Menier Chocolate Factory News

For one night only, Frances Ruffelle, brings her acclaimed solo show Beneath the Dress to the Menier Chocolate Factory, where she is currently starring in Pippin. The show features a funky six-piece band and a dazzling array of songs - from classics sung like you have never heard them before to brand new material that you'll want to hear again. The performance will take place on February 12 at 7:30pm.

Following a hugely successful run in 2010 both at the Chocolate Factory and in the West End, Educating Rita returns to Southwark Street for three weeks only, prior to a UK tour. Matthew Kelly and Claire Sweeney star in Willy Russell's modern classic, directed by Tamara Harvey.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2011. The 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within, the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, in its new 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, thanks to the generous donation of A Noise Within's management. The theatre is located on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue at 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Tickets are $40, and should be reserved in advance from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for pre-show hors d'oeuvres (with no-host bar), and the show commences at 7:30 p.m.

Full casting has been announced for the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Abigail's Party - and joining Jill Halfpenny as Beverly will be Joe Absolom as Tony, Natalie Casey as Angela, Susannah Harker as Susan, and Andy Nyman as Laurence.

Robert Lindsay and Joanna Lumley will lead the cast in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter.

The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.

Audiences have 11 weeks left to see Graham Linehan's adaptation of the classic Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, directed by Sean Foley, as the production closes at the Gielgud Theatre.

As Russia's "brightest young stars" gather on the banks of the Volga one sultry summer's evening in 1886, the death of a seagull changes all of their lives forever.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber, will arrive in Wilmington, Delaware at the DuPont Theatre for eight (8) performances on March 6-11, 2012

Frantic Assembly will present Lovesong, a brand new play by writer Abi Morgan (The Hour, BBC; Shame, Film4), in a newly extended run at the Lyric Hammersmith following its recent national tour.

Broadway favorite Neil Patrick Harris and his partner, chef and actor, David Burtka, are featured in the February issue of OUT Magazine, in which tey chat about their releationship. Harris said of Burtka: 'There's something kinetic about him and his being. He's classically sexy, yet he's very much a boy in his energy. It's a great dynamic. When I see people who are equally attractive, they tend to seem more quiet and kind of Marlboro Man-y, and David's the antithesis of that. He's more like Tigger. I'm, in turn, very introspective -- the thinker, rather than the doer.'

Peter Gill, returns to his native city with a portrait of provincial life in 1890s Russia. Based on Chekhov's short story, A Provincial Life follows one young man's struggle to exchange his privileged position for the life of a worker.

The playwright and creative team behind the Time Out Critics' Choice productions of Doig The Musical With No Singing, No Dancing and Very Little?Music and Beak Street, return to the Tabard Theatre to present the world premiere of Greg Freeman's No Picnic, an allegorical comedy that explores the crisis of conscience of teddy bears, from March 20 - April 7.

Neil Patrick Harris and his partner, chef and actor, David Burtka, will be appearing in the Monday, January 16th episode of ABC's daytime talk show THE CHEW. In the episode, Harris and Burtka will participate in the 'Meals for Your Mate,' segment of the show.

The critically acclaimed production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber, arrives in St. Louis, MO at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for 16 performances January 3-15, 2012!

With all the hooplah surrounding the casting of Taylor Swift, who has yet to be officially announced, in the upcoming big screen adaptation of Les Miserables, it seemed like the perfect time to show off a Youtube treasure of the original Tony-winning Eponine, Frances Ruffelle. In the video below, Rufelle sings the strret urchin's anthem, 'On My Own.' Click below to check it out!

Josie Lawrence and Gay Soper join Louise Gold and Caroline Quentin to take on the role of Pippin's grandmother Berthe in the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Pippin, a colourful, imaginative and darkly humorous coming-of-age story with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, The Baker's Wife, Godspell) and book by Roger O. Hirson.

According to their official website, the Menier Chocolate Factory Production of Abigail's Party will be led by Jill Halfpenny. The show will be directed by Lindsay Posner and will run March 2 through April 21.

The stage production of The Ladykillers has broken all known box office records at the Gielgud Theatre. Booking has now been extended until 14th April 2012.

The Kennedy Center will present La Cage aux Folles in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from January 17 to February 12, 2012.