Back to News & Press Full casting announced for The Nether Monday 17 November 2014 David Calder joins the West End cast of The Nether to play Doyle, previewing at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 30 January 2015 and opening on 23 February. Directed by Jeremy Herrin, Jennifer Haley’s critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning play is booking for 12 weeks only to 25 April 2015. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production, The Nether is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott M Delman in association with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Lee Dean & Charles Diamond, 1001 Nights, JFL Theatricals/GHF Productions, Scott & Brian Zeilinger/James Lefkowitz. Calder joins original cast members Amanda Hale (Morris), Ivanno Jeremiah (Woodnut) and Stanley Townsend (Sims) who are joined by Zoe Brough and Isabella Pappas who will alternate the role of Iris as they did at the Royal Court. Set designs are by Es Devlin, with costume designs by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Paul Pyant, compositions by Nick Powell, sound by Ian Dickinson and video design by Luke Halls. The Nether offers complete freedom – a new virtual wonderland providing total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity and indulge your every desire. An intricate crime drama and a haunting thriller set in the year 2050, The Nether follows an investigation into the complicated, disturbing morality of identity in the digital world, and explores the consequences of making dreams a reality. With 100 tickets available at each performance at £20.50 and Royal Court pricing throughout the preview period, The Nether, winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, opened at the Royal Court Theatre in July this year where it played to sell-out audiences. Haley’s play received its world premiere in Spring 2013 produced by the Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles and won her an Ovation Award for Best Original Play and an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Writing. David Calder’s more recent theatre credits include The Doctor’s Dilemma, Hamlet and Marat Sade for the National Theatre, Home for the Theatre Royal Bath, the title role in King Lear for Shakespeare’s Globe, Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Duke of York’s Theatre, The Merchant of Venice for Royal Shakespeare Company, Five Gold Ring’s for the Almeida Theatre and Little Foxes for the Donmar Warehouse. His more recent television credits include Cuckoo, Casualty, Utopia S2, Houdini, The Wrong Mans, Mr Selfridge, Lewis, Titanic, Edward VIII: The Plot to Topple a King and New Tricks. His film credits include Queen of the Desert, Rush, United, Red Riding 1980, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Goya's Ghosts and Perfume. Amanda Hale was most recently seen on stage in Jagged Edge’s production of Uncle Vanya at the St James Theatre. Her previous theatre credits include Wastwater and The City for the Royal Court, King Lear and Elektra for Headlong and the Young Vic, The House of Bernarda Alba for the Almeida Theatre, Our Class for the National Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest for Oxford Playhouse, After Dido for the Young Vic and Pornography for Birmingham Rep/Traverse Theatre. Her extensive television credits include Dates, The White Queen, Ripper Street, Rev, Being Human, Spooks, Richard is My Boyfriend and Persuasion. Her film credits include The Invisible Woman, The Look of Love and Bright Star. Ivanno Jeremiah’s theatre credits include Truth and Reconciliation for the Royal Court, Julius Caesar for the Royal Shakespeare Company, As You Like It for the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Welcome Home at the Pleasance and the international tour of The Suit. His television credits include Humans, The Hollow Crown, The Jury II and Injustice. On film his credits include Julius Caesar, Papadopoulos & Sons and The Veteran. Stanley Townsend’s theatre credits include Tribes, The Alice Trilogy, The Shining City, Under the Blue Sky and The Weir all for the Royal Court, King Lear, Phèdre, Gethsemane, Happy Now, Remember This and Guys and Dolls all for the National Theatre, Broken Glass at the Tricycle and in the West End and A View from a Bridge at the Lyceum, Edinburgh. His extensive television credits include the recent series of 24: Live Another Day opposite Kiefer Sutherland, as well as Quirke, The Shadow Line, Ripper Street, Toast, Sherlock Holmes, Ashes to Ashes, Hustle, Spooks, Fleming, Mad Dogs , Whistleblower, New Worlds, The Virgin Queen, Fresh Meat and Appropriate Adult. On film his credits include The Voices, One Chance, Happy Go Lucky and The Libertine. Zoe Brough and Isabella Pappas made their professional stage debuts in The Nether at the Royal Court Theatre. Jennifer Haley’s other writing