Menier Chocolate Factory News

Imagine being 22 years old; an aspiring actor who comes to New York with dreams of 'making it big' and having it actually happen two weeks later. Sound too good to be true? Not so, if A Little Night Music's Hunter Ryan Herdlicka is any example. Fresh out of Carnegie Mellon last year, Herdlicka quite literally stepped off of the proverbial boat and into one of the most high profile productions of the season, starring as 'Henrik Egerman' in Sondheim's Night Music alongside Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones, directed by Trevor Nunn.

Rumors have been abound that Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters could succeed Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning masterpiece A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. It now appears that might be just the case.

Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Tuesday 18 May at 12 noon, for the first major London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Charles Hart's Aspects of Love, directed by Trevor Nunn at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Aspects of Love previews from 07 July with press night on 15 July and is running until 26 September. Designs are by David Farley with choreography by Lynne Page, lighting by Paul Pyant, musical supervision by Caroline Humphris, orchestrations by David Cullen and sound by Gareth Owen. Trevor Nunn previously directed the world premiere of Aspects of Love and returns to the piece to direct this new intimate version.

According to whatsonstage.com, British actress Maria Friedman will direct a revival of Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at The Menier Chocolate Factory, in celebration of Sondheim's 80th birthday. Dates for the production are unknown at this time. Friedman is n stranger to the piece. She has not only appeared in the production, but also recently directed a student production at the Central School of Speech and Drama. The Menier Chocolate Factory has previously hosted other Sondheim revivals such as SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and SWEENEY TODD.

Ian Talbot will direct Peter Sham and Brad Carroll's new musical comedy, Lend Me A Tenor The Musical, based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig. A riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance, Lend Me A Tenor The Musical will run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 24 September - 6 October 2010, prior to an anticipated West End run in the Autumn which will be produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott in association with Eileen and Allen Anes.

Paradise Found runs through 26th June 2010 at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The Book is by Richard Nelson, Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, Music by Johann Strauss II. The show is adapted & Arranged by Jonathan Tunick

Meeting Point Productions Ltd in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE Dream of the Dog by Craig Higginson. Directed by Katie McAleese. Designed by Alex Marker. Lighting Design by Michael Nabarro. Sound Design by Andrew Pontzen. Costume Design by Penn O'Gara. Cast: Ariyon Bakare. Gracy Goldman. Bernard Kay. Janet Suzman.

The Finborough Theatre presents VIBRANT - An Anniversary Festival of Finborough Playwrights. 30 NEW PLAYS TO CELEBRATE, 30 YEARS IN JUST UNDER 30 DAYS from 25 May - 19 June 2010

Osip Theatre Presents MISS LILLY GETS BONED Beginning 22 June

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2010 season with the debut of SIMON GREEN and musical director and longtime collaborator DAVID SHRUBSOLE in their 2010 Drama Desk Award nominated show, 'Traveling Light.'

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES has won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

Douglas Hodge is this year's recipient of the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.

Notices are reportedly up at the Walter Kerr Theatre that Catherine Zeta-Jones will miss the matinee today of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. The star previously missed shows on the 18th, 19th and 20th, but was back in last night (Friday). According to a production spokesperson, she will be back for tonight's show.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2010 season with the debut of SIMON GREEN and musical director and longtime collaborator DAVID SHRUBSOLE in their 2010 Drama Desk Award nominated show, 'Traveling Light.'

A production spokesperson confirmed to BroadwayWorld.com that 'Catherine Zeta-Jones is out of the show this evening - she's sick and hopes to return to the production as soon as she is able.' The star previously missed performances on the 18th and 19th (the first that she's missed since the run began). Zeta-Jones' understudy Jayne Paterson will be performing her role of Desiree Armfeldt.

Meeting Point Productions Ltd in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE Dream of the Dog by Craig Higginson. Directed by Katie McAleese. Designed by Alex Marker. Lighting Design by Michael Nabarro. Sound Design by Andrew Pontzen. Costume Design by Penn O'Gara. Cast: Ariyon Bakare. Gracy Goldman. Bernard Kay. Janet Suzman.

Olivier-winner Leanne Jones will be starring in a new production of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...BOOM! at the Union Theatre in Southwark starting May 19. Jones, who originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in the West End premiere of Hairspray, will play Susan.

Olivier-winner Leanne Jones will be starring in a new production of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...BOOM! at the Union Theatre in Southwark starting May 19. Jones, who originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in the West End premiere of Hairspray, will play Susan.

Despite many rumors of new stars and replacement casts, the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning masterpiece A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, starring Academy Award-winner and Tony-nominee Catherine Zeta-Jones, five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury and Olivier Award-nominee Alexander Hanson, will play its final performance on Sunday, June 20th at 3:00 PM after 20 previews and 217 regular performances. Directed by Tony Award-winner Trevor Nunn, the production began previews on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 and opened on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street).

Following a sell-out season at the Menier Chocolate Factory Willy Russell's Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine will transfer to the West End for a limited 16 week run. Tim Pigott-Smith joins Laura Dos Santos in Educating Rita with Meera Syal reprising her role in Shirley Valentine.