Announcement: LMTO will no longer be participating in Once On This Island.

Posted on 26/01/2026 by Carolyn Sims

The London Musical Theatre Orchestra confirms it will no longer be participating in Once On This Island.

Despite extensive preparation and our enthusiasm for the project, contractual obligations required for the engagement were not fulfilled within the parties agreed timeframe. In line with our governance responsibilities as a charitable organisation, we therefore exercised our contractual right to terminate our involvement.

We are proud of the work to date and are grateful to all involved for their professionalism.

We wish the production every success and remain wholeheartedly committed to supporting musical theatre through future projects and engagements.”

Announcement: Departure of Interim CEO Stuart Barr

Posted on 29/12/2025 by Ella Morelle

The Board of Trustees wishes to share that Stuart Barr will be moving on from his role as Interim CEO of London Musical Theatre Orchestra, which he took up at a critical time. Previously Chair of Trustees, Stuart has been an important part of our journey over the past few years, helping guide the organisation with care, generosity and a deep belief in the value of musical theatre.

Stuart has provided steady leadership through a period of change and has supported the organisation in shaping its future direction. We are grateful for the professionalism, insight and experience he has brought to LMTO during his time with us. His work has helped us reflect on who we are, the impact we want to make, and how best to support the LMTO community moving forward.

We wish Stuart every success in his next chapter and thank him wholeheartedly for his commitment to LMTO.

We look forward to sharing updates, at the right time, on the steps ahead for LMTO

Opportunity: Freelance Fundraiser

Posted on 18/02/2025 by Freddie Tapner

LMTO is accepting applications for a new Freelance Fundraiser.

We are looking for a freelance fundraiser keen to further their career by helping secure vital
funding for our Upbeat and Talent Development programs. Working one day per week
(flexible hours), you will focus on securing support from trusts, foundations, and individual
donors who are passionate about arts and education. This role is ideal for a junior to
mid-career fundraiser with some experience in philanthropic giving, who wants to make a
tangible impact on young people’s access to the arts. We’d like you to build on our existing
funding successes, ranging from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Fishmongers’
Company to individual donors.

Please see the Job Description below and submit your application by 10am on Monday, 3rd March.

Job Description – Freelance Fundraiser

LMTO concerts receive double nomination in the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards

Posted on 12/12/202412/12/2024 by Freddie Tapner

Something Rotten! in concert nominated for WhatsOnStage Awards Best Concert Event alongside Pippin – 50th Anniversary Concert

LMTO thrilled to be involved in the nomination list for a WhatsOnStage Award

The 25^th annual WhatsOnStage Award nominations have been announced an LMTO is involved again in the list of Best Concert Event. This time with TWO nominations!

The performances of Something Rotten! in concert came about through a collaboration of Fourth Wall Live, JAS Theatricals, and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra in association with Alchemation.

Performed on 5^th and 6^th August 2024, the performances were not only well received for the stage presence of the performers but for the excellence of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. The nominations are voted for by the public on the WhatsOnStage website with one vote per person registering.

Fourth Wall Live and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra produced the WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert of Love Never Dies in 2023 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Something Rotten! was created by Hollywood screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, James and the Giant Peach), John O’Farrell (Best-selling novels include The Best a Man Can Get, May Contain Nuts, The Man Who Forgot His Wife) and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick (Change the World by Eric Clapton), who together went on to adapt Mrs Doubtfire into the West End and Broadway Musical. The show follows the story of Renaissance writers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they seek to outshine Shakespeare by writing the world’s first musical.

Something Rotten! originally opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in 2015 and received several Best Musical nominations, 10 Tony Award nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years”.

To vote for Something Rotten! along with your other favourites from 2024’s amazing range of theatre go to WhatsOnStage.

Pippin – 50^th Anniversary Concert was produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment & Carter Dixon McGill Productions with LMTO performing the infectiously unforgettable score from four-time Grammy winner, three-time Oscar winner and musical theatre giant, Stephen Schwartz.

Performed on 29^th and 30^th April 2024, LMTO’s involvement was heralded by Schwartz as a “once in a blue moon event” adding “Although there have been some excellent recent productions of Pippin in the UK, the show never gets to be heard with a full live orchestra and choir.”