includes Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, which premiered at the Actors Theatre of Louisville at the 2008 Humana Festival, Breadcrumbs for the Contemporary American Theatre Festival and Sustainable Living written in the 2011-2012 CTG Writers’ Workshop and featured at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Her play Froggy is in development with The Banff Centre and American Conservatory Theater. Haley’s plays have been developed at the Sundance Theatre Lab, the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, the Lark Play Development Center, PlayPenn, Page 73 and the MacDowell Colony. She is a member of New Dramatists in New York City and lives in Los Angeles where she founded a writing collective called the Playwrights Union. The Nether was the first play Jeremy Herrin directed for Headlong as Artistic Director. Previously he was Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre from 2009 until 2012 where his credits included No Quarter, Hero, Haunted Child, The Heretic, Kin, Spur of the Moment, Off the Endz, The Priory, Tusk Tusk, The Vertical Hour and That Face. Herrin directed the world premieres of Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker prize-winning novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in two parts for the Royal Shakespeare Company – the productions transferred to the West End in May 2014 and will open on Broadway in March next year. His other recent credits include Another Country, Uncle Vanya and South Downs for Chichester Festival Theatre all of which transferred to the West End, This House for the National Theatre, Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter Theatre and The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing for Shakespeare’s Globe. Herrin’s production of David Hare’s The Absence of War will open at Sheffield Theatres in February 2015 prior to a UK tour. The Nether is the latest in a number of collaborations between Sonia Friedman Productions and the Royal Court Theatre (Rock ‘n’ Roll, Clybourne Park, Jerusalem in the West End and The River on Broadway) and Headlong (1984 and Chimerica). Development of The Nether was supported by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Playwrights Conference 2011, Preston Whiteway, Executive Director; Wendy Goldberg, Artistic Director. For more information visit thenetherplay.co.uk Up Up

Back to News & Press Further casting for Twelfth Night in the 2012 Globe Theatre season The Plays The Thing Wednesday 15 February 2012 In one of Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies, Stephen Fry will play Malvolio opposite Mark Rylance’s Olivia, and will join the previously announced Samuel Barnett and Johnny Flynn, as the twins Sebastian and Viola. Liam Brennan and Peter Hamilton Dyer reprise their 2002 Globe roles as Orsino and Feste, and Globe regular Colin Hurley, will play Sir Toby Belch. Further casting to be announced shortly. Twelfth Night will be directed by Tim Carroll, designed by Jenny Tiramani with music by Claire van Kampen – the creative team behind the original 2002 version of Twelfth Night, whose original practices approach to staging will employ techniques used in Shakespeare’s day to recreate clothing, music and dance. Liam Brennan, a member of the original, widely acclaimed 2002 Globe production of Twelfth Night, will recreate the lovelorn Duke Orsino. Brennan was a regular in Rylance’s Globe company of players and credits include Measure for Measure, Edward II and Macbeth. His extensive credits at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh include A View From The Bridge, Othello and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Peter Hamilton Dyer, who will reprise Feste, is a familiar face at the Globe with credits including Frontline and King Lear. Other stage credits include Richard II and The Moonstone (Manchester Royal Exchange), Mansfield Park (Chichester Theatre) and The Bacchae (Shared Experience). Television credits include The Curse of Steptoe and Silent Witness. Stephen Fry will make his Globe debut as Lady Olivia’s steward, Malvolio. Fry’s screen credits include Sherlock Holmes II, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Gosford Park, Peter’s Friends and Wilde, in which his portrayal of Oscar Wilde earned him a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination. His many television drama and comedy credits include the BBC’s recent adaptation of The Borrowers, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Kingdom, Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder and several series of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. He has also appeared in many critically acclaimed and much loved documentaries. Colin Hurley, who will portray lovable rogue Sir Toby Belch, is a Globe favourite and was in the original 2002 company of Twelfth Night. He will soon be seen again as Cardinal Wolsey in the Globe’s touring production of Anne Boleyn and previous credits at the Globe include All’s Well that Ends Well, Macbeth and Measure for Measure. Other theatre credits include Equus (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre) and Loot (Lyric Hammersmith). Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting announced for Stranger Things: The First Shadow Wednesday 20 September 2023 With rehearsals now underway, Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions today announce the full cast for the world premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry, that brings the world of Stranger Things to life in a completely new way - live on stage. Stranger Things: The First Shadow opens at the Phoenix Theatre on 14 December, with previews beginning in 8 weeks on 17 November. Directed by Stephen Daldry , with co-direction by Justin Martin , leading the world class award-winning creative team, the cast is Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper ), Kemi Awoderu (Sue Anderson ), Chase Brown (Lonnie Byers ), Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby ), Ammar Duffus (Charles Sinclair ), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler ), Florence Guy (Karen Childress ), Max Harwood (Allen Munson ), Michael Jibson (Victor Cree l), Oscar Lloyd (James Hopper Jr .), Louis McCartney (Henry Creel ), Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado ), Matthew Pidgeon (Father Newby ), Calum Ross (Walter Henderson ), Maisie Norma Seaton (Claudia Henderson), Patrick Vaill (Dr Brenner ), Lauren Ward (Virginia Creel ), Ella Karuna Williams (Patty Newby) ; with Tricia Adele-Turner , Lauren Arney , Reya-Nyomi Brown , Patricia Castro , Lydia Fraser , Isaac Gryn , Mark Hammersley , Tom Peters , Kingdom Sibanda , Tiana Simone , Danny Sykes and Meesha Turner . Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted in July 2016 and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular television series ever with its fourth season alone amassing over 140.7 million views globally. Rooted in 80's nostalgia, it has sparked a resurgence of pop culture items from the decade with every new season, including Eggo waffles and New Coke. Most recently, the series breathed new life into Kate Bush’s track “Running Up That Hill” with the song soaring in streams on Spotify and entering the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in its 38-year history. The series has also garnered over 70 awards worldwide including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and has been nominated for over 230 awards. Stranger Things fans everywhere celebrate November 6 - the day Will Byers went missing - as ‘Stranger Things Day,’ a special day to share their love for the world of Stranger Things. Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin said today, “With rehearsals now underway, it’s a joy to discover the world of Stranger Things: The First Shadow with our ferociously talented cast and watch the alchemy amongst our entire company grow as we together explore this new play. They’re an extraordinarily gifted group of actors, and we can’t wait to share this origin story with audiences.” Matt and Ross Duffer said today, “The cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is nothing short of phenomenal. These actors brilliantly explore the early days of many fan favorites - including Hopper, Joyce, Bob, Henry and Dr Brenner - while also bringing new characters to vivid life. We couldn’t be more thrilled and can’t wait for you to meet them all live on stage. See you in London, nerds!” STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW is written by Kate Trefry , directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin , set design by Miriam Buether , costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel , lighting design by Jon Clark , sound design by Paul Arditti , illusions design & visual effects by Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher , video design & visual effects by 59 Productions , original music & arrangements by D.J. Walde , choreography by Coral Messam , movement direction by Lynne Page , wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates , technical director is Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates, props supervision by Mary Halliday , dialect by William Conacher , fight direction by Kev McCurdy , casting by Jessica Ronane Casting CDG with additional casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG , and international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan . Book your tickets now. Up Up

