2009
2009 brought with it some phenomenal new plays in London along with some outstanding new musicals in New York. Political dramas and feel-good shows provided highlights of the season, with only the most successful transferring between the two theatrical worlds.
2009 Broadway
2009 was an incredible year on Broadway across all mediums. Just watching the Tony Awards opening number was enough to confirm that a lot happened during this season – from big budget transfers to flop revivals and some more tactful celebrity casting. The most sensational new show of the year came from writers Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt and was a surprise hit. Next to Normal the rock musical concerns a mother who suffers from worsening bi-polar disorder as she struggles to bring up and look after her family in suburban America. After a...
read more2009 West End
2009 proved to be once again a phenomenal year for new writing. New plays from the National Theatre, Royal Court and the Almedia ruled the season, alongside further revivals by the Donmar both in and out of the West End. Celebrity turns, some more reality television casting and comedians-turned-serious-actors made for some exciting productions in London, with only a small number of Broadway transfers. The most long awaited new play of the year came from Alan Bennett in his first play since the triumphant The History Boys of 2005. The theme had...
read more2009 Awards
The 2009 Awards were pretty low key in London, due to the lack of any sustainable new musical over the previous year. Jersey Boys won Best Musical in a two horse race, which in any other year may not have been rewarded. Black Watch at the Barbican won the majority of play awards for production with Derek Jacobi being rewarded for the Donmar’s West End Season. On Broadway Billy Elliot won Best Musical, and the committee took a leaf out of London’s book, rewarding the three main boys in a joint award for performance. The highlight...
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