We are hopeful of a new production of When Midnight Strikes soon! The Cast Recording of The Finborough production is now available - More information HERE. The songbook is also available now in our shop.

Synopsis

When Midnight Strikes, is a brand new musical, composed by Charles Miller, with book & lyrics by Kevin Hammonds. Set around the turn of the new millennium, in a chic New York Apartment, When Midnight Strikes follows the journey of a troubled couple, Christopher and Jennifer West, who are hosting a lavish dinner party for Ten guests at their home. However, to add to the pressure of throwing the greatest party on earth, Jennifer is confronted by the fact that her husband has been having an affair with somebody else. Throughout the night she fights with herself about who the mystery person is and how to deal with her cheating husband and this rapidly affects their doomed relationship more and more. Thrown into the mix are the party guests, including Christopher's Horny younger brother, his newly dieted ex girlfriend, old family man-eating friend, Jennifers best friend and her gay counterpart, his flatmate, a pot smoking psychic, an actress/waitress who is waiting at the party, geeky boss of the host, and the complaining woman next door, who finds herself coming out of her sexual shell as we follow the story, in astonishing fashion! For a New Years Eve you will never forget, pay a visit to the apartment of Jennifer and Christopher West, and come on an emotional journey, full of laughs, tears, and a score of excellent songs, which add to the magic of the evening.

 

Song samples from the musical "When Midnight Strikes"

You can play the song by clicking on the title. To save and play later you can right-click and select "save to computer".

For Full Cast album CLICK HERE

 TRACK  VOCALIST

FROM THE MUSICAL

  COMPOSER
Like Father Like Son  David Arneil When Midnight Strikes

Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
Smoke Em If You Got Em  Fenton Gray When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
I Never Learned To Type  Corinna Powlesland When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
Party Conversation  Julie Jupp & Fenton Gray When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
Somebody's Falling - Available to buy HERE  Julie Atherton When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
Let Me Inside  Melissa Jacques When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds
The Greatest Show On Earth  Melissa Jacques When Midnight Strikes Music by Charles Miller Lyrics by Kevin Hammonds

 

Please note: these songs are sample recordings and are reduced quality for space saving purposes and do not represent the sound quality of commercially available products.

 

More details are available by clicking HERE .


What the Critics said about the recent Finborough Theatre Production:
 
Critic's Choice - Time Out
Critic's Choice - Sunday Express
**** Time Out
**** Evening Standard
**** LBC
**** MusicOMH

"When Midnight Strikes is rancorously diverting. In Fenton Gray's stylish production the dialogue is at its best when it's at its bitchiest, and the songs likewise thrill most when the gloves come off: 'Shut Up' establishes the fractured, fractious mood of the revelers, while 'It's Not a Party 'Til Something Gets Broken' kicks off the knock-out final sequence in suitably pugilistic fashion. But it's the Latin-flavoured seduction number 'Party Conversation', which sees more than just gloves coming off, that's the evening's highlight."
Robert Shore, Time Out, CRITIC'S CHOICE ****

"When Midnight Strikes offers a musical treat, albeit one for those who appreciate acerbic songs with a twist of Sondheim and an ability to smash through the thin ice of social nicety. Yet one of the many strengths of this sophisticated new show from the increasingly impressive pairing of Charles Miller and Kevin Hammonds is that the whole thing wouldn't collapse even if the songs were removed, so well drawn are the characters… An enterprising producer would do well to take a closer look."
Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard ****

"In the parched environment of original indigenous new musicals in London, WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES offers a genuine wake-up call for the homegrown musical, proving that its still possible to be musically adventurous and offer audiences things that they are not, for once, already familiar with. Literate, witty songs that inform and illuminate character attached to a book that creates believable situations and conflict lead director Fenton Gray to create a fully-realised world in the intimate surroundings of the Finborough. But the work can and should expand to fill a larger stage."
Mark Shenton, Sunday Express, CRITIC'S CHOICE