To vote for Pippin – 50^th Anniversary Concert along with your other favourites from 2024’s amazing range of theatre go to WhatsOnStage.

Vote Now

Something Rotten! in Concert – Full Cast Announcement

Posted on 18/07/202406/12/2024 by Freddie Tapner

COMPLETE CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR UK PREMIERE OF BROADWAY MUSICAL SOMETHING ROTTEN! IN CONCERT AT THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

Complete casting has been announced for the UK premiere of the hit Broadway musical comedy SOMETHING ROTTEN!, which plays Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Monday 5 August and Tuesday 6 August.

Completing the cast are Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Jordan Cunningham, Luke Field-Wright, Ru Fisher, Matthew Koon, Eddie Manning, Lisa Mattheison, Katharine Pearson and Ella Redhead, who make up the ensemble.

They join the previously announced Jason Manford as Nick Bottom, Gary Wilmot as Nostradamus, Richard Fleeshman as Shakespeare, Marisha Wallace as Bea, Evelyn Hoskins as Portia, Cassius Hackforth as Nigel Bottom, Steve Furst as Shylock, Ashley Samuels as Troubadour, Cameron Blakely as Brother Jeremiah and Jenna Boyd as Lady Croydon.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! in concert is directed by Tim Jackson, with the full Broadway score performed by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra and conducted by Freddie Tapner. Choreography is by Tim Jackson and Claira Vaughan, sound by Tom Marshall and Sebastian Frost, lighting by Jamie Platt, set and costume by Rebecca Brower, production management by Pete Kramer, company and stage management by Peter Barnett and casting consultancy by Sarah Jane Price.

Tickets are on sale now at www.somethingrottenconcert.com.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! was created by Hollywood screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, James and the Giant Peach), John O’Farrell (Best-selling novels include The Best a Man Can Get, May Contain Nuts, The Man Who Forgot His Wife) and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick (Change the World by Eric Clapton), who together went on to adapt Mrs Doubtfire into the West End and Broadway Musical. The show follows the story of Renaissance writers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they seek to outshine Shakespeare by writing the world’s first musical.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! originally opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in 2015 and received several Best Musical nominations, 10 Tony Award nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years”.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! in Concert is produced by Fourth Wall Live, JAS Theatricals, and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra in association with Alchemation. Fourth Wall Live and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra produced the WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert of Love Never Dies and were producers/co-producers for the concerts of Bonnie & Clyde, Evita and Chess, all at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Originally produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Broadway Global Ventures CMC Mastro/Goodman Jerry & Ronald Frankel Morris Berchard, Kyodo Tokyo, Inc. Wendy Federman Barbara Freitag LAMS Productions Winkler/DeSimone, Timothy Laczynski Dan Markley Harris/Karmazin Jam Theatricals Robert Greenblatt, and Jujamcyn Theaters. Developed in association with the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, David Armstrong, Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director and Bill Berry, Producing Artistic Director.

By arrangement with Music Theatre International.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Facebook & Instagram: @SomethingRottenConcert
X / Twitter: @SRottenConcert

SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Dates: 5th – 6th August 2024

Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Catherine Street
London
WC2B 5JF

Performances: 7.30pm on Monday 5 August, 2.30pm & 7:30pm on Tuesday 6 August.

Box Office: 020 3925 2998

Website: somethingrottenconcert.com

LMTO Announces New Chair of Trustees and Board Appointments

Posted on 30/05/202406/12/2024 by Freddie Tapner

LONDON MUSICAL THEATRE ORCHESTRA APPOINTS STUART BARR AS NEW CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AS IT EXPANDS ITS BOARD

The London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO) is pleased to announce the expansion of the Board of Trustees to help spearhead the next chapter of its growth. Appointed to the position of Chair of Trustees is Stuart Barr, who takes over the role from Interim Chair Lee Bowman, who remains on the Board.

Stuart brings extensive board experience as a former Chair of the London Youth Choirs and President of the British Voice Association. He is currently CEO of Hey Maestro, an AI venture that is supercharging the rate at which people learn instruments. As a musician, he was conductor to Dame Shirley Bassey for 6 years, after a decade musically-directing in the West End and teaching at the Royal Academy of Music. He founded the Out To Perform pandemic campaign which caused a government U-turn on performing arts policy, and is an occasional broadcaster and writer on musical matters.

