Menier Chocolate Factory News

BroadwayWorld has just received the news that the 1992 Olivier Award winning play THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE is eyeing a 2016-17 Broadway run, starring two-time Drama Desk nominated actress, singer and impressionist Christina Bianco in the pivotal role of LV.

Full casting is announced for the highly acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre revival of Guys and Dolls, which is at the New Alexandra Theatre from Tues 24 November to Sat 5 December 2015, prior to a strictly limited run at the Savoy Theatre in the West End.

FUNNY GIRL is getting a bit of a makeover! According to Daily Mail columnist Baz Bamigboye, KINKY BOOTS book writer Harvey Fierstein will rework the book for the upcoming (and already sold-out) London revival of Funny Girl, starring Sheridan Smith.

MasterVoices kicks off the 2015-2016 season with The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Dutyon October 15-16, 2015 at 8pm at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street, New York City. Following the success of our 2012 Mikado at Carnegie Hall, MasterVoices' semi-staged presentation of The Pirates of Penzance will feature a cast of stars from the Broadway and opera worlds, along with Orchestra of St. Luke's performing Arthur Sullivan's original orchestrations under the direction of Artistic Director Ted Sperling. Single tickets are $30-$130 and are available at NYCityCenter.org.For more information visit: www.mastervoices.org/city-center-series.

The songwriting team of Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott is set to release an EP of their songs called A VIEW OF THE RIVER today, September 15, 2015. They will then follow up the release with a concert of their songs at 54 Below on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 9:30 p.m.

Beginning tonight, September 15, West End alumna RACHEL TUCKER joins the Broadway company of WICKED in the role of 'Elphaba'. After nearly three years and over 1,000 performances, Rachel holds the record for most consecutive performances as Elphaba in London's West End production. She made her Broadway debut last season as Meg Dawson in Sting's THE LAST SHIP.

The hit West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and directed by Sam Mendes, is marking Roald Dahl Day on 13 September by releasing new pictures of the Oompa-Loompas on the loose at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Check them out below!

Director Luke Sheppard helms Harvey Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA, with previews from tonight 10 September, an opening slated for 16 September and a run through 10 October 2015 at Southwark Playhouse.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre just announced the preliminary directors and casting for its 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS. The Festival will take place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Snapdragon Productions today announce a UK tour of their acclaimed revival of Richard Bean's Toast, following a successful run at Park Theatre in 2014.  Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall reprise their roles as Nellie and Cecil, with full cast to be announced soon.  The tour begins at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 4 - 13 February before playing eight further dates finishing at Nottingham Theatre Royal. 

Casting is announced today for Michael John LaChiusa's Off-Broadway hit See What I Wanna See, which will receive its London Premiere in a limited 4-week run at Jermyn Street Theatre from Today 8 September to Saturday 3 October, with a press night on Friday 11 September, 7.30pm.

USA has released the latest promo for their hit show GRACELAND, starring Broadway star Aaron Tveit. Click below to check out a first look at 'Dog Catches Car.'

Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the company for his new production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's musical Show Boat.

Daniel Evans will direct Michael Xavier as Gaylord Ravenal, Gina Beck as Magnolia Hawks, Lucy Briers as Parthenia Hawks, Sandra Marvin as Queenie, Emmanuel Kojo as Joe, Rebecca Trehearn as Julie La Verne and Allan Corduner as Captain Andy Hawks.

In addition to the previously announced Michelle Dockery, Janet McTeer and Dominic West, the production will feature Adjoa Andoh, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Morfydd Clark, Edward Holcroft, Jennifer Saayeng and Una Stubbs.

Cassidy Janson will join the West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical to play the title role from30 November 2015.   Also joining the cast will be Diane Keen as Genie Klein, King's mother.

CLOSE TO YOU, a new musical featuring Burt Bacharach's songbook, makes its highly anticipated West End transfer to the Criterion Theatre from 3rd October.

Menier Chocolate Factory's summer show WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? BACHARACH REIMAGINED has been refashioned into CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REIMAGINED, set to run at the Criterion Theatre beginning October 3, 2015. The Daily Mail writes that the show, directed by Oliver Award-winner Steven Hoggett, will once again star Kyle Riabko.

A quick insight into what's happening this September in London's theatres...

Ian Seraillier's highly acclaimed and much-loved children's novel, THE SILVER SWORD, will receive its world stage premiere at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre from Sat 26 Sept - Sat 3 Oct before embarking on UK Tour throughout Autumn 2015. This brand new production comes to The Old Rep from Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 October.