Back to News & Press The Ferryman Extends Broadway Engagement Due to Overwhelming Popular Demand Monday 19 November 2018 “No matter what sort of spread you’ve planned for your Thanksgiving dinner, it won’t be a patch on the glorious feast that has been laid out at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater. That’s where Jez Butterworth’s thrilling new play The Ferryman has opened with a generosity of substance and spirit rarely seen on the stage anymore.” Ben Brantley, The New York Times The fall season’s most acclaimed production on Broadway, The Ferryman just celebrated its second consecutive week in the million dollar club, with gross sales of $1,000,731.10 for the week ending November 18. Tickets for 20 additional weeks of performances are on sale now at www.telecharge.com , by calling 212-239-6200 or 800-447-7400, or in-person at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre box office (242 W. 45th Street). When The Ferryman opened last month, New York’s critics raved: “CRITICS PICK! THIS ASTONISHING, GLORIOUS, MAGNIFICENT DRAMA TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. The Ferryman is an endlessly vibrant work, directed with sweeping passion and meticulous care by Sam Mendes. THIS IS THEATER AS CHARGED AND EXPANSIVE AS LIFE ITSELF.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times “The Ferryman sets a gold standard for Broadway plays. A rollicking, moving masterpiece, and an emphatic herald of the strength and power of original playwriting on Broadway. Rarely is theater so beautifully written, brilliantly acted and brilliantly directed. DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO SEE IT.” – Tim Teeman, The Daily Beast “A RIVETING WORK OF ART. The evening is a meticulous unfolding of plot and character that builds to one of the most ferociously rewarding climaxes of my playgoing experience. THIS EXPLOSIVE, EXHILARATING DRAMA IS WHAT A THEATER LOVER LIVES FOR.” – Peter Marks, The Washington Post “Epic and extraordinary, with a howling roar of cacophonous humanity. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE WATCHING HUMAN DESTINY PLAY OUT BEFORE YOUR EYES.” – Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune “A gloriously entertaining new work that positively thrums with life and love, and leaves you shocked and breathless. THE FERRYMAN IS A CRACKLING THRILLER THAT WILL SHAKE UP THE BROADWAY SEASON WITH TORNADO-LIKE FORCE.” – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter “A stunning drama, filled with heartrending drama and belly laughs. AS POWERFUL AS ANYTHING ON STAGE TODAY.” – Greg Evans, Deadline “A CLASSIC. This gorgeous sprawling yarn encompasses the entire spectrum of human existence - life and death, love and hatred, compassion and violence. THE STORY IS SO ENGROSSING AND THE SUSPENSE SO FOREBODING, YOU’LL BE LEFT WANTING MORE.” – Roma Torre, NY1 Developed by Sonia Friedman Productions and produced with Neal Street Productions and The Royal Court Theatre, The Ferryman opened at The Royal Court in May 2017 and was the fastestselling play in the theatre’s history. The sold-out show transferred to the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End, and ended its thrice-extended, year-long run in May 2018. The Ferryman won three 2018 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play (marking Jez Butterworth’s second Olivier win), Best Actress Laura Donnelly, and Best Director Sam Mendes (marking his fourth Olivier win). The Ferryman also won three 2017 Evening Standard Awards, including Best Play and Best Director, as well as the Emerging Talent Award for Tom Glynn-Carney; three 2018 Whatsonstage Awards, including Best New Play, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Fra Fee; and was named the Best New Play at the 2018 UK Critics’ Circle Awards. The Ferryman is set in rural Northern Ireland in 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor. The Ferryman’s acclaimed 30+ member cast currently features most of the play’s London cast members on the Broadway stage, including Paddy Considine in his stage debut as Quinn Carney, Laura Donnelly as Caitlin Carney, Genevieve O’Reilly as Mary Carney, Dean Ashton, Glynis Bell, Peter Bradbury, Trevor Harrison Braun, Sean Frank Coffey, Will Coombs, Gina Costigan, Daniel Robert Craniey, Charles Dale, Justin Edwards, Fra Fee, Fionnula Flanagan, Tom Glynn- Carney, Carly Gold, Holly Gould, Stuart Graham, Mark Lambert, Carla Langley, Matilda Lawler, Michael Quinton McArthur, Willow McCarthy, Conor MacNeill, Colin McPhillamy, Rob Malone, Dearbhla Molloy, Bella May Mordus, Griffin Osborne, Annie Scarfuto, Brooklyn Shuck, Glenn Speers, Rafael West Vallés, and Niall Wright. The Ferryman’s creative team is Rob Howell (scenic and costume design), Peter Mumford (lighting design), Nick Powell (sound design and original music), Amy Ball CDG (UK Casting), Jim Carnahan, C.S.A and Jillian Cimini C.S.A. (US Casting), Scarlett Mackmin (choreography), Tim Hoare (associate director), Benjamin Endsley Klein (resident director), Campbell Young Associates (hair, wigs and makeup design), William Berloni (animal trainer), Terry King (UK fight director), Thomas Schall (US fight director), Majella Hurley (UK dialect coach), and Deborah Hecht (US dialect coach). The Ferryman is produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman Productions & Neal Street Productions with Ronald Frankel, Gavin Kalin Productions, Roy Furman/Benjamin Lowy, Scott M. Delman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Ron Kastner, Starry Night Entertainment, Kallish Weinstein Creative, Scott Landis, Steve Traxler, Richard Winkler, Rona Delves Broughton/Bill Damaschke, 1001 Nights, Burnt Umber Productions, Rupert Gavin, Scott Rudin, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler, Sam Levy/Lauren Stevens, and Ramin Sabi/Christopher Ketner. Up Up

