Menier Chocolate Factory News

Douglas Rintoul returns to the Unicorn to direct Sara Kestelman in Tove Jansson's beautifully crafted, The Summer Book, in an adaptation by Jemma Kennedy. This year marks the centenary of Jansson's birth and this unique story captures much of the writer's own experience of her youth. The show runs today 7 - Sun 29 June 2014 with press night set for Thu 12 June at 7.30PM in the Unicorn's Clore Theatre.

The original cast recording of Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk was just named by Music Resource Group (MRG) as the winner of Best Soundtrack/Cast Recording in The 13th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent music and fans. Representing the broad spectrum of today's global independent music scene, the nominees in over 80 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories were culled from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Greenland and Europe.

Life of the Party is a rollicking evening, showcasing Andrew Lippa as a singularly talented theatre songwriter. His work and a supremely talented cast make the show a delight for existing fans of the composer and for those neophytes ready to be converted.

The full cast for The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes are Caroline Langrishe (Lydia King), Sara Bahadori (Case Worker/Sahar Husain) and Selva Rasalingam (Kevin/Khaled Al Hamrani) who join the previously announced Nabil Elouahabi (Carlos Fuentes).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: BroadwayWorld.com is being honored at tonight's Theatre Museum Awards, and Barrett Foa begins performances in BUYER & CELLAR off-Broadway!

Performances begin tonight for The Life of the Party - A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa, a spectacular evening with one of Broadway's most exciting composers and lyricists with David Babani, Artistic Director of the Chocolate Factory, directing alongside an Olivier Award winning creative team. Lynne Page - Choreography, Gareth Owen - Sound Design, Tim Lutkin - Lighting Design and Morgan Large - Set and Costume Design.

Following the recent 15th birthday celebrations for MAMMA MIA! in London, there will be major cast changes from Monday 9 June 2014. Rebecca Lock will be joining the cast as Rosie, Alasdair Harvey as Harry, Charles Daish as Bill and Alice Stokoe as Sophie Sheridan and Lloyd Green as Sky. Also joining the cast from 9 June will be Rosanna Bates as Ali, Brodie McBride as Lisa, James Alexander Gibbs as Pepper and James Alan-Evans as Eddie. Dianne Pilkington will continue to star as Donna Sheridan, with Kim Ismay as Tanya and Richard Trinder as Sam. At certain performances, the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Shona White. Below, check out photos from the new cast in rehearsal!

Maureen Lipman and Harry Shearer join Oliver Cotton in the West End transfer of his play,Daytona. Directed by David Grindley, Daytona will begin performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 28 June and will complete its strictly limited 8 week run on 23 August 2014. Press night is on 7 July 2014. Daytona received its world premiere at London's Park Theatre in 2013 and this production marks the Theatre Royal Haymarket's first collaboration with an off West End theatre venue.

59E59 Theaters welcomes The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE, created by Simon Green and David Shrubsole, performed by Mr. Green, with musical arrangement and accompaniment by Mr. Shrubsole. SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE begins performances tonight, May 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 1.

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 on Friday 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.

John Gordon Sinclair and James Lance will play iconic duo Jeeves and Wooster in the Olivier Award-winning hit Perfect Nonsense in the West End and on tour, replacing the current cast, Robert Webb and Mark Heap, from 30 June 2014. Co-writer Robert Goodale will take over from Mark Hadfield as Seppings.

John Gordon Sinclair and James Lance will play iconic duo Jeeves and Wooster in the Olivier Award-winning hitPerfect Nonsense in the West End and on tour, replacing the current cast, Robert Webb and Mark Heap, from 30 June 2014. Co-writer Robert Goodale will take over from Mark Hadfield as Seppings.

The cast of Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! records the original cast CD for DRG Records today at Avatar Studios. Produced by Hugh Fordin, the release date is soon to be announced. This CD marks Forbidden Broadway's 12th cast recording with DRG Records. Featured on the original cast recording are cast members Carter Calvert, Scott Richard Foster, Mia Gentile and Marcus Stevens, with David Caldwell on piano. The show is currently playing at the Davenport Theatre (354 West 45th Street - between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets can be purchased by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.

NPH revealed that he would instead love to serve as host of a weekly variety show for the CBS network.

Neil Patrick Harris, once rumored to be a contender to replace David Letterman on THE LATE SHOW, confirmed today to Howard Stern that he was, in fact, initially approached to succeed the late-night host. Harris said CBS' Les Moonves and Nina Tassler also offered him Craig Ferguson's spot in the later show, though he eventually turned both gigs down.

Joshua McGuire - currently starring in the highly praised Privacy at the Donmar Warehouse - is confirmed to play Mozart in Amadeus, alongside Rupert Everett as his rival, Salieri. McGuire's credits also include Posh at the Royal Court and West End, the title role in Hamlet at Shakespeare's Globe and BBC 2's The Hour.

The Phantom of the Opera, which is now in its 26th year on Broadway, celebrated yet another in a long line of milestones last evening, as it welcomed former LITTLE MERMAID co-stars Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess to the cast on Monday, May 12, at the Majestic Theater. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the big night, and below, he chats with legendary director Harold Prince about the latest additions to the cast!

Rehearsals begin today for The Life of the Party - A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa, a spectacular evening with one of Broadway's most exciting composers and lyricists with David Babani, Artistic Director of the Chocolate Factory, directing alongside an Olivier Award winning creative team. Lynne Page - Choreography, Gareth Owen - Sound Design, Tim Lutkin - Lighting Design and Morgan Large - Set and Costume Design.