Lee Bowman, CEO at Kingstree Group and outgoing Chair said “The London Musical Theatre Orchestra has already established itself as a force for good through its amazing concerts, its Sitz programme, by providing development for young professional musicians and working in schools. Our next phase of growth is something I am delighted Stuart has joined us for and will help lead us through.”

On his appointment Stuart Barr noted “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair and I am looking forward to taking the organisation to new heights.”

The other Trustees joining the expanded board are Anna Diehm, John Forrest and Jeffrey Brady. Anna is an experienced fundraiser & communicator having held senior roles in the youth education charity European Youth Parliament Germany, she is currently Head of Annual Giving at London Business School. John is an executive with 17 years board level leadership experience and is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Spire Healthcare Plc, and has been a attendee of LMTO’s Sitzes for several years. Jeffrey is an accomplished theatrical production professional having worked in the live theatre industry for nearly 20 years and is currently Senior General Manager & Head of Touring at Trafalgar Entertainment.

Freddie Tapner, CEO & Founder of London Musical Theatre Orchestra said of the new Trustee appointments “I am excited by the opportunity our expanded board provides to the vision we have for LMTO. Anna, John, Jeffrey and Stuart bring a range of skills and experiences to boost the skills and support already shown by the other Trustees they join.”

The new appointments join the other Trustees at London Musical Theatre Orchestra: Lee Bowman, Francesca Canty, Carolyn Sims and Jeremy Stuart-Smith.

Oklahoma! in Concert – Full Cast Announcement

Posted on 24/05/202406/12/2024 by Freddie Tapner

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! IN CONCERT AT THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

Further casting has been announced for RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! in Concert, which returns to its original West End home, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, on Monday 19 August and Tuesday 20 August.

Joining the previously announced Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) as Curly and Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins) as Laurey are Christina Bianco (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) as Ado Annie, Jordan Shaw (Les Misérables) as Will Parker, five-time Olivier Award nominee and two-time Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding (Sondheim’s Old Friends and Carousel) as Aunt Eller, Tosh Wanogho-Maud (The Drifters Girl) as Jud Fry, Irvine Iqbal (The Witches) as Ali Hakim, Nicole-Lily Baisden (Anything Goes) as Gertie and Sebastien Torkia (Guys & Dolls) as Andrew. The cast is completed by George Beet (Assistant Choreographer), Ashleigh Graham (Assistant Choreographer), David McIntosh, Amonik Melaco, Carrie Willis, David Winters, Jessica Wright and the London Musical Theatre Chorus.

The production is directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Bill Deamer, and features Robert Russell Bennett’s full original 28-piece orchestrations performed by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Ben Glassberg, with sound design by Tom Marshall, set & costume design by Rebecca Brower, lighting design by Tim Deiling, casting by Sarah-Jane Price, production management by Pete Kramer and company stage management by Peter Barnett.

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! opened on Broadway in 1943 and later transferred to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for its West End premiere in 1947. OKLAHOMA! was Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first collaboration, and features some of their most loved songs, including ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’’, ‘The Surrey with the Fringe on Top’ and the titular title song ‘Oklahoma!’.

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! in Concert is produced by JAS Theatricals, Fourth Wall Live and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, the team behind the WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert of Love Never Dies.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! in Concert – BOOK NOW

Dates: 19 – 20 August 2024

Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Catherine Street
London
WC2B 5JF

Performances: 7.30pm on Monday 19 August, 2.30pm & 7:30pm on Tuesday 20 August.

Box Office: 020 3925 2998

Website: www.oklahomaconcert.co.uk
Facebook: OklahomaConcertUK
Instagram: @OklahomaConcert
X: @OklahomaConcert

Rodgers & Hammerstein: @rodgersandhammerstein

Opportunity: Trustee with Legal Expertise

Posted on 20/05/202406/12/2024 by Freddie Tapner

LMTO is accepting applications for a new trustee with legal expertise.

As a Trustee of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, you will play a crucial role in guiding the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring that we fulfil our mission and objectives effectively and responsibly. Trustees are expected to bring their unique skills, knowledge, and experience to help the charity thrive.

Please see the Job Description below and submit your application by 10am on Monday, 10th June.

Job Description – LMTO Trustee with legal expertise

Category: News