Menier Chocolate Factory News

The sell-out Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage Aux Folles has now transferred to the Playhouse Theatre and is set to run until September 26th. The show is starring Graham Norton and Steven Pacey. The idyllic existence of Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star of the La Cage aux Folles club, is threatened when Georges' son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician, who wants to close down the local colourful nightlife! With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent, they all decide to take drastic action to hide their lifestyle... but can they keep it up? Jerry Herman's (Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel and Mame) fabulous score includes I Am What I Am, The Best of Times and Song on the Sand. La Cage aux Folles is a timeless and deliciously funny tale of family values, unconditional love, and above all, the need to celebrate who we are. The production of La Cage at Menier Chocolate Factory has earned the title of Best Musical from the Critics Circle Awards.

The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards 2008 were hosted on January 27th, by its new Chairman Mark Shenton - theatre critic for the Sunday Express, daily blogger for The Stage website, and a regular contributor to The Guardian online - at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. For the fifth year, the awards were presented in association with Nyman Libson Paul Chartered Accountants, leading entertainment industry specialists; and supported by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres and lastminute.com. Media Partner, What's On In Theatre / TV London. As ever, the ceremony was an informal gathering of award recipients, the drama critics, theatre practitioners, and the media, convivially coming together to celebrate the critics' personal choice of the best in theatre, from throughout the UK, during the last calendar year. In contrast with other theatre awards during this jam-packed trophy season, the Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners are always decided by the independent votes of Drama Section members, with no panel discussions or public/industry influence exerted.

UK's The Telegraph is reporting that Trevor Nunn discussed the potential for a Harry Potter musical and the fact that he almost had the rights for such a project, but the timing wasn't right...Nunn presented a South Bank Show lifetime achievement award to Sir Cameron Mackintosh last week and told the Telegraph that Warner Bros swiped the production rights from under his nose. 'Many many years ago I proposed it and they said: 'Oh if only you had come to us a few weeks ago. We have just sold the movie rights',' he harrumphs. 'It will be a long time now before anyone is allowed to stage Harry Potter.'

The American Theatre Wing's 'Working in the Theatre' will feature 'Making Ogre Broadway' on CUNY TV on Sunday, January 11 at 5 p.m. The segment will repeat on Friday, January 16 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 17 at 11 a.m. The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from Americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, January 14.

The American Theatre Wing's 'Working in the Theatre' will feature 'Making Ogre Broadway' on CUNY TV on Sunday, January 11 at 5 p.m. The segment will repeat on Friday, January 16 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 17 at 11 a.m. The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from Americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, January 14.

In a year when new musical theatre productions in London consisted of juke box transfers, classic revivals, whimsical adventure stories and majestic failures, one might be forgiven for thinking that the age of great new musicals exists merely in days of Auld Lang Syne. So let's pause and think back over the year's musical fayre.

The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, which pairs a new version of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with The Winter's Tale begins tonight, January 2nd with the first performance of The Cherry Orchard.

WhatsOnStage.com is reporting that world-renowned director Trevor Nunn is rumoured to be planning a stage adaptation of the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's for the West End stage.

Sam Mendes directs a transatlantic company of actors in a double-bill of classic works for The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, which pairs a new version of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with The Winter's Tale. A formidable transatlantic company and creative team will mount these two new productions for seven internationally renowned theaters. Simon Russell Beale leads the British/American cast, playing Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard and Leontes in The Winter's Tale. He is joined by Sin?ad Cusack as Madame Ranevskaya and Paulina, Richard Easton as Firs and Old Shepherd, Rebecca Hall as Varya and Hermione, Josh Hamilton as Yasha and Polixenes, Ethan Hawke as Trofimov and Autolycus, and Paul Jesson as Gaev and Camilo.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to host the NYC premiere of Simon Green Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noel. Simon Green Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noel began performances on Sunday, December 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4. There was a special Noel Coward Birthday Celebration Performance on Tuesday, December 16 at 8:30 PM, which included a champagne toast, birthday cake and special guest theatre icon Elaine Stritch.

59E59 Theaters' Holiday E:Café toasts the Festive season with SIMON GREEN Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noël

Multi-award-winning leading lady Maria Friedman returns to the West End for one night only to headline this year's instalment of Christmas in New York, the annual celebration of classic carols and seasonal show-stoppers, at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday 7 December 2008, alongside Avenue Q's Julie Atherton, Wicked's Oliver Tompsett and Ashleigh Gray, Spamalot's Michael Xavier and a full supporting cast including Adrian Hansel, Zoe Rainey, Richard Reynard and Lorna Want.

Following the successful West End transfer of The Menier Chocolate Factory?s record-breaking production of La Cage Aux Folles, the Producers are delighted to announce the glamorous musical comedy will extend its run at the Playhouse Theatre. Stepping into the sequined shoes of La Cage Aux Folles star Albin is popular entertainer Graham Norton. He takes over the role from original cast member Douglas Hodge, who will be extending his critically acclaimed run in the production until January 17th 2009. Denis Lawson will also be extending his run in the production until January 17th 2009.

Maria Friedman, accompanied by an 11-piece band, will play just twenty-five performances of her most recent solo show Maria Friedman: Re-arranged at the Trafalgar Studios from 27 November 2008 - 4 January 2009.

This February, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, a new musical comes to Broadway. Starring Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty) and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets (Amour, Merrily We Roll Along, 'Caroline in the City'), the show is directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance), THE STORY OF MY LIFE features a score by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Performances begin Tuesday, February 3rd on Broadway at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.

Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon, Oliver Thornton and Clive Carter lead the cast of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and directed by Simon Phillips,the principal cast are joined by Zoe Birkett, Kate Gillespie and Emma Lindars as the three Divas, Wezley Sebastian as Miss Understanding, Amy Field as Marion, Danielle Coombe as Shirley, Tristan Temple as Jimmy, Kanako Nakano as Cynthia, Steven Cleverley as Young Bernadette and John Brannoch as Frank.

Lyndsey Marshal joins James McAvoy and Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, which opens at the Apollo Theatre on Tuesday 10 February 2009 with previews from 30 January.

Chocolate Factory Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, David Ian Productions, The Ambassador Theatre Group, David Mirvish, Tulchin/Bartner and Jamie Hendry will present La Cage aux Folles with music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein.

59E59 Theaters' Holiday E:Café toasts the Festive season with SIMON GREEN Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noël

Whats On Stage is reporting that London's Evening Standard newspaper has published the list of nominees for the 2008 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, the first awards of the UK season.