Menier Chocolate Factory News

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley brings U.S. audiences their first look a London hit with the American Premiere of the joyous musical revue The Life of the Party. Directed and co-created by David Babani, the Artistic Director of London's Menier Chocolate Factory, this rollicking musical journey celebrates the songs of Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish) who takes the stage as a featured performer, along with a cast of Broadway and West End veterans, bringing to life a hilarious, uplifting, memorable evening. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley was the star of the show for a change - receiving proclamations on Monday, August 22 from both the City of Palo Alto's Mayor Pat Burt, and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, acknowledging his significant contributions to the community.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 47th season will feature American Premiere of the surprise London hit, THE LIFE OF THE PARTY, running tonight, August 24, through September 18, starring Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa.

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a two-week extension for Sweet Charity, the production launching the company's 2016-2017 Season.

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces the full company for a major new revival of Tom Stoppard's TRAVESTIES - the first London revival in over 20 years. Patrick Marber directs Clare Foster (Cecily), Freddie Fox (Tristan Tzara), Tom Hollander (Henry Carr), Forbes Masson (Lenin), Peter McDonald (James Joyce), Amy Morgan (Gwendolen), Sarah Quist (Nadya) and Tim Wallers (Bennett). The production - which opens on 4 October, with previews from 22 September and runs until 19 November - is now completely sold out, breaking Menier box office records by becoming the first play to sell out ahead of its opening in the theatre's history.

Sam Hodges, Director of Nuffield Theatre, today announces the cast for his world premiere production of Nick Dear's new play DEDICATION - SHAKESPEARE AND SOUTHAMPTON, which investigates the relationship between William Shakespeare and the 3rd Earl of Southampton. Tom McKay plays Shakespeare and Tom Rhys-Harries plays Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton. The production opens on 20 September, with previews from 9 September, runs until 8 October.

Classic Stage Company (Artistic Director John Doyle and Managing Director Jeff Griffin) announced today that Jason Sudeikis will star as John Keating in the world premiere of Dead Poets Society, a new play based on the beloved 1989 film. Written by Academy Award winner Tom Schulman, adapted from his screenplay, and directed by John Doyle, Dead Poets Society is set at a rigorous all-boys preparatory school renowned for its ancient traditions, where the unconventional Professor Keating inspires his students to defy conformity, and to live passionately. Performances for Dead Poets Society will begin Thursday, October 27 at CSC (136 East 13thStreet) with an official press opening Thursday, November 17. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sheffield Theatres and English Touring Theatre today announce full casting for Phillip Breen's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's classic novel LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, which opens at the Crucible on 26 September before a UK tour to Oxford, York, Malvern, Salisbury, Brighton and Cambridge. Breen directs a cast including Hedydd Dylan as Lady Chatterley and Jonah Russellas Mellors. The company is completed by Aretha Ayeh, Will Irvine, Ciaran McIntyre, Eugene O'Hare, David Osmond, Rachel Sanders and Alice Selwyn.

 It was announced today Tony Award-Winner Cynthia Erivo and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry will star in a special one-night-only benefit concert version of Jason Robert Brown's seminal musical, The Last Five Years, with the composer himself leading the orchestra. Produced by SubCulture and Jason Robert Brown, the evening will take place at Town Hall (123 West 43rd St), and 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Brady Center, the national organization determined to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will bring U.S. audiences their first look a London hit, when it presents the American Premiere of the joyous musical revue The Life of the Party. Directed and co-created by David Babani, the Artistic Director of London's Menier Chocolate Factory, this rollicking musical journey celebrates the songs of Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish) who takes the stage as a featured performer, along with a cast of Broadway and West End veterans, bringing to life a hilarious, uplifting, memorable evening. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

What happens when you mix Broadway's hottest new star with pop music's reigning queen? Something like what went down at #Ham4Ham today, as Rory O'Malley welcomed Tony winner Cynthia Erivo, who performed 'Sandcastles' from Beyonce's Lemonade.  Check it out below!

In the 60th anniversary year of A.A Milne's death and the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh's publication, Close Quarter Productions, in association with Jermyn Street Theatre, today announces a new production of Milne's play THE DOVER ROAD. Nichola McAuliffe directs Stefan Berdnarczyk, Tom Durant-Pritchard, Katrina Gibson, Georgia Maguire, Gareth McLeod, Patrick Ryecart and James Sheldon in the production opening at Jermyn Street Theatre, on Tuesday 6 September running until Saturday 1 October.

The New Group has announced additional casting for Sweet Charity, the production launching the company's 2016-2017 Season.  Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse and directed by Leigh Silverman, this production features Yesenia Ayala, Darius Barnes, James Brown III, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Shuler Hensley, Sasha Hutchings, Donald Jones, Jr., Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Emily Padgett and Joel Perez, and as previously announced, two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Charity Hope Valentine.  A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays November 2 - December 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night set for Sunday, November 20.

The new London Cast Recording of FUNNY GIRL is now available.

The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced that Harry Hepple (Baker), Steffan Lloyd-Evans (Wolf/ Cinderella's Prince) and Laura Tebbutt (Baker's Wife) will join the company of Fiasco's enchanting reinvention of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's masterpiece INTO THE WOODS. They will take over tomorrow from Ben Steinfeld, Noah Brody and Jessie Austrian. Read BroadwayWorld's review of the show here

Casting is today announced for HighTide, Vicky Graham Productions and Theatr Clwyd world premiere production of Elinor Cook's new play Pilgrims for which she won the 2013 George Devine Award.  Tamara Harvey, Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, will direct Steffan Donnelly, Jack Monaghan and Amanda Wilkin in the production which premieres at the tenth annual HighTide Festival of new plays from 8 - 18 September before moving to the Yard Theatre in London from 20 September - 15 October and then Theatr Clwyd from 18 - 29 October.

Goodspeed is thrilled to announce the cast of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz, abrand-new musical that chronicles a time before "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Easter Parade," and "A Star is Born"-a time when Judy Garland was simply, "the girl with the great big voice." Filled with many beloved songs sung by Judy Garland throughout her career, Chasing Rainbows will run September 16 - November 27 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn. The show is sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts, Eversource Energy, ConnectiCare, Comcast, and Webster Bank.

As previously announced, there will be a special Gala Charity Concert of Robert J. Sherman's new musical Bumblescratch at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 4 September 2016 at 6.30pm.