Back to Productions THE SUNSHINE BOYS – L.A. This production began performances on 24th September and closed on 3rd November 2013. Theatrical gold dust. Richard Griffiths and Danny DeVito could wring comedy out of reading the telephone directory. Sunday Telegraph Kings of comedy, Willie Clark (Danny DeVito) and Al Lewis (Richard Griffiths) aka The Sunshine Boys haven’t spoken to each other in years. When CBS call for the vaudevillian greats to be re-united for a nostalgic History of Comedy, past grudges resurface as they take centre stage once more. Ageing ailments aside, can this legendary double-act overcome their differences for one last show? Old rivalry and vintage hilarity abound in Neil Simon’s classic comedy of showbiz and friendship. Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths raise the roof in The Sunshine Boys. Glowing performances. Joyous Revival The Guardian Center Theatre Group L.A.’s Theatre Company , Ahmanson Theatre , Mark Taper Forum , Kirk Douglas Theatre , Michael Ritchie (Artistic Director), Edward L. Rada (Managing Director), Gordon Davidson (Founding Artistic Director), by special arrangement with Richard Willis , Sonia Friedman Productions , Roger Berlind Tulchin Bartner Productions , Rupert Gavin , Darren Bagert/Martin Massman presents “THE SUNSHINE BOYS ” by Neil Simon , directed by Tha Sharrock . Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths make a wonderfully ill-matched couple Metro CAST DANNY DEVITO – Willie Clark JUDD HIRSCH – Al Lewis JUSTIN BARTHA – Ben Silvermann GIBBY BRAND – Patient FRANK KOPYC – V.O. TV Director MATTHEW BOHRER – Eddie ANNIE ABRAMS – Miss MacKintosh JOHNNIE FIORI – Registered Nurse CREATIVES NIEL SIMON – Playwright THA SHARROCK – Director HILDEGARD BECHTLER – Set and Costume Designer NEIL AUSTIN – Lighting Designer ADRIAN JOHNSTON – Music CRICKET S MYERS – Sound Designer JIM CARNAHAN – Casting

Back to News & Press 1984 returns to Playhouse Theatre for 12-week season Monday 4 April 2016 Following a sell-out international tour, this critically and publicly acclaimed production of 1984 will return to the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End this summer. George Orwell ’s dystopian masterpiece, adapted by Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke and Olivier Award-nominee Duncan Macmillan , will preview from 14 June 2016, with the press night on 28 June 2016. Now seen by over a quarter of a million people, this Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in September 2013. Since opening, 1984 has played to packed houses at the Almeida Theatre, as well as throughout its two West End runs and in performances across the globe during national and international tours. 101 seats for every performance will be available for £19.84. April, 1984. 13:00. Comrade 6079, Winston Smith, thinks a thought, starts a diary and falls in love. But Big Brother is always watching. The definitive book of the 20th century is re-examined in a radical, award-winning adaptation exploring surveillance, identity and why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant now as ever. 1984 is directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan with Daniel Raggett , set and costume is designed by Chloe Lamford , with lighting designed by Natasha Chivers , sound designed by Tom Gibbons and video designed by Tim Reid . George Orwell ’s 1984, published in 1949, is one of the most influential novels in recent history, with its chilling depiction of perpetual war, pervasive government surveillance and incessant public mind-control. Its ideas have become our ideas, and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality. Robert Icke has directed numerous productions as Almeida Associate Director including his own adaptations of Uncle Vanya and Oresteia (which transferred to Trafalgar Studios, and for which he won the Olivier, Critics' Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director), The Fever at The May Fair Hotel and Mr Burns . Robert’s work as a director also includes Boys and Romeo and Juliet for Headlong. He will make his National Theatre debut directing The Red Barn at the Lyttleton Theatre in October. Duncan Macmillan ’s plays include People, Places and Things (nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Play) which opened at the National Theatre and has transferred to the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End; Every Brilliant Thing for Paines Plough on tour in the UK, New York, Australia and New Zealand; and Lungs for Paines Plough and at Schaubühne in Berlin, directed by Katie Mitchell. Up Up

