Chocolate Factory Productions News

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will bring U.S. audiences their first look a London hit, when it presents the American Premiere of the joyous musical revue The Life of the Party. Directed and co-created by David Babani, the Artistic Director of London's Menier Chocolate Factory, this rollicking musical journey celebrates the songs of Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish) who takes the stage as a featured performer, along with a cast of Broadway and West End veterans, bringing to life a hilarious, uplifting, memorable evening that was declared "Sexy, sophisticated, and funny" and awarded five stars by London's Telegraph. The Life of the Party will be presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley August 24-September 18 (press opening: August 27) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. For tickets ($19-$80) and information the public may visit www.TheatreWorks.org or call(650) 463-1960.

Sheridan Smith brings her unique vocals and phenomenal performance as Fanny Brice to the London cast recording of the critically-acclaimed West End production of Funny Girl, to be released on Decca Records on 5th August.

Hot on the heels of a record-breaking, critically acclaimed West End run, this new production of FUNNY GIRL embarks on a major national tour in 2017. The five-star production opens at Manchester Palace, where it runs for a week from 20 February, before touring to venues including Milton Keynes Theatre, Liverpool Empire, Bristol Hippodrome, Stoke Regent Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen, Edinburgh Playhouse, New Victoria Theatre Woking, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, Birmingham Hippodrome, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, King's Theatre Glasgow, Nottingham Theatre Royal and Southend Cliffs Pavilion. Further tour dates and casting yet to be announced.

Last night, the Sheridan Smith-starring revival of FUNNY GIRL opened at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. The transfer follows a sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and the show is booking until October 8. Smith takes on Barbra Streisand's iconic role of Fanny Brice, the Brooklyn singer and comedienne who became a Broadway sensation under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. The cast also features Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.

The West End transfer of Funny Girl, receives its first preview tomorrow night, 9 April 2016 - with opening night on 20 April, at the Savoy Theatre. Michael Mayer directs Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice, Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.                

From the Producers of Pinkalicious, Sweeney Todd, Violet, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Disney's Tarzan, Kelrik Productions returns to the Monroe Forum Theatre with a sticky-sweet confection of 'Pure Imagination' in Roald Dahl's timeless story, Willy Wonka! Based on Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), the play, Willy Wonka, brings the story to the stage in this musical adaptation.

Following rumors earlier today that Jennifer Hudson would be making her Broadway debut in a revival of THE COLOR PURPLE, producers have now confirmed that the Oscar winner will indeed head to the Great White Way. Beginning next fall, John Doyle's critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple, the landmark musical will come to Broadway with the Grammy, Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner in the role of Shug Avery, despite earlier reports that she'd be taking on the role of Celie.

Following a sold-out and critically acclaimed run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the theatre is delighted to announce its "breathtakingly funny" (Guardian) production of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY will transfer to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre on Tuesday 9th September - 22nd November, with press night on Monday 15th September at 7 pm.

West End's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, which was broadcast in cinemas across the United States earlier this fall, is now available for download over on Digital Theatre.

Following sold-out showings in New York City and buzz across the United States, Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG has moved audiences around the world and now comes to 55 cinemas across Canada for one night only on Thursday, November 7.

Late night cinema screenings of Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG have been added in NYC including the Union Square Regal and possibly more to follow. Go to www.fathomevents.com for tickets and most updated information. Early shows are completely sold out in NYC.

Following exclusive premieres in New York and London attended by the cast, creative team, and Stephen Sondheim himself, Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG screens in cinemas across the United States tomorrow, October 23, for one night only.

Audiences in the UK can see the West End production of Merrily We Roll Along in cinemas nationwide on Thursday 24th October as part of the West End Theatre Series brought to you by CinemaLive and Digital Theatre.

New York City's historic Ziegfeld Theater will host an additional screening of Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 'Merrily We Roll Along' - presented by NCM Fathom Events, CinemaLive, and Digital Theatre - at 7:00pm on October 23. The Ziegfeld screening adds 1,000 tickets to the nearly-sold-out New York market, which may now be purchased in person only at the Ziegfeld box office.

A new trailer for Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 'Merrily We Roll Along' has been released. The production is set to screen in 460 select movie theaters around the country on October 23rd. Get a sneak peek below!

Bringing London's renowned West End theater culture to select U.S. cinemas this fall, NCM Fathom Events, CinemaLive and Digital Theatre present Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. This one-night cinema event will also feature 20 minutes of exclusive backstage content including interviews with cast, crew and special guests.

CinemaLive and Digital Theatre have just announced Maria Friedman's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG as the first production to be distributed as part of the West End Theatre Series.

Following a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre for 12 weeks only 100 stalls and dress circle seats at £25 available for every performance until 1 June*

Chocolate Factory Productions present a production of Anthony Rapp -WITHOUT YOU, based on Anthony Rapp's bestseller Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, beginning performances in Boston today, June 19th. The show, which is directed by Steve Maler, will continue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August and London's Menier Chocolate Factory until Septemeber 15.

Chocolate Factory Productions have announced a production of Anthony Rapp -WITHOUT YOU, based on Anthony Rapp's bestseller Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, to begin performances in Boston on Tuesday, June 19th. The show, which is directed by Steve Maler, will continue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August and London's Menier Chocolate Factory until Septemeber 15.