Menier Chocolate Factory News

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.

James McAvoy joins Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, which opens at the Apollo Theatre on February 10th 2009. Previews begin January 30th. The female lead is yet to be cast.

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.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's record-breaking, sold out production of La Cage Aux Folles has begun rehearsals for its transfer to the West End for a strictly limited season at the Playhouse Theatre previewing from 20th October, with press night on 30th October.

The Stage News is reporting that National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner, actress Maria Friedman and Blood Brothers writer Willy Russell for the next round of the Shaw Theatre's SPOTLIGHT ON SERIES

The photographs of celebrated theatre photographer Reg Wilson are to be exhibited at the Playhouse Theatre by the Victoria & Albert Museum Theatre Collection as part of the Society of London Theatre's centenary celebrations.

Finborough Theatre's upcoming production of Ordinary Days - the musical's European premiere - will feature Julie Atherton, (Kate Monster in Avenue Q on the West End) as Claire; Kenneth Avery-Clark (of the West End's The Producers and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Jason; Hayley Gallivan (Follies in Concert at the London Palladium) as Deb; and Lee William-Davis (most recently of Mamma Mia! and Mary Poppins in the West End) as Warren.

Sam Mendes directs a transatlantic company of actors in a double-bill of classic works for The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season. The Mendes productions will launch BAM's 2009 Spring Season. The 2009 BAM Spring Season comprises eight theater, dance, and music engagements, and features BAMcinématek series, BAMcafé Live weekend music performances, artist talks, visual art exhibitions, and literary event.

According to Variety UK stage star Hannah Waddingham, who has played the Lady of the Lake in 'Monty Python's Spamalot' in London and most recently on Broadway, will play Desiree in Trevor Nunn's upcoming Menier Chocolate Factory revival of 'A Little Night Music.' The production plays Nov. 22 to Mar. 8 with a Dec. 3 opening.

Samuel West will direct Harley Granville Barker's Waste, which runs at the Almeida from 25 September - 15 November 2008, with press night on 2 October. Designs are by Peter McKintosh with lighting by Guy Hoare and sound by John Leonard.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's record-breaking, sold out production of La Cage Aux Folles has begun rehearsals for its transfer to the West End for a strictly limited season at the Playhouse Theatre previewing from 20th October, with press night on 30th October.

Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton will lead the cast in the West End production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. The spectacular new stage musical, directed by Simon Phillips, will open at the Palace Theatre in March 2009.

Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton will lead the cast in the West End production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. The spectacular new stage musical, directed by Simon Phillips, will open at the Palace Theatre in March 2009.

Originally scheduled for one night only, Notes from New York?s fifth anniversary production of Jason Robert Brown?s The Last 5 Years will now play two additional performances due to phenomenal public demand. With the original performance on Sunday 12 October selling out in less than four weeks of going on sale, West End stars Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer will now share the stage at the prestigious Theatre Royal Haymarket for three nights in total on Sundays 12, 19 and 26 October 2008 in this much anticipated, brand new gala staging.

Wordmonger presents the World Premiere of THE INVITATION by Brian Parks beginning September 5 at The Ohio Theater in SoHo.

Wordmonger presents the World Premiere of THE INVITATION by Brian Parks beginning September 5 at The Ohio Theater in SoHo.

Connie Fisher makes a welcome return to the stage this week as she begins previews in the Marvin Hamlish/Carole Bayer Sager/Neil Simon musical They're Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Previews of the show, which will be directed by Fiona Laird, begin on July 25 prior to an August 4 opening. The production will run till September 28.

Almedia Theater announces fall casting.

It's finally here! The jam-packed end-of-season roundup of CDs from our very own Naomi Plume (so big, it had to be put into two parts)...The good, the bad, the ugly...or to quote from the ad for the upcoming musical A TALE OF A TWO CITIES... 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' We're so glad that we got to use that line first! So enjoy this very special two-parter - happy reading, happy listening, happy buying (or not) and good luck to everyone at the TONY Awards on Sunday night from all of us at BroadwayWorld.com.

Making his Broadway debut and nominated for a Tony Award, director Sam Buntrock sat down with BroadwayWorld.com for this exclusive interview to discuss his past, bringing his innovative 'Sunday in the Park with George' to the stage and more. Click now to watch!