Menier Chocolate Factory News

PS Classics and Nonesuch will partner is set 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, will head into the studio January 4. No release date for the disc has been announced.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES began rehearsals on Monday and BroadwayWorld.com is very excited to bring you the first photos of the show's cast!

The world premiere of a new play by Anders Lustgarten, directed by Ryan McBryde.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES began rehearsals today and BroadwayWorld.com is very excited to bring you a sneak preview of the cast as they met for the first time! We'll have a full photo coverage of the entire cast later, but in the meantime -- here's a sneak preview...

Fred Applegate has joined the cast of the critically-acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, playing the roles of Edouard Dindon, the rigidly conservative head of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party and café owner M. Renaud. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, starring five-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer and Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge, goes into rehearsal in New York on Monday, March 1.

In a story in the Toronto Star, Catherine Zeta-Jones talks about her experience of being back on the stage, a failed audition for 'Aspects of Love', and shares how she was first offered the opportunity to play Desiree in the current Broadway production of 'A Little Night Music'.

It is not often that a production of a vintage piece of musical theatre overshadows the original production but that is precisely what happened during a magical new staging of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical A Little Night Music at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris last week. The musical was originally directed on Broadway in 1973 by the legendary Hal Prince and has been frequently staged at venues all over the world since then (most recently at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the Garrick Theatre on now on Broadway, directed by Trevor Nunn). But this incarnation, directed by Lee Blakely, is the most beautiful and stunning version of the show I have ever seen.

David Mirvish will present six productions in the 2010 - 2011 Mirvish Subscription Season, and six additional shows will be offered as bonus shows to subscribers.

Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed Donmar Warehouse, Michael Grandage, today announced new details surrounding the new Donmar season through until February 2011 including. Casting has been announced for Polar Bears; David Leveaux has been pronounced director of Simon Gray's The Late Middle Class; von Kleist's The Prince of Homburg has been added to the season; new events in celebration of Sondheim's 80th birthday - in addition to the production of Passion - have been revealed; and Michael Grandage has been confirmed to direct Derek Jacobi in King Lear.

As reported here previously, the Menier's production of Sweet Charity, starring Tamzin Outhwaite, is to transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Harold Prince and Susan Stroman will direct an all-American cast including Kate Baldwin, John Cullum, Shuler Hensley, Judy Kaye and Mandy Patinkin, in the world premiere of Paradise Found at the Menier Chocolate Factory this spring.

Variety reports this morning that A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC helmer, Trevor Nunn, is set to direct a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ASPECTS OF LOVE for London's Menier Chocolate Factory. Nunn directed the show's premiere in 1987, as well.

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

In a story in the Toronto Star, Catherine Zeta-Jones talks about her experience of being back on the stage, a failed audition for 'Aspects of Love', and shares how she was first offered the opportunity to play Desiree in the current Broadway production of 'A Little Night Music'.

The Donmar take the prizes for individual performances in plays, while Oliver!, Wicked, Priscilla and Sister Act mop up for musicals

Jessie Buckley, star of BBC1's I'D DO ANYTHING and recently seen on the West End in the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in the role of ‘Anne', makes her Pizza on the Park debut with a week of intimate, romantic performances celebrating Valentine's Week. Her final show will be on February 13th.

WhatsOnStage.com is reporting Mandy Patinkin will star in the upcoming production of PARADISE FOUND, the new musical co-directed by theatre legends Susan Strohman and Hal Prince. The musical will play the Menier Chocolate Factory from May 19th through June 26th. The show is expected to move to New York sometime following the Chocolate Factory run.

The world premiere of a new play by Anders Lustgarten, directed by Ryan McBryde.

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 Olivier Award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Tony Award-winning musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES begins previews on April 6, 2010 and opens on April 18, 2010 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre. Last week we brought you 'under construction' shots of the marquee, and today we bring you the finished product!