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 NOTE: Many thanks to all the friends and readers who regularly send in news and updates, and particularly to Philip Quast. We always acknowledge our sources, please do the same whenever you mention elsewhere a news item found on this site.
For up-to-the-hour news do check also the "Philip Quast" section of the PQG MESSAGE BOARD.
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11 May 2008
The Dress Circle Shop was a very busy place all day yesterday during the "Shop with the Stars" Event in favour of the Theatrical Guild. PQ turned up shortly after noon and did a great job signing authographs, posing for photos and chatting with fans.
The Dress Circle website will hopefully be updated with a full report in the coming days. Be sure to check the PQG too in the coming week for plenty of photos taken on the day (thank you, Freddie & Phoebe!!)
10 May 2008
Yesterday's Concert at the Barbican Centre was a glowing success. PQ's perfect rendition of the 25-min "Tsunami" song cycle enthralled the audience, revealing his acting and singing abilities from an entirely new perspective. Don't miss the
broadcast of the full concert next Tuesday on BBC Radio 3 (details on the Barbican page).
Check out the PQG in the coming days for further info, reviews and photos about this very special evening.
 2nd April 2008
Still no official updates from the Menier Chocolate Factory management, but according to the most reliable rumour around at the moment (see BroadwayWorld Message Board) plans for a transfer seem to have been shelved until September due to casting problems.
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 20 March 2008
Philip Quast was a totally unexpected "Special Guest" at the opening of Maria Friedman's show yesterday evening at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Lucky Deejay was there and has shared all the details on our Message Board! (Please note that Philip Quast's participation was an informal one-off event and although he did join Maria onstage they did not perform any song together).
 17 March 2008
The Lauren Kennedy Live at the MCF Page has now been fully updated with the complete songlist, onstage photos - also including Philip Quast - a short videoclip and other relevant info.
Thanks to Gregor and all the friends who contributed to the above material, and above all to Lauren for allowing us to publish it!
16 March 2008
Lauren Kennedy's concerts at the Menier Chocolate Factory last weekend fully lived up to everybody's expectations. Lauren paid great tribute to Philip Quast during both concerts, saying last night that "working with Philip made me a better person".
What a true delight it was to see the two of them together again on the London stage. Check the relevant PQG page for some early updates about the event. More details and reviews to come soon!
 10 March 2008
Last Saturday the final curtain fell on the Menier Chocolate Factory run of La Cage aux Folles, in a mood of combined joy and melancholy. Check the PQG Message Board for some first-hand reports about the last day, plus some extra curtain-call shots that have just been added to the LCAF Photo Gallery.
Stay tuned to the PQG over the next few days to find out about possible transfer plans.
5 March 2008
While waiting for a final announcement about the show's prospects for a transfer to the West End, the cast of La Cage has already lost one of its valuable members: Tara Hugo has handed over her role of Mme Jacqueline to Vanessa Leagh-Hicks for the last week of performances at the Chocolate Factory. Many thanks to DeeJay for the info.
 29 February 2008
We are thrilled to announce that Philip Quast's Concert at the Barbican in May is going to be recorded live and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday 13 May 2008 (7.00pm to 8.45pm, UK time) during the daily programme Performance on 3. People outside the UK will be able to listen to the programme online via the BBC Radio 3 website.
The concert will be available online for seven days after the 13-May broadcast via the Listen Again feature. Huge thanks to Sarah for the precious feedback.
28 February 2008
The official flyer for Lauren Kennedy's concerts at the Menier Chocolate Factory in March is now available. Feel free to download it! (PDF format, 3 MB)
16 February 2008
In a new article about the Menier Chocolate Factory in Variety David Benedict states that La Cage Aux Folles "is in advanced negotiations for a West End transfer in April". Find the full article at this link.
15 February 2008
The new Lauren Kennedy - Live at the Chocolate Factory page is now online, with further details about the concerts. We are also pleased to announce that Nigel Lilley - current MD for LCAF - is going to be the musical supervisor for the event.
Last but not least: to celebrate Lauren's comeback to the UK, we have 5 copies of Lauren's latest Album Here and Now to give away to 5 of our readers. Find the details of the Competition on the PQG Message Board.
14 February 2008
After receiving the go-ahead from the appropriate sources we are delighted to announce that Philip Quast and the talented Lara Pulver (who recently starred in Jason Robert Brown's Parade) are going to be the two Special Guests at Lauren Kennedy's forthcoming London concerts on 14 & 15 March 2008, at the Menier Chocolate Factory. A much-awaited reunion that cannot be missed! 
 13 February 2008
Don't miss a new chance to watch Clubland on the big screen at the Barbican Centre in London. On 13 March 2008 the movie will be screened once again as part of this year's London Australian Film Festival (6-16 March), packed with interesting films, documentaries and events.
12 February 2008
Douglas Hodge has been off ill this week and will probably miss a few more shows. Spencer Stafford will be be playing the role of Albin once again until Hodge has fully recovered.
29 January 2008
The LCAF page on the Chocolate Factory website has provided an email address that can be contacted "should you wish to be kept informed about the show transferring or extending its run". Needless to say, the PQG will do its utmost to report any promising updates too!
PS: Enjoy our restyled Flash Introduction on the opening page!
14 January 2008
On 12 February 2008 a special screening of Clubland will take place at the Barbican Centre in London. The event is meant to be a "taster" prior to the opening of the 2008 London Australian Film Festival (6-16 March). Check this page for booking details.
