Menier Chocolate Factory News

British actor Earl Carpenter, who originated the role of Inspector Javert in the reimagined production of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's book-to-stage adaptation of LES MISERABLES (LES MIS) and abruptly left the Broadway production last November due to a neck injury (cervical vertebrae impingement), will rejoin the company of the new production of LES MIS in its first Asian Tour (Manila-Singapore), which has been set to kick off at The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort and Casino, in Manila from Friday, March 11, until Sunday, April 17.

CBS previously announced that THE COLOR PURPLE's Danielle Brooks (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK) will visit THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT tonight, Jan. 27th.

The first images were released today of Lisa Maxwell, Gary Wilmot and Sam Attwater rehearsing for hit West End and Broadway play End of the Rainbow, touring the UK in a brand new production from February.

The University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts announces the 2016 lineup for Polyphone, a "festival of the emerging musical" on the UArts campus in Philadelphia.  Running March 20-27, the 2016 the Polyphone festival produces staged concerts of new musicals and re-imagined canonical works offering professional composers, librettists and directors an opportunity to develop their work among the rich creative community of the Brind School at UArts.  The festival will program five musicals, including both classical and new works, with three performances each.  

New musical CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REIMAGINED will end its limited West End run on Valentine's Day, Sunday 14 February. Featuring Burt Bacharach's songbook, CLOSE TO YOU broke box office records at the Criterion Theatre when it opened on 15 October, with the biggest advance in the venue's history.  Check out a first look below!

Today, The Curtain Up Show crowned Cynthia Erivo & Oliver Tompsett Sing Scott Alan Best Solo Album and Bend It Like Beckham Best Cast Recording in the inaugural Album of 2015, as chosen by the team behind the weekly theatre chat show at Resonance FM.

Michael Xavier, Siobhan Dillon and Fred Johanson will join Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard, the second production in the partnership between English National Opera (ENO) and the GradeLinnit Company. 

BroadwayWorld and The Muny announces today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2016 Season, which opens on June 13 with The Wizard of Oz.

CBS has announced that THE COLOR PURPLE's Danielle Brooks (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK) will visit the LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT on Wednesday, Jan. 27th.

Jennifer Hudson, star of Broadway's THE COLOR PUPLE, stopped by ABC's THE VIEW yesterday to talk about making her Broadway debut in the hit musical

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve, today announces Lucie Jones as Elle Woods in the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde. Lucie rose to prominence on the X Factor in 2009 and has since starred as Victoria in American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) and as Molly in Ghost (Asia Tour).

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve, today announces Lucie Jones as Elle Woods in the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde. Lucie rose to prominence on the X Factor in 2009 and has since starred as Victoria in American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) and as Molly in Ghost (Asia Tour).

ABC's THE VIEW has announced that Jennifer Hudson, star of Broadway's THE COLOR PUPLE, will visit the show today, January 18th.

ABC's THE VIEW has announced that Jennifer Hudson, star of Broadway's THE COLOR PUPLE, will visit the show on Monday, January 18th

While the number of roles for minority actors in British productions have increased through the years, they have been ghettoized into supporting roles.

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis -- which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its publication this March -- will begin performances on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Squeals of delight and blood-curdling screams of fright will fill the Allen Theatre as Cleveland Play House's (CPH) Centennial Season continues with a humorous and heartfelt production of Little Shop of Horrors. Hearkening back to its very first productions in 1915 that featured sophisticated marionettes, CPH is bringing the cheeky and blood-thirsty plant Audrey II to life in a production that will be every vocal coach's dream - and every hemophobic's worst nightmare!

With the critically acclaimed Show Boat currently running in the Crucible, and Partus and A Raisin in the Sun in rehearsals, Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director Daniel Evans announces the full casts for the forthcoming productions of Waiting For Godot and the world premiere of Richard Bean's comedy thriller The Nap, both at the Crucible this spring.

Snapdragon Productions today announces the full cast for the UK tour of their acclaimed revival of Toast by Richard Bean.  Accompanying Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall are Will Barton, Steve Nicolson, Matt Sutton and John Wark, all reprising their roles from the 2014 Park Theatre run. Kieran Knowles is the sole new cast member who joins the company in the role of Dezzie.

Now in its record breaking 30th year, Cameron Mackintosh just announced exciting cast changes for"LES MISERABLES" at the Queen's Theatre in 2016. Joining the cast from Monday 15 February 2016 are Patrice Tipoki as 'Fantine'; Craig Mather as 'Marius' andDanielle Hope as 'Eponine.' Peter Lockyer will continue to star as 'Jean Valjean', Jeremy Secomb as 'Javert',Phil Daniels as 'Thenardier', Katy Secombe as 'Madame Thenardier'; Zoe Doano as 'Cosette' and Bradley Jaden as 'Enjolras'.