At the Lyric - 1953 - West End Articles Page 11

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms-marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac).

The producers of WEST SIDE STORY have confirmed full casting for the new Broadway production.

Gary Griffin - fresh from the success of his recent Broadway production, 'The Color Purple' - has returned to London (where his Donmar Warehouse production of Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' won him a richly deserved Olivier Award in 2003) to present a revival of the 1950s musical, 'Kismet' at the London Coliseum for the ENO. The show, originally staged at the Ziegfield theatre in New York in 1953, has music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from musical themes by Borodin. The original book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis has been reworked by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Griffin's colourful, energetic and beautifully paced production, magnificently complemented by the set design by Ultz and Wolfgang Gobbel's lighting design, breathes new life into a classic.

To coincide with the play's 50th anniversary, Lee Evans and Jason Isaacs will star in a major West End revival of Harold Pinter's classic comedy of menace, The Dumb Waiter.

Toronto Operetta Theatre's production is a feast for the ears, though the show still creaks. * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

Bonnie Langford stars in Chicago, Wicked sets box office records, The Crucible transfers and casting is confirmed for the UB40 musical

Eighteen rarities sung by legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim have been assembled for the CD Sondheim Sings II, which will be released by PS Classics on October 25th

The lavish, new production of Rodger's & Hammerstein's The King & I, starring Sandy Duncan and directed by Baayork Lee, will grace the stage of Boston's Wang Theatre for one week only, when it opens on Tuesday, October 12 and plays through Sunday, October 17, 2004. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13 at 7:00 PM.