The National Theatre has announced casting for its upcoming productions, starting with Moira Buffini's WELCOME TO THEBES which will run starting June 15. Nikki Amuka-Bird and David Harewood will star in the World Premiere of the play, which tells the Greek myth of the first democratically elected president of Thebes in a modernized way. The show will be directed by Richard Eyre and the cast will also feature Madeline Appiah, Rakie Ayola, Omar Brown, Jessie Burton, Jacqueline Defferary, Daniel Fine, Karlina Grace, Rene Gray, Tracy Ifeachor, Irma Inniss, Chuk Iwuji, Alexia Khadime, Ferdinand Kingsley, Aicha Kossoko, Simon Manyonda, Bruce Myers, Pamela Nomvete, Calre Perkins, Victor Power, Daniel Poyser, Joy Richardson, Vinette Robinson, Zara Tempest-Walters, and Michael Wildman.
The UK Daily Mail is reporting that Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art is hoping to move to Broadway in the Spring of 2011. The production began playing at the National Theatre's Lyttleton Theater in November 5, 2009 and will be broadcast in April 2010 live to cinema screens worldwide. It's expected that the leads, Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour would accompany the production as well.
The National Theatre in the U.K. is reporting that actor Richard Griffiths will replace Michael Gambon in the thier production of Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art. Griffiths will be taking over the role of poet WH Auden opposite Alex Jennings as Benjamin Britten. Michael Gambon is said to be withdrawing from the production due to health reasons. The Nicholas Hytner-directed production is slated to begin previews on November 5.
Take Flight is a new musical by award-winning song writing duo Richard Maltby, Jr., and David Shire, with book by John Weidman. The creative team sees the award-winning trio of Sam Buntrock (Director), David Farley (Designer) and Caroline Humphris (Musical Supervisor) return fresh from their Olivier Award-winning success with Sunday in the Park with George.
Whatsonstage.com reports that Ian Bartholomew (Tommy, Into the Woods), Michael Jibson (Our House, Brighton Rock), Sam Kenyon (Sweeney Todd, Amadeus) and Elliot Levey (Beauty and the Beast) and Whatsonstage.com Award winner Sally Ann Triplett in the world premiere of Take Flight, the new musical by Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, set for its world premiere at London's Menier Chocolate Factory July 13, before running July 25-September 22.