29 January 2008
The LCAF page on the Chocolate Factory website has provided an email address that can be contacted "should you wish to be kept informed about the show transferring or extending its run". Needless to say, the PQG will do its utmost to report any promising updates too!
PS: Enjoy our restyled Flash Introduction on the opening page!
14 January 2008
On 12 February 2008 a special screening of Clubland will take place at the Barbican Centre in London. The event is meant to be a "taster" prior to the opening of the 2008 London Australian Film Festival (6-16 March). Check this page for booking details.
13 January 2008
The PQG's Press section now lists over 20 links to official LCAF reviews from various UK media. The effects of the positive critical response have been quite impressive on the Menier box office: apart from 4 mid-week performances in late February / early March the entire Menier season is now sold out!
12 January 2008
Yesterday's Newsnight Review on BBC 2 featured a superb 5-min coverage of La Cage aux Folles, including a short recorded videoclip of Philip Quast onstage singing 'Song on the Sand' and an interesting debate among the presenter and guests.
The full programme is now available at this BBC link (for one week). An excerpt of the LCAF coverage is available on the PQG (as Premium Feature) at this link. 
REMINDER: Saturday Review tonight on BBC Radio 4 (7.15 - 8.00pm) will include a review of La Cage aux Folles. Presenter Tom Sutcliffe will be joined by Gillian Slovo (novelist),
Robert Sandall (critic) and
Kerry Shale (actor) as members of the panel.
11 January 2008
La Cage aux Folles will be reviewed today on Newsnight Review (BBC 2, 11.00 to 11.35pm). This week's programme will be presented by Martha Kearney, with journalists Miranda Sawyer, Johann Hari and Ian McMillan as members of the panel.
The programme will be available online as VOD over the week following the live broadcast.
10 January 2008
Check out the links to the very first official reviews of
La Cage aux Folles in our Press section.
Also: don't miss plenty of fantastic pictures from the press photocall, (from TopFoto.co.uk & Woller.com) and from the curtain calls and post-show drinks on opening night (from Whatsonstage).
9 January 2008
La Cage aux Folles opens today at the Menier Chocolate Factory. In the spirit of the show, the PQG wishes Merde! (*) to all the cast and crew! 
Keep an eye on the Press section from tomorrow for links to the first reviews.
(*) French for "Break a leg!".
8 January 2008
Today's issue of the free London newspaper Metro features an interview with Philip Quast and Douglas Hodge. Check it out in our Press section.
ALSO: don't miss a few new curtain-call photos kindly sent in by RTKM.
6 January 2007
La Cage aux Folles resumed performances at the Menier Chocolate Factory on Saturday. All the leads were (back) onstage, while the two dance swings covered for the "Cagelles" who were still off sick. The full cast is due to be back by Tuesday, putting the final touches before Wednesday's Press Night.
4 January 2007
Tonight's show has been cancelled too, as many members of the cast are still unwell. The Menier recommends to contact the Box Office (020 7907 7060) around 10am tomorrow to find out whether tomorrow's shows are going ahead or not.
3rd January 2007
The Menier Chocolate Factory informs that tonight's show has been cancelled, owing to the illness of five members of the cast. All the people who had tickets for tonight will be contacted by the theatre Administration.
Regular performances are expected to resume tomorrow Friday 4th, but we advise people who have tickets for tomorrow's show to contact the Menier's Box Office (020 7907 7060) around lunchtime.
FYI, Philip Quast is not among the indisposed performers. The PQG wishes a speedy recovery and best of luck to all the LCAF cast.
(Big thanks to Lucy from the Menier Admin for her precious assistance)
30 December 2007
According to a post by a well-informed contributor to the West End Theatre Message Board plans for a transfer of La Cage aux Folles to a West End venue around May 2008 are going ahead rather promisingly. Please note that even if these plans are confirmed in the forthcoming weeks there is no guarantee that the cast will remain unchanged.
29 December 2007
Douglas Hodge has now joined he rest of the LCAF cast in the role of Albin. Spencer Stafford, who played the role during Hodge's absence in December, will continue to play Albin at matinees for a while. The show's programme is also finally out, you will find a link to some official photos on our LCAF Page. (Many thanks to Deejay for sharing these updates!)
17 December 2007
Finally the first publicity flyers for La Cage aux Folles are starting to circulate (see show's page), while the theatre programme should be available later this week. As for casting updates, Douglas Hodge should take over as Albin on Boxing Day. The talented Spencer Stafford will then join the other "Cagelles", while remaining Albin's u/s for the rest of the show's run.
11 December 2007
The December issue of the What's On Stage Magazine
includes an article by Roger Foss about the current production of La Cage aux Folles, with short interviews with some of the creatives. The article is available online at these links (PDF format): Page One / Page Two.
ALSO: don't miss two new brilliant curtain-call photos kindly sent in by J. !
 10 December 2007
More TV updates for our UK-based readers: the Midsomer Murders episode featuring Philip Quast ('Ghosts of Christmas Past') will be screened on Friday 21 December at 4.00pm
on ITV. (Once again many thanks to R. for the alert.)
8 December 2007
Congratulations to Emma Booth on her recent AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Jill in Clubland. Check the movie's page for some new photos and a lovely short videoclip (Premium Features).
3rd December 2007
A couple of exclusive photos taken at the curtain calls of a preview performance of Cage aux Folles are now available in all their glory on our show's page!
For earlier news check out the News Archive Page
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