"We need to cherish composers and writers like Charles Miller and Kevin Hammonds, who dare to strike up a new note in musical theatre when everyone else in show biz seems to be in the thrall of juke box compilations, revivals or high-tech blockbusters. Fenton Gray's slick direction, Norma Atallah's smart musical staging and a large West End-quality ensemble cast all combine to turn this small but perfectly formed tale of flawed human beings given a second chance to mend their ways into a highly enjoyable and completely memorable night out."
Roger Foss, LBC ****

"Composer Charles Miller and lyricist Kevin Hammonds have created an original and accessible story, with a selection of lively numbers and romantic ballads that show much promise for this relatively new writing team…It's original, entertaining, even exciting and hopefully heralds the dawn of a successful collaborative team."
Paul Vale, The Stage

"When Hammonds' intelligent and savvy lyrics are matched with Miller's melodic score, the result is a collection of terrific show-stopping numbers, and Sondheim fans will spot the occasional homage to the master… we get set pieces - such as "Party Conversation" where nerdy Edward and grumpy Murial abandon their inhibitions - that are as near-perfect as you can get… In When Midnight Strikes London-based Charles Miller and New York-based Kevin Hammonds have borrowed the baton from the likes of Sondheim and created a rare thing - a witty and entertaining piece of musical theatre that is also a treat for the brain. It's enough to restore one's faith in the genre!"
The British Theatre Guide

"Kevin Hammonds' Book is generally witty and engaging and at times quite moving, while his delicately constructed lyrics are perfectly adorned by Charles Miller's highly melodic score. The songs not only work perfectly within the piece, advancing the plot and developing character but also stand out in their own right, leaving the listener wanting to hear them again… A genuinely classy, fresh, articulate musical with a score that leaves you wanting more."
BroadwayWorld.com

"Another highlight of London's exceptional 2007 musical calendar… sitting amidst this new story with unheard songs, a fine cast and finer comedy is a cherished and exceptional joy."
Geoff Ambler, Reviewsgate.com

"Brimful of fresh songs, it gives a remarkably accurate sense of the brittle gaiety of a New Year party, with all the tensions so often seething behind lipsticked smiles… It is the depth of character awarded each guest that gives the musical genuine warmth… Miller and Hammonds manage the tricksy feat of threading the music carefully through the play, so that characters appear to break into song naturally, as if we were able to hear their thoughts… there are enough truly memorable songs to occupy the journey home with humming. The dialogue has the snap and crackle of a good sitcom… That some of the third-hand nonsense currently hawking its wares in the West End has audiences of thousands, and that this production sits atop a bar in Earl's Court, is genuinely infuriating. I advise you to go and do something about it."
Sarah Perry, MusicOMH.com

"It's a sort of urban song-cycle linked with sassy lines and situations and it is by no means an insignificant contribution to the new-musical scene… Strong women reacting against weak men in a transatlantic musical 'comedy': how could the West End not want it?" Michael Darvell, The Classical Source "Catch When Midnight Strikes and your faith in musicals will be renewed… one of a stable of works Londoner Charles Miller and New Yorker Kevin Hammonds have co-written, I think its time we saw more of them."
Katherine Hayes, Extra!Extra!

"A transfer-ready achievement to be proud of: this is a neat, sweet product, perfectly plausible for a run at a small West End venue." Adam Sheldon, Rogues & Vagabonds "It is a new musical and a new musical not derived as a spin-off from a book or film..If you (like me) have bemoaned the lack of original ideas for musicals, then you'd better go along to see it. There is plenty to enjoy."
Richard Woulfe, UK Theatre Net

"When Midnight Strikes is a shining example of that all too rare breed - a brand new British musical by a composer whose name is not Lloyd Webber - crammed with original jazzy Latino inspired songs, which are paired with dialogue that positively fizzes... Tango beats and plaintive multi-hued jazz harmonies infuse the whole with a zest for life… Super-slick direction, paced at just the right tempo and length."
Julia Hickman, Theatreworld Internet Magazine