STARS of the stage were in Manchester last night, Monday, for the National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals and it was an all-star line-up!
The 12,000-strong audience were treated to songs from Moulin Rouge, Phantom of the Opera and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as well as Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz and Guys & Dolls.
Comedian Jason Manford hosted the show, which was held at the AO Arena, Manchester, for the second year in a row and opened the musical extravaganza with a dazzling performance of Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman.
What an opening number!
"Big Night of Musicals was hosted by comedian, presenter and singer Jason Manford (BBC/TBI Media)
Friend Like Me from Aladdin was next and Your Song from Moulin Rouge! The Musical quickly followed before Nicole Scherzinger took to the stage to talk about her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
Having wowed audiences in the West End, the iconic show is moving to Broadway before returning to London later this year.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera got the first standing ovation of the night before the audience were on their feet again after being mesmerized by One Singular Sensation from A Chorus Line, which will be returning to Leicester’s Curve Theatre this summer before a stint at Sadler’s Wells and a UK tour.
Singer Beverley Knight joined Next Generation Youth Theatre on stage as they brought the house down with their rendition of Seasons of Love from Rent.
The cast of new musical Hadestown performed a special preview ahead of their opening night in the West End next month.
Daniel Boys as King George III had the audience singing along with You’ll Be Back from Hamilton and Aviva Tulley was faultless as Dorothy in The Wizard Oz with a powerful and moving rendition of Over The Rainbow.
Make Me A Woman from Mrs Doubtfire was hugely entertaining and Guys N Dolls’ Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat had the arena audience dancing in the aisles.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Bring Him Home from Les Miserables was perfectly performed by the four Jean Valjeans, including the always stunning Alfie Boe.
The night of entertainment was brought to an end with a medley of memorable tunes from Grease – The Musical.
Stars of the stage were in Manchester for the glittering show
The annual event served as a massive thank you to National Lottery players who in the past year have helped support more than 750 theatre related projects across the UK.
More than £517m has been awarded to arts projects across the country, with £46m going towards theatre-related projects.
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be on BBC One this Saturday night at 7:50pm and on Sunday evening on BBC Radio Two.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here