Gay Musical Star John Barrowman Named Most Influential Person In UK Theatre
Gay musical and television star John Barrrowman has been awarded the number one spot on the readers’ version of The Stage 100. Published every year, the official “The Stage 100″ is a list of who The Stage believes has been most influential in UK theatre over the last year, with the readers version being decided via an online voting system.
Whilst the general public felt that John Barrowman had been most influential concerning his appearance in La Cage aux Folles, and presumably how his higher television profile has drawn people back to the theatre, The Stage itself placed Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire in the top spot. Awarded the position for their roles as joint chief executives of the Ambassador Theatre Group, the duo only reached position 22 in the reader top 20, indicating for readers it is those who are seen on the stage that have the most influence.
Joining John Barrowman, who has released his new album “John Barrowman” in the Readers’ Top 20 were amongst others Ian McKellen, Matthew Bourne, Alan Bennett, Jude Law, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with only six out of their list appearing on the official top 20.
The Stage Readers’ and Official Top 20 were as follows:
READERS’ TOP 20:
1. John Barrowman, entertainer
2. Matthew Bourne, choreographer/director
3. Arlene Phillips, choreographer/director
4. Michael Ball, actor
5. Ian McKellen, actor
6. Tania Harrison, Latitude festival
7. Rachel Tackley, English Touring Theatre
8= Alan Bennett, writer
8= Daniel Kramer, director
10= Antonio Pappano and Monica Mason, Royal Opera/Royal Ballet
10= Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells
12. Carlos Acosta, dancer
13. Kerry Michael, Theatre Royal Stratford East
14= Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer/producer/theatre owner
14= Jude Law, actor
16= Alan Ayckbourn, writer
16= Nicholas Hytner, National Theatre
16= Cameron Mackintosh, producer/theatre owner
19. Michael Grandage, Donmar Warehouse
20= Sonia Friedman, producer
20= Rachel Weisz, actor
THE STAGE OFFICIAL TOP 20
1. Howard Panter/Rosemary Squire, Ambassador Theatre Group
2. Cameron Mackintosh
3. Andrew Lloyd Webber
4. Michael Grandage
5. Nicholas Hytner
6. Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Nimax Theatres
7. Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre
8. Bill Kenwright, producer
9. Michael Boyd, Royal Shakespeare Company
10. Kevin Spacey/Sally Greene, Old Vic Theatre
11. Nick Thomas/Jon Conway, Qdos Entertainment
12= Sonia Friedman
12= David Pugh/Dafydd Rogers, producers
14. David Babani, producer
15. Jonathan Church, Chichester Festival Theatre
16. Bill Taylor, Stage Entertainment
17. Rupert Goold, director
18. Alex Poots, Manchester International Festival
19. John Barrowman
20. Mark Rylance, actor
