Menier Chocolate Factory News

The Menier Chocolate Factory will present the first major London revivals of Willy Russell's award-winning Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, playing in repertoire from 26 March to 08 May, with the press day on 08 April.

Kelsey Grammer, who is about to make his Broadway musical debut in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, will be a guest on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' on Monday, March 29. In the New York area, 'Live with Regis and Kelly' airs on WABC-TV Channel 7 at 9:00 AM. Check local listings.

The world premiere of a new play by Anders Lustgarten, directed by Ryan McBryde. The show will close on March 27, 2010.

Kelsey Grammer, who is about to make his Broadway musical debut in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, will be a guest on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' on Monday, March 29. In the New York area, 'Live with Regis and Kelly' airs on WABC-TV Channel 7 at 9:00 AM. Check local listings.

Nonesuch Records and PS Classics will release the 2010 new Broadway cast recording of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. That same day, Stephen Sondheim and the A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC cast will sign copies of the album at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) beginning promptly at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. The album is produced by Tommy Krasker.

Every night at the critically acclaimed Olivier Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, a small group of very lucky theatergoers will get to watch he production from a unique vantage point: at one of four cabaret tables located in the front of the orchestra. There, they will experience LA CAGE as never before - closer to the dazzling splendor of the production's stars, five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer and Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge and in a position where the notorious and dangerous Cagelles will be even more notorious and a little more dangerous.

Meeting Point Productions Ltd in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents The European Premiere DREAM OF THE DOG by Craig Higginson. The show is directed by Katie McAleese, designed by Alex Marker, with lighting Design by Michael Nabarro and sound Design by Andrew Pontzen and costume Design by Penn O'Gara. The cast is starring Ariyon Bakare, Gracy Goldman, Bernard Kay, and Janet Suzman.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) and Bristol Riverside Theatre, in association with Neil Berg and Adam Friedson, will present a new production of the award-winning musical revue Closer Than Ever directed by Richard Malty. Jr. and starring original cast members Sally Mayes and Lynne Wintersteller along with Broadway alums George Dvorksy and Sal Vivinio from April 16-25 (Wednesday and Thursday at 2PM; Friday and Saturday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm; and Sunday at 3pm) in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.

On our very first day of rehearsal producer Sonia Friedman said, without a trace of expression on her face, 'We are British, so we don't get excited about anything... but we are quite excited about this, aren't we?' She let out a faint chuckle and looked to Menier Chocolate Factory's David Babani for a nod.

Stage and screen star John Barrowman has landed a guest role as the villain on the hit television series 'Desperate Housewives.' Barrowman is said to have a recurring role for several episodes on the upcoming season, the first of whic aired last night!.

Olivier Award nominated actress Hannah Waddingham will be performing an intimate cabaret show at the Menier Chocolate Factory for 6 performances only from 16 March 2010. She will be joined by her big band to perform everything from swing and show tunes to pop and jazz. Musical direction is by Chris Walker.

The cast for the UK première of Riff Raff by award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne, at the Arcola Theatre will be Ariyon Bakare as Tony, Karl Collins as Mike and Eugene O'Hare as Billy.

Angela Lansbury tells the NY Post's Cindy Adams that 'One role I always wanted to play was Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Boulevard.' I even went to Andrew Lloyd Webber's house in London to lobby for it.'

As previously reported, PS Classics and Nonesuch have partnered up to release the new Broadway cast album of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. The cast, led by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury, headed into the studio January 4. The official album release date will be April 6, 2010. Today, samples of all of the tracks have been made available online via Nonesuch! Click here to listen!

Olivier Award nominated actress Hannah Waddingham will be performing an intimate cabaret show at the Menier Chocolate Factory for 6 performances only from 16 March 2010. She will be joined by her big band to perform everything from swing and show tunes to pop and jazz. Musical direction is by Chris Walker.

New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS, www.nyfos.org), recently acclaimed by TimeOut New York for its 'A-list artistry,' will present its 2010 Gala, Let Yourself Go, a celebration of the rich musical legacy of America's foremost composer/lyricist, Irving Berlin, on Monday April 12 at 7 PM at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street, New York City.

In a recent interview with WENN, Catherine Zeta-Jones stated that for her next film with husband Michael Douglas, she would like to do a remake of his 1989 film War of the Roses. The original film starred Douglas alongside Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.

The Menier Chocolate Factory will present the first major London revivals of Willy Russell's award-winning Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, playing in repertoire from 26 March to 08 May, with the press day on 08 April.

The New York Daily News is reporting that in a surprise twist, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES star Kelsey Grammer, who had been announced to play the role of Georges, will in fact be doubling as both leads, Georges and Albin, in six month stints.

Matthew White is directs the Tony Award-winning musical Sweet Charity at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Sweet Charity runs through March 7th, 2010.