2010 was a fantastic year for West End musicals. As well as the huge girly hit Legally Blonde, there was a fascinating phantom sequel in Love Never Dies, an incredible tour de force performance in End of the Rainbow, and a gorgeous little chamber musical at the Duchess called Love Story.

We’ve recently bid farewell to Sister Act and Avenue Q, and in the coming weeks Oliver!, Flashdance, The Railway Children and Fela! will close, creating space for some more incredible musicals in 2011.

Here’s five that I’m really looking forward to:

• Million Dollar Quartet, from 8 Feb
  A Tony Award-winning show transfers to the West End in February, bringing the story of the night Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis performed together, making rock and roll history.
• Betty Blue Eyes, from 19 March
  Perfect timing: a new musical about organising a Royal Wedding during a recession! Alan Bennett’s fantastic film, A Private Function, is woven into a very British musical, all about a pig called Betty.
• Wizard of Oz, from 27 Apr
  You’ve watched the BBC show Over The Rainbow, now it’s time to see the show! Danielle Hope stars as Dorothy, with Michael Crawford as the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest blockbuster.
• Shrek The Musical, from 6 May
  Amanda Holden, Richard Blackwood, Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman look like a fab British cast to bring this witty Broadway hit to the West End. I can’t wait.
• Ghost The Musical, from 22 June
  Based on the hit film, and starring Sharon D Clarke and Richard Fleeshman with music by Dave “Eurythmics” Stewart; I think this might be the big hit of 2011.

What are you looking forward to seeing in 2011? Let us know in the comments below!

Love Story is the West End’s newest musical. Based on a novel by Erich Segal (and a well-known film), it’s the simple story of two students from very different backgrounds who fall in love…

And those of you who know the novel / film will also know there’s a very weepy ending.

The musical version starts with Jenny’s funeral: the fact that you know where this particular love story is headed certainly ramps up the emotional element. If you’re not at least blinking back tears by the end (most of the audience were openly crying), I’d suggest you should perhaps be checking your heart is in the right place.

Music and lyrics are supplied by British writing pair Howard Goodall and Stephen Clark. Their pedigree really shines through in some great songs. One in particular, a tribute to the greatness of pasta, is performed while cooking said pasta, live on stage! You can even smell the chopped garlic going into the pan. With lines like “And life is molte bene when your pasta’s cooked with penne!” this clever ditty is sure to raise a smile.

As well as the fantastic tunes, this heartfelt musical is saved from being too sentimental and slushy by some great performances. Emma Williams is wonderful as Jenny; a rounded, sparky, likeable character. Williams also has a fantastic singing voice, which is perfectly matched by Michael Xavier as her lover, Oliver. The contrasts between Jenny’s loveable, Italian, deli-owning dad, played by Peter Polycarpou and Oliver’s stiff, formal father (RSC regular Richard Cordery) are brilliantly drawn.

This domestic musical is a nice change from the bigger, perhaps brasher shows you can see elsewhere in the West End at the moment. But its small, talented cast and simple classy sets make for really enjoyable night out.

Love Story plays at the Duchess Theatre until 30 April. Book tickets here. Have you seen the show? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments below.