Menier Chocolate Factory News

Carrie Dunn talks to the director about the UK tour of Little Shop of Horrors and his next project at the Menier

Suzie Toase and Leanne Rowe lead the cast in Victoria Wood's new version of her play TALENT, a comedy with songs, previewing at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 17 September with press night on 23 September, and running until 14 November

Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer present the world premiere of TIMING by Alistair McGowan, directed by Tamara Harvey

James Macdonald returns to the Almeida to direct the world premiere of Christopher Hampton's new version of Ödön von Horváth's Judgment Day. Judgment Day will run at the Almeida from 3 September - 17 October 2009, with press night on 10 September. Set designs are by Miriam Buether with costume design is by Moritz Junge, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Chris Shutt and music by Matthew Herbert.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports today in his 'Broadway Matinee' column in the The New York Post that stage and screen star Mandy Patinkin is keen to join the upcoming Broadway transfer of London's critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.

A press announcement today confirmed the news that the upcoming revival of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC will open in December 2009.

A press announcement today confirmed the news that the upcoming revival of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC will open in December 2009.

The upcoming DVD 'An Evening with John Barrowman' is due for release in November 2009. The DVD contains over 55 minutes of extra features.

Gareth Hale will play Scrooge in Susie McKenna and Steve Edis' adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which is to open in the newly refurbished Arts Theatre in November this year. A Christmas Carol, produced by Tiny Tim Productions, will preview from 11 November, with the press performance on 25 November, and is booking until 10 January 2010.

David Troughton joins Kevin Spacey to lead the cast in Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's explosive courtroom classic Inherit the Wind directed by Trevor Nunn. Inherit the Wind plays at The Old Vic, London 18 September - 20 December 2009, with a Press Night set for Thursday, 1 October 2009.

Producers Sonia Friedman, David Babani for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Fran and Barry Weissler and Robert Bartner / Norman Tulchin will bring London's critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy LA CAGE AUX FOLLES to Broadway, opening on April 18, 2010 at a Shubert theatre to be announced.

James Macdonald returns to the Almeida to direct the world premiere of Christopher Hampton's new version of Ödön von Horváth's Judgment Day. Judgment Day will run at the Almeida from 3 September - 17 October 2009, with press night on 10 September. Set designs are by Miriam Buether with costume design is by Moritz Junge, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Chris Shutt and music by Matthew Herbert.

Producers Sonia Friedman, David Babani for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Fran and Barry Weissler and Robert Bartner / Norman Tulchin will bring London's critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy LA CAGE AUX FOLLES to Broadway, opening on April 18, 2010 at a Shubert theatre to be announced.

Popular entertainer John Barrowman has announced several book-signing appearances to promote his upcoming follow-up autobiography, 'I Am What I Am.' The book is a companion piece for his first autobiography, 'Anything Goes,' which was published in January of 2008.

Too True To Be Good by Bernard Shaw, perhaps one of the first absurd comedies in English, and one of Shaw's least performed works, opens for a four week limited season on 1 September 2009 (Press Night: Thursday, 3 September) at London's Finborough Theatre.

Producer Arielle Tepper Madover and the Donmar Warehouse are pleased to announce the complete Broadway cast for William Shakespeare's HAMLET, with Jude Law in the title role, directed by Michael Grandage. The production will begin performances at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Saturday, September 12 for a strictly limited run of twelve weeks only. Opening night is Tuesday, October 6.

West Coast Ensemble is thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed, smash-hit production of BIG, The Musical, with book by John Weidman, music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., based on the motion picture 'BIG' written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins, Assassins) is EXTENDING THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 26 at West Coast Ensemble's new home - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

The Menier's production of the Sondheim classic closes at the end of the month

Watch a sneak preview of some of the footage being used for the DVD of John Barrowman's concert in Glasgow. The upcoming DVD, 'An Evening with John Barrowman' is due for release in November 2009.'

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is a runaway hit at London's Menier Chocolate Factory, where the show opened for a twelve-week run on July 2 to raves and crowds. The legendary theatrical lampoon, which ended (at least for the time being) its 27-year New York run on March 1, has been retooled for London and restaged for the Menier Chocolate Factory by creator Gerard Alessandrini and long-time collaborator Phillip George.