Menier Chocolate Factory News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: FIDDLER returns to Broadway, FUNNY GIRL arrives in London, Billie Joe Armstrong's new musical lands off-Broadway and more!

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere tonight, November 20, 2016. The sold-out run, led by Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as 'Fanny Brice', will play through March 5, 2016 before transferring to the Savoy Theatre in the West End from 9 April.

This Christmas, Southampton's Nuffield will be transformed into the enchanting, mythical kingdom of Camelot to tell the story of young MERLIN and his childhood friends Arthur and Gwen as they embark on an action-packed journey of a lifetime, encountering powerful magic forces, mystical characters and adventures beyond their wildest dreams. MERLIN will run 26 November 2015 - 3 January 2016, with press night set for Tuesday 1 December 2015. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, November 15, 2015 - Sunday, November 15, 2015.

Due to unprecedented demand, the Menier Chocolate Factory Production of Funny Girl transfers to the Savoy Theatre in London's West End, following the sold out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory which begins later this month. Michael Mayer's production, starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice and with the cast from the Menier Chocolate Factory, will begin performances at the Savoy Theatre on 9 April 2016 for a strictly limited 12-week run until 2 July 2016. Check out first photos from the production below!

Hudson recently sat down with CBS to discuss the process of the show, her breakout Oscar-winning role in DREAMGIRLS, as well as enduring through personal tragedies, and more. Check out the clip below!

CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REIMAGINED has today announced that it is extending its West End transfer at the Criterion Theatre until Valentine's Day 14 February 2016. The new booking period is now on sale.

Opening to public and critical acclaim on 15 October, new musical CLOSE TO YOU featuring Burt Bacharach's songbook, broke box office records at the Criterion Theatre with the biggest advance in the venue's history. 

The producer of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Hetty Feather and What the Ladybird Heard today announces the world premiere of brand new family musical Mr Popper's Penguins which is making a splash this winter touring around the country from November 2015 to January 2016. Mr Popper and his Penguins will be hopping off to various locations, opening at the Theatre Royal Brighton on Thursday 26 November. The tour continues on to Malvern Theatre and London's Cadogan Hall before settling in at the Lowry Salford for a glittering Christmas season from Thursday 10 December to Sunday 10 January. The tour is completed with a run at Rose Theatre Kingston from Thursday 14 January to Sunday 17 January.

The Color Purple just began preview performances last night, November 10, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner JENNIFER HUDSON makes her Broadway debut opposite CYNTHIA ERIVO, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's DANIELLE BROOKS, in this fall's highly anticipated production. All three women will be making their Broadway debuts. Go inside their first curtain call below!

The Color Purple just began preview performances last night, November 10, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner JENNIFER HUDSON makes her Broadway debut opposite CYNTHIA ERIVO, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's DANIELLE BROOKS, in this fall's highly anticipated production. All three women will be making their Broadway debuts. Check out photos from their first Broadway bows below!

This Christmas, Southampton's Nuffield will be transformed into the enchanting, mythical kingdom of Camelot to tell the story of young MERLIN and his childhood friends Arthur and Gwen as they embark on an action-packed journey of a lifetime, encountering powerful magic forces, mystical characters and adventures beyond their wildest dreams. MERLIN will run 26 November 2015 - 3 January 2016, with press night set for Tuesday 1 December 2015.

Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, THE COLOR PURPLE, will be published in a new tie-in edition featuring the show artwork for the upcoming Broadway musical revival. The special edition is being published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books and will be available today, November 10, the day the new Broadway production begins previews.

The Color Purple begins preview performances tonight, November 10, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner JENNIFER HUDSON will make her Broadway debut opposite CYNTHIA ERIVO, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's DANIELLE BROOKS, in this fall's highly anticipated production.

Just before its first preview tomorrow night, November 10, THE COLOR PURPLE has announced its rush ticket policy.

AMERICAN PSYCHO just announced that Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley(Next to Normal), Tony Award nominee Jennifer Damiano (Next to Normal) and Helene Yorke (Bullets over Broadway, 'Masters of Sex') will join previously announced Benjamin Walker (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) in the cast of the highly-anticipated musical. Directed by Rupert Goold (King Charles III), AMERICAN PSYCHO, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, has music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award-winner Duncan Sheik, a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa ('Glee') and choreography by Lynne Page (La Cage Aux Folles).

The producers of Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Goodnight Mister Tom are delighted to announce today that the Oliver award-winning stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian's classic novel will embark on a UK Tour in 2016 after its strictly limited West End run at the Duke of York's Theatre this Christmas.

The Color Purple begins preview performances this coming Tuesday, November 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner JENNIFER HUDSON will make her Broadway debut opposite CYNTHIA ERIVO, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's DANIELLE BROOKS, in this fall's highly anticipated production. All three women will be making their Broadway debuts.

Below, check out highlights from last night's season finale of "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" with guest announcer Kelsey Grammer.

Curve today announces casting for the theatre's productions of Roald Dahl's THE WITCHES and Lionel Bart's classic musical, OLIVER!