Back to News & Press The Stage 100 2013 Thursday 3 January 2013 Following the unexpected commercial success of Jerusalem was always going to be a tricky task, but Sonia Friedman was up to it and in 2012 turned a Shakespeare double bill into one of the West End’s hottest tickets. Mark Rylance was, again, the big draw, taking on the roles of Richard III and Olivia in Twelfth Night, alongside Stephen Fry’s Malvolio. But, Friedman’s output during the year also extended two excellent Alan Ayckbourn revivals (A Chorus of Disapproval and Absent Friends), a touring musical (Legally Blonde) and a star-led revival of Neil Simon’s Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths. This year, The Book of Mormon musical, an impressive looking revival of Pinter’s Old Times are already in the offing. Sonia Friedman’s name has become a consistent badge of quality on a theatre production. Read full article here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman: 'We will be back fully as soon as that vaccine's completely out there.' Tuesday 8 December 2020 Read the full interview with Sonia Friedman with WhatsOnStage here . Up Up

Back to News & Press UK and West End premiere of Dreamgirls comes to the Savoy Theatre Friday 5 February 2016 Amber Riley will make her West End debut this year in the UK premiere of the Tony-Award® winning musical Dreamgirls . The American actress and singer best known for her role as ‘Mercedes Jones’ in the Golden Globe Award winning television musical comedy Glee , will play soulful singer ‘Effie White’ in the production which will open at the Savoy Theatre with performances from November 2016. Tickets will go on sale this spring with further dates, casting and creative team to be announced soon. Amber Riley says: “I am so honoured and excited to not only be playing such an iconic role, but also to be working with Sonia Friedman and Casey Nicholaw. Working on the West End is now a dream realised, I just feel like this is going to be something special! ” Olivier and Tony-Award® winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon , Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten! ) will direct and choreograph Dreamgirls and says: “I am beyond thrilled to be directing and choreographing Dreamgirls in the West End. It was one of the first shows I saw when I moved to New York in 1982 and has been my favourite show ever since. We've begun to assemble a terrific cast of actors here in the UK. We also have a terrific design team lined up - it's going to be a smart and sexy production. I'm so excited about working with Amber. I loved her on Glee and when her name came up for this, I thought - Wow, I think she could be incredible - and then when she came in to audition for us, she blew us away! ” Presented in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , The Book of Mormon and Funny Girl ), Sonia Friedman says of Dreamgirls : “This great, now classic American musical is coming to London at long last, and I couldn’t be more excited to confirm that Amber Riley will be joining the cast of Dreamgirls for the West End season. This new production will begin performances later this year, directed by the brilliant, multi-award winning Broadway director Casey Nicholaw. Having met Amber and having had the privilege of hearing her sing two of the iconic songs from Dreamgirls : ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ and ‘I Am Changing’ – I was left with goosebumps, tingles and tears; I was completely knocked out by this talented performer. London is very lucky to be the first to see her Effie. ” Inspired by R&B music acts in 1960s America, Dreamgirls transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’ and ‘One Night Only’. American actress and singer Amber Riley is best known for her role as ‘Mercedes Jones’ on the Golden Globe Award winning musical comedy, Glee . Additional television appearances include playing ‘Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North’ in the NBC live performance of the musical, The Wiz and competing in Dancing with the Stars , which she won in 2013. Riley’s numerous theatre credits include Alice in Wonderland , A Midsummer Night's Dream , Into the Woods and Mystery on the Docks with the Los Angeles Opera. In November 2012, she made her New York stage debut to rave reviews in New York City Center’s Duke Ellington’s Cotton Club Parade . Olivier and Tony Award®-winning Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw ’s West End credits include co-director of The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Disney’s