Menier Chocolate Factory News

Following a critically acclaimed, award-winning run last year in the Studio, Daniel Evans' production of Tim Firth's musical This Is My Family returns to Sheffield Theatres from Thursday 9 - Saturday 18 October, ahead of a national tour to Royal & Derngate Northampton, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Liverpool Playhouse and The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.

Frank Sinatra's legendary concert, SINATRA: The Main Event, was billed as the biggest comeback in showbusiness history. Now the 40th anniversary is to be marked in London today October 10 at the Cadogan Hall with a stunning recreation of The Main Event, at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 13, 1974.

Cynthia Erivo (I Can't Sing!, The Color Purple) returns to the West End alongside Cassidy Janson (Avenue Q, Wicked, Candide) in the European premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Dessa Rose, running at Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2), Tuesday 29th July - Saturday 30th August 2014. Press night is Thursday, 31st July, 7pm.

Forbidden Broadway is back at the Menier Chocolate Factory (last seen there in 2009) and it's like it never left. With a first class cast, excellent musical direction and a ceaseless barrage of jibes about your favourite shows, this is a jolly, fun night out.

Banned by the Lord Chamberlain for its facetious and irreverent treatment of adultery, This Was A Man, a previously unseen play by Noel Coward, directed by actress Belinda Lang, opens for its long overdue UK professional premiere in a strictly limited three week season at the Finborough Theatre on Tuesday, 15 July 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 17 July 2014 at 7.30pm).

The Park Theatre has announced the casting of Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall in Snapdragon Productions' forthcoming production of Toast by Richard Bean. Snapdragon previously produced the successful Thark with Clive Francis and The Dead Wait.

DRG Records announces the release of Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: COMES OUT SWINGING! (2014 Un-Original Cast Album) which is produced by Grammy Award winner Hugh Fordin, and available in stores and online July 22nd. To kick-off the CD release, Barnes & Noble (150 East 86 Street) will host an in-store appearance and performance from 4pm - 6pm. This CD marks Forbidden Broadway's 12th cast recording with DRG Records. Featured on the album are cast members Carter Calvert, Scott Richard Foster, Mia Gentile and Marcus Stevens, with David Caldwell on piano.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

'What ho! Turns out, Jeeves and I belong on stage. I'm having a splendid time at the Duke of York's Theatre with Jeeves and we shall continue recounting the complex case of that ghastly girl Gussie Fink-Nottle, my Aunt Dahlia and that dastardly cow-creamer until 17 January 2015. Of course Jeeves will be in touch in due course to update everyone with any information you might require to enjoy a topping night at the theatre' - Bertie Wooster

The producers of Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! have announced final weeks. The show will end its run on July 20th at the Davenport Theatre (354 West 45th Street - between 8th and 9th Avenue).

John Barrowman has announced on his official web site that he will be touring the UK with his You Raise Me Up Tour in May and June 2015.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

The music, humor, warmth and life of Marvin Hamlisch will once again grace the Heinz Hall stage when "Play It Again, Marvin! A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration" makes its world premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on June 28 at 8 p.m.

Horse Trade Theater Group in association with Moonlight Theatre Productions (Kelley Girod, producer) will present Get Me a Guy (Best Play at the New York International Midtown Theater Festival as a 30-minute one-act; scene 16 won Outstanding Play Honorary Mention at the New York Short Play Festival as a 10-minute play), an award-winning new comedy by Israela Margalit (Gold Medal NY Film and TV Festival, Emmy Nomination) directed by John Clancy (2005 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Direction).

The Watermill Theatre Newbury, Jamie Wilson, Paul Elliott and Duncan C Weldon are delighted to announce full casting and further touring dates for the forthcoming new production of the musical 'CALAMITY JANE', opening at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury on Thursday 17 July 2014 where it will play until Saturday 6 September 2014 prior to embarking on a national tour that opens at the Plymouth Theatre Royal on Thursday 16 September. Tour schedule attached. More dates to be announced.

Chichester's Festival Theatre reopens in July with a new production of Amadeus, featuring West End and Hollywood star Rupert Everett alongside acclaimed young actor Joshua McGuire.

The Confession Room will return to London this summer in a special one-off concert at the St. James Studio on Sunday 13th July. It is now confirmed that the production will star Jon Robyns, Rebecca Trehearn and Stuart Matthew Price with West End performers Matthew Rowland, Stephanie Clift and Rebecca Jayne-Davies amongst others. The production will be directed by Paul Foster with musical direction by Tim Evans.

American actor Michael Arden will join West End stars Julie Atherton, Lucie Jones and Stuart Matthew Price alongside award-winning Off Broadway writing duo Kerrigan-Lowdermilk to showcase their work at the St. James Studio on Monday 16 June in Kerrigan-Lowdermilk: One (More) Night in London. Kerrigan-Lowerdmilk's return follows an acclaimed sold-out weekend of concerts at St. James Studio in February.