Michel Legrand 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.

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 final production in Jonathan Kent's Theatre Royal Haymarket Season, the world premiere of MARGUERITE, will close tonight, September 13th on the West End. MARGUERITE is a new musical with music by Michel Legrand, book by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Jonathan Kent, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer - original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and orchestrations and arrangements by Michel Legrand and Seann Alderking.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that The Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a reading of the new Broadway-bound musical BONNIE & CLYDE on February 9, 2009. The show features a book by Ivan Menchell, music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, direction by Jeff Calhoun and musical direction by John McDaniel.

Marguerite, the new musical currently playing at London's Theatre Royal, Haymarket, has most of the ingredients required to make a great show - stunning music, a wonderfully inventive set, a very strong story that should stir the emotions of an audience, a stellar cast led by performers of genuine star quality and a creative team whose previous track record proves they know how to create a hit. But somehow the result is slightly unsatisfying.

The world premiere musical revue 'Tonight at Eight: Saluting Sheldon Harnick' will launch Northwestern University's Summer Music Theatre Festival 2008.

'Marguerite' opens at the Royal Haymarket.

'Marguerite' at the Royal Haymarket Season.

The final production in Jonathan Kent's Theatre Royal Haymarket Season will be the world premiere of 'Marguerite' a new musical starring Ruthie Henshall, Julian Ovenden, and Alexander Hanson. 'Marguerite' will begin performances on May 7th.

From 'Urinetown' to 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA

There will be two invitation only industry readings of the original new musical Empire, written by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull. Directed by Clayton Phillips, New Hampshire Theater's Best Direction Award winner, the cast will include Matt Cavenaugh (A Catered Affair, Grey Gardens), Karen Ziemba (Curtains, Contact), Michael McCormick (Curtains, The Pajama Game), Mark Lotito (Jersey Boys, Fiddler on the Roof), Megan Sikora (Curtains, Wonderful Town), and Kevyn Morrow (Smokey Joes Café, Dreamgirls). A 2003 Ovation Award winner in Los Angeles and 2004 featured production at Connecticut's Stamford Center for the Arts, Empire is a celebration of the American spirit embodied by those who bravely banded together to build what was then the tallest structure in the world, the Empire State Building. Michael, an architect, hired to build the Empire State building in record time, takes on politicians, deadlines, and a nosy but beautiful reporter, Hildy, dead set on derailing the project. A classic struggle of idealism versus advancement, Empire is filled with romance, dreams, and the struggles that surrounded us when we face a monumental challenge. Written in the spirit of the classic musicals of the 40's and the 50's with big dance numbers and pop-driven melodies, the musical premiered at LA's Hudson Backstage Theatre in 2003. At the Hudson, Empire played to sold out audiences, excellent reviews and garnered 3 LA Theatre Ovation Award-nominations, including Best Musical, and won the award for Best Choreography. Daily Variety called the show 'A fast, flavorful, exciting tale … joyously fresh …', and Backstage West said Empire was a 'Tribute and testimony to the dreamers, doers, and unsung heroes … big and brave, like the building it celebrates …'. The production was then chosen to open the 2004 season for the SCA's Rich Forum and was called 'An outstanding new musical' by the Scarsdale Inquirer. Clayton Phillips, who recently won the New Hampshire Theater Award for Best Direction and Best Musical for Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup by John Pielmeier and Matty Selmen, has been at the helm of the production since its York Theater reading in 2001. The industry readings will be produced by Ricky Stevens and John O'Boyle whose credits include, Is He Dead by Mark Twain, A Catered Affair, by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, Glory Days by Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner, and Marguerite Music by Michel Legrand, Book by Alain Boublil/Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.

Following highly successful performances at Feinstein's & The Reprise Room, RENDEZVOUS…An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends will add one additional show at The Reprise Room at Dillon's, on Thursday, April 10th at 7:30pm.

Prior to the opening performances of Marguerite and for one night only - Sunday April 13 at 7PM - jazz legend and triple Oscar-winning composer Michel Legrand will give a rare London concert performing his own work accompanied by two of the world's top jazz musicians.

Broadway singer Melissa Errico celebrates the release of her second studio album 'Lullabies and Wildflowers' at Joe's Pub on April 23 & 24 at 7:30PM.

Following a sold-out run this past fall at Feinstein's, Rendezvous…An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends will re-open at The Reprise Room at Dillon's on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30PM, for an extended run. Additional performances will be Thursdays, March 13 & 27 at 7:30PM.

In a feature with lyricists Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, the LA Times reports the duo is in talks of bringing the movie-musical, Yentl, to Broadway.

The final production in Jonathan Kent's Theatre Royal Haymarket Season will be the world premiere of Marguerite, a new musical with music by Michel Legrand, book by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Jonathan Kent, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and orchestrations and arrangements by Michel Legrand and Seann Alderking. Marguerite will run at the Haymarket from May 7, with press night on May 20. Ruthie Henshall to star.

London's Player's Theatre will play host in March to the UK premiere of the recent Off-Broadway show, Make Me a Song - a 'songfest' of numbers from the inspirational pen of Tony Award winning composer/lyricist, William Finn.