Aladdin which opens in London this summer and The Drowsy Chaperone . On Broadway, credits include The Book of Mormon , Disney’s Aladdin , Something Rotten! , Elf: The Musical , The Drowsy Chaperone , Monty Python’s Spamalot . Casey’s additional New York credits include the highly acclaimed City Center Encores! productions of Anyone Can Whistle , Follies , Bye Bye Birdie and Can-Can , plus directing and choreographing the world premieres of Minsky’s at Center Theater Group in Los Angeles and Robin and the 7 Hoods at the Old Globe, San Diego. In 2016, Casey is set to direct and choreograph Tuck Everlasting on Broadway. With book and lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger , the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls , directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards®. The original cast recording won two Grammy awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.’ In 2006 it was adapted into an Oscar winning motion picture starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx. Up Up

Back to News & Press Sign the petition to support British Theatre and Arts Wednesday 17 June 2020 We encourage you all to sign and share this petition to demonstrate the significance of the arts across Britain and to urge the government to help support the survival of our world-leading theatre and arts industry: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/320711 Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman: the theatre producer behind West End showstoppers from Harry Potter to Hamlet Tuesday 15 September 2015 Sonia Friedman is the production powerhouse behind dozens of West End shows, from Hamlet to Harry Potter. She tells Rosamund Urwin about tackling sexism on stage and remaining fearless. Read the full Evening Standard article here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Further tickets available for Farinelli and the King due to high demand Thursday 4 June 2015 Onstage seating for the West End transfer of Claire van Kampen’s critically-acclaimed new play Farinelli and the King, starring Mark Rylance, will be released to the general public on Friday 5th June at 10am. Additionally, further seats will be released for all performances, including accessibly priced £10 tickets located in all parts of the house. Farinelli and the King is directed by John Dove and designed by Jonathan Fensom with musical arrangements by Claire van Kampen. Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall, Jerusalem, Richard III, Twelfth Night) reprises his role as King Philippe V of Spain and Sam Crane will once again play the acting role of Farinelli. The singing role of Farinelli will be reprised by opera star Iestyn Davies and shared with Rupert Enticknap and Owen Willets*. The rest of the original cast will also transfer, with Huss Garbiya playing Doctor Jose Cervi, Melody Grove playing Isabella Farnese, Colin Hurley playing Metastasio and Edward Peel playing De la Cuadra. Theatregoers who choose the onstage seating, available at a range of prices including £10, will have an up-close and personal experience in the transformed Duke of York’s Theatre. The magical atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will be brought to the West End with scenes lit by candlelight and live Baroque music played by six onstage musicians, led by harpsichordist and Musical Director Robert Howarth. Jonathan Fensom, set and costume designer said: "We will be creating in the Duke of York's Theatre the atmospheric world of an early Baroque playhouse lit by the warm glow of candlelight. The intimate nature of the space will be enhanced by the onstage seating, situated on the left and right of the stage, positioned over two levels that also include seating in the musicians’ gallery, situated above the beautifully ornate Frons Scenae Screen. The audience will be a major part of the onstage picture." Set in eighteenth-century Spain, Claire van Kampen's new play tells the intriguing true story of Farinelli, once the world’s most famous castrato and one of the greatest celebrities of his time, and his decision to trade fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe for a life of servitude at the court of King Philippe V. Farinelli and the King explores the dynamics between Farinelli and the royal couple and features many of the exquisite arias by Handel, that were first sung by Farinelli in the 1730’s. The West End production will run from 14th September 2015 and play for a strictly limited season until 5th December 2015. Opening Night will be on Tuesday 29th September 2015. Farinelli and the King originally played at Shakespeare’s Globe and will be produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Shakespeare’s Globe. Please visit www.Farinellitheplay.com for full performance schedule. *Please see website for full performance schedule. Visit farinellitheplay.com to purchase tickets. Up Up