book for the Outing were given a free programme signed by all the cast and the understudies.

After the show all our theatregoers were invited to attend a Q&A with cast members and director Samuel West. We had a fantastic turn out from the cast with Stephen Wight, Ross Boatman, Malcolm Sinclair, Samuel Barnett and Roger Lloyd Pack all answering questions and talking happily about their roles in the production. Samuel West discussed his thoughts on the plays significance, while Roger Lloyd Pack confessed to having to share less than glamorous dressing room accommodation with other members of the cast. All our theatregoers were amazed to find out that the cards the players used were carefully sorted and ordered every night to make sure that the cards they were holding and playing matched the cards they were discussing in the dialogue.

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On January 28 Whatsonstage.com took 150 Theatregoer club members to see the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker, the production has become one of this seasons hottest tickets. Our Theatregoers were able to enjoy a free drink during the interval and were lucky enough to be offered the last minute opportunity to attend a post show Q&A with principal cast members.

We had an overwhelming response to this Outing, with all 150 tickets selling out to club members in a matter of days. The rush was well deserved and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

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On January 21 Whatsonstage.com took 175 Theatregoers to the Theatre Royal to see director Jonathan Kent’s production of Edward Bond’s  modern classic The Sea. All of our Theatregoers received a free programme on arrival and were able to enjoy their free drink as they settled down to watch Eileen Atkins and David Haig tackle this delightfully dark comedy.

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On Thursday night Whatsonstage.com hosted an Outing to Tintin at the London Playhouse. Herge’s Adventures of Tintin have been revived by the joint efforts of Rufus Norris and David Greig and are now playing at the Playhouse until January following a nationwide tour. The show was a great delight and was made even more enjoyable by ice creams for all the children during the interval.

Before the show all Whatsonstage.com theatregoers were given free Tintin posters which they had the opportunity to have signed by the cast during the post show reception which was a real success, with many members of the cast remaining in costume to sign autographs and chat happily with Whatsonstge.com theatregoers. Many of the cast were able to attend, including Matthew Parish (Tintin), Miltos Yerolemou (Snowy), Stephen Finegold (Captain Haddock) and Nina Kwek (Chang) amoung others.

Staff at the Playhouse offered our theatregoers wine, beer and ribena as well as mince pies to get everyone in a festive mood as they mingled with the cast of this charming show. Many of the cast commented on how much they had enjoyed meeting our theatregoers and discussing the show and they all left happily with a copy of our latest December/January issue magazine.

You can add your own comments about the event either here or on the main Discussion Forum. You can also add your verdict on Tintin to our User Reviews for the show –
http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=206&action=users&show=l01836265436

I hope to see you all at the next Outing!

- Kate Jackson (Editorial/Sales and Marketing)

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