The BBC Big Night of Musicals is an upcoming televised musical theatre concert produced by the BBC. It will feature performances from the casts of several popular West End and Broadway musicals. The event is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One on October 16, 2023. This highly anticipated concert aims to celebrate and showcase musical theatre to audiences across the UK. Details regarding the specific lineup of musicals and performers expected to appear have now been announced.
Announced Lineup
The BBC has revealed that the Big Night of Musicals will include numbers from the following hit shows:
- Les Miserables
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Mary Poppins
- Hamilton
- Mamma Mia!
- The Lion King
- Wicked
- Chicago
- Jersey Boys
- Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
This impressive lineup covers a diverse range of popular and acclaimed musicals, both classics and contemporary shows. It provides something for fans of different eras and styles of musical theatre.
Performers
In addition to naming the featured musicals, details about which performers will represent each show have also been revealed. The full cast list includes:
Musical | Performer(s) |
---|---|
Les Miserables | Michael Ball |
The Phantom of the Opera | Killian Donnelly, Lucy St. Louis |
Mary Poppins | Zizi Strallen |
Hamilton | Giles Terera |
Mamma Mia! | Alice Fearn |
The Lion King | Nathaniel Morrison |
Wicked | Helen Woolf |
Chicago | Ruthie Henshall |
Jersey Boys | Ben Joyce |
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie | Layton Williams |
The performer list features established musical theatre stars like Michael Ball, Ruthie Henshall, and Helen Woolf alongside exciting younger talents such as Lucy St. Louis and Layton Williams. Several performers who have played lead roles in their respective shows will reprise songs from those musicals.
Musical Numbers
While the full setlist has not yet been announced, some details about planned musical numbers have been shared. These include:
- Michael Ball singing “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables
- Killian Donnelly and Lucy St. Louis performing the title track from The Phantom of the Opera
- Zizi Strallen singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins
- Giles Terera rapping “My Shot” from Hamilton
- Ruthie Henshall singing “All That Jazz” from Chicago
- Layton Williams performing “And You Don’t Even Know It” from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
These numbers provide a taste of what viewers can expect, with iconic songs from both classical and contemporary hit shows. The full setlist is sure to feature additional unforgettable musical theatre tracks.
Production Details
The BBC Big Night of Musicals special will be filmed at the London Palladium and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group. Lloyd Webber will also make an appearance himself. The concert will be hosted by musical theatre star Elaine Paige and West End leading man Ore Oduba.
A full live orchestra will accompany the performances under the musical direction of Freddie Tapner. The show’s producers promise that this event will deliver “show-stopping performances” and be a “once-in-a-lifetime celebration” for musical theatre fans.
Why a Musicals Concert Special?
The BBC is airing this musical theatre concert special to coincide with the long-awaited return of major West End and Broadway shows following pandemic theatre shutdowns. After a devastating period where live performances were halted, the BBC aims to celebrate and showcase the best of musical theatre.
The producers hope this event will remind viewers of the joy, excitement, and life-affirming power of musicals. They also want to hype up the comeback of live theatre and encourage audiences to start booking tickets again following the industry’s darkest period in decades.
Response
The announcement of the BBC Big Night of Musicals has provoked an enthusiastic response from theatre fans excited to see a star-studded lineup of musical numbers performed live. Many have taken to social media to express their delight at the prospect of seeing Michael Ball sing Les Mis, Killian Donnelly take on Phantom, and more dream musical matchups.
There is particular excitement around Hamilton star Giles Terera rapping the fast-paced “My Shot,” a challenging number which showcases the phenomenal wordplay of the show’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Fans eagerly anticipating this event can likely expect it to trend on Twitter as it airs live.
The concert is also driving up ticket sales for the featured musicals, as viewers are inspired to book their own theatre visits after enjoying this celebration of the West End and Broadway. Overall, the BBC seems to have succeeded in its goal of generating excitement and support for musical theatre’s much-anticipated return.
Conclusion
With a stellar lineup of musicals and performers, the BBC Big Night of Musicals promises to be a sensational televised concert celebrating theatre. Musical fans across the UK will be eager to watch extraordinary talents like Michael Ball, Killian Donnelly, and Giles Terera perform iconic numbers from shows like Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Hamilton.
This event marks a hugely anticipated moment for the return of live musical theatre after the pandemic ravaged the industry. The BBC is clearly aiming to remind viewers of the emotional power of musical storytelling through this ambitious concert coming to homes across the country. For theatre lovers, the Big Night of Musicals will be unmissable.