Menier Chocolate Factory News

Ahead of tomorrow's opening night, first images are released today of Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey in Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown's acclaimed musical The Last Five Years. Due to popular demand, the production at St. James Theatre will also extend its run by a week, and will now play until Saturday 3 December. 

Rebecca Trehearn is to join the cast of Salisbury Playhouse's Christmas musical productions in The Salberg - The Night Before Christmas (5 to 31 December 2016) and A Little of What You Fancy (20 December 2016 to 21 January 2017).

On 28 November 2016 Matthew Seadon-Young and Barbara Drennan will join the West End cast of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical to play Gerry Goffin (Carole King's husband and song-writing partner) and Genie Klein (King's mother) respectively.  

The Menier Chocolate Factory's current revival of Tom Stoppard's Travesties will transfer to the West End's Apollo Theatre, beginning performances on 3 February 2017.

Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke today announced full casting for her revival of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As previously announced, the production will star Gemma Arterton, alongside Matt Bardock, Richard Cant, Hadley Fraser and Elliot Levey.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed American Songbook series returns for its 18th season of celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting. During February and March 2016, established and rising singers and singer-songwriters across a range of genres-Southern soul, bluegrass, folk, R&B, indie rock, pop, musical theater, and more-will take The Appel Room stage for concerts that explore the many iterations of American song. And in spring, American Songbook will return to Alice Tully Hall with two dynamic women whose artistry in two very different arenas demonstrates the expansive reach of American song embodied in the series.

Patrick Marber's critically acclaimed production of Tom Stoppard's Travesties transfers to the West End in 2017 for a limited run at the Apollo Theatre - with over 100 tickets at each performance at just £20.

Coventry's award-winning flower shop, Hubbard's Florists, were treated to a visit from the cast of the blooming marvellous musical Little Shop of Horrors this week! Currently playing at the Belgrade Theatre until Saturday, this cult classic sci-fi musical stars X Factor's Rhydian Roberts, West End actor Sam Lupton and a carnivorous plant named Audrey II. Meet the cast below!

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, running November 12 - November 20 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, directed by Richard Seer, Director of Professional Training for the M.F.A. program, as part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Online submissions are being accepted beginning today through January 2 for the 2017 YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE.

English Touring Theatre today announces that following its UK tour, Jessica Swale's Olivier Award-winning Nell Gwynn, starring Laura Pitt-Pulford in the title role, returns to Shakespeare's Globe for a two week run from 2 - 13 May 2017. 

Page Seventy-Three Productions (Page 73) presents the world premiere of ULTIMATE BEAUTY BIBLE, a new play by Page 73's 2016 Tow Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Caroline V. McGraw.

The New Group and TodayTix have announced a digital lottery for Sweet Charity. Offering wide access to this production launching The New Group's 2016-2017 Season, the lottery will offer $35 tickets for performances through December 30.

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces that Scarlett Strallen (Amalia Balash) will be joined by Alastair Brookshaw (Ladislav Sipos), Les Dennis (Mr Maraczek), Callum Howells (Arpad Laszlo), Katherine Kingsley(Ilona Ritter), Dominic Tighe (Steven Kodaly) and Mark Umbers (Georg Nowack), with Rachel Bingham, Peter Dukes, Luke Fetherston, Olivia Fines, Aimee Hodnett, Sarah-Marie Maxwell and Vincent Pirillo for the company's major revival of She Loves Me this Christmas. The production reunites Strallen with director Matthew White, following their previous collaboration at the Menier on Candide. The production opens on 7 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 5 March 2017. Full casting will be announced shortly.

Casting has been announced for Salisbury Playhouse's Christmas musical productions in The Salberg - The Night Before Christmas (5 to 31 December 2016) and A Little of What You Fancy (20 December 2016 to 21 January 2017) - which have been written by Glyn Kerslake and Gareth Machin. 

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and this year's nominations longlist has just been announced. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, this year's shortlist will be revealed on October 24, and winners on November 13, 2016.

The charming, kooky and hilarious musical cult classic Little Shop of Horrors comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 7 - Saturday 12 November, starring The X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts.

Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail has reported that Tom Stoppard is currently in discussions to transfer the Menier Chocolate Factory's acclaimed revival of his play 'Travesties' into the West End in early 2017. 

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment is delighted to announce the West End debut of new family musical - Mr Popper's Penguins, which will open at the Criterion Theatre for a magical Christmas season from the 15 December to 31 December. Mr & Mrs Popper and their remarkable family of performing penguin puppets come to London direct from a UK tour and US premiere at New York's renowned New Victory Theatre.

There's a giant flesh-eating plant coming to Coventry in Little Shop of Horrors, which is set to visit the Belgrade Theatre on a UK tour this October! X Factor's Rhydian leads the cast in this '50s sci-fi spoof musical taking to the Belgrade's Main Stage.