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 Dreamgirls is officially good for the heart (and soul!) Thursday, 28 September 2017 American critic, Frank Rich, called the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls a ‘seismic emotional jolt that sends the audience, as one, right out of its wits’. 35 years later, that emotional jolt has now been proven by a team of research scientists, at a live performance of Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End. A new scientific study has found that Dreamgirls is as good for your heart as half an hour of cardio exercise. The research, conducted by University College London in association with Encore Tickets , monitored the heart rates, brain activity, and other physiological signals of 12 individuals at a live theatre performance of the Tony and Olivier-Award winning musical, and the results were incredible. During the performance, the heartrates of audience members spent an average of 28 minutes beating at an elevated range between 50% - 70% of their maximum heart rate. The British Heart Foundation identify this level of heartrate as the optimal heart rate to stimulate cardio fitness and stamina. So, although they were seated for the performance, audience members spent an average of 28 minutes engaged in healthy cardio exercise. Dr Joseph Devlin, Head of Experimental Psychology at University College London, says: “This demonstration paints quite a clear picture that attending a live performance has an impact on cardiovascular activity”. “By the end of the first act, heart rates nearly doubled from their resting state at the beginning, while in the second act, it tripled. You see comparable changes in heart rate in professional tennis players during burst of highly intense exertion such as long and fast rallies.[1]” Having witnessed night after night of standing ovations and overwhelming audience response, we always knew this incredibly joyous production was good for the heart – now we know it’s contributing to your health too! [1] Fernandez, J., Mendez‐Villanueva, A. & Pluim, BM. (2006) Intensity of tennis match play. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(5): 387–391. READ THE NEWS STORIES Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/going-to-the-theatre-is-as-good-for-your-heart-as-30-minutes-of-cardio-apparently-a3646496.html iNews https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/health/going-theatre-good-heart-half-hour-exercise/ The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4573211/musical-theatre-dreamgirls-exercise-study/ Mail Online http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4931666/A-decent-reason-hit-West-End-instead-gym.html The Stage https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/501127/ Deccan Chronicle http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/290917/watching-a-musical-as-good-as-a-30-minute-workout-study.html Up Up

Back to News & Press Asmeret Ghebremichael joins the company of Dreamgirls Thursday, 23 March 2017 Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce that Asmeret Ghebremichael has joined the company of Dreamgirls to perform the role of Lorrell Robinson. She began performances this week. Ghebremichael is best known for her performances in The Book of Mormon (West End and Broadway), Legally Blonde , Elf The Musical , Spamalot and Wicked (Broadway). She also appeared in the US television production The Wiz Live! . The critically acclaimed, hit UK premiere of Dreamgirls has been nominated for five Olivier Awards and stars American actress and singer Amber Riley as Effie White with Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav alternating the role of Effie, Liisi LaFontaine as Deena Jones and now Asmeret Ghebremichael as Lorrell Robinson making up the soulful singing trio ‘The Dreams’. Ghebremichael replaces Ibinabo Jack who has had to withdraw from the production due to health reasons. Joe Aaron Reid plays Curtis Taylor Jr, Adam J Bernard plays Jimmy Early, Tyrone Huntley plays C.C. White, Nicholas Bailey plays Marty and Lily Frazer plays Michelle Morris.The highly anticipated Original London Cast Recording of the new, hit West End musical Dreamgirls , will be released on Sony Masterworks Broadway mid-April and is available to pre-order now via Amazon. The cast of Dreamgirls also includes Michael Afemaré , Jocasta Almgill , Callum Aylott , Hugo Batista , Samara Casteallo , Chloe Chambers , Carly Mercedes Dyer , Joelle Dyson , Kimmy Edwards , Candace Furbert , Nathan Graham , Ashlee Irish , Ashley Luke Lloyd , Gabriel Mokake , Siân Nathaniel-James , Sean Parkins , Kirk Patterson , Ryan Reid , Rohan Richards , Noel Samuels , Durone Stokes and Tosh Wanogho-Maud . Full information on performance schedules can be found on the official website www.dreamgirlswestend.com/ticket-information Dreamgirls is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon , Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten! ), with Set Design by Tim Hatley , Costume Design by Gregg Barnes , Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone , Sound Design by Richard Brooker and Hair Design by Josh Marquette . The Musical Supervisor is Nick Finlow , the Orchestrator is Harold Wheeler , with Additional Material by Willie Reale . Swarovski is delighted to be the Set and Costume Design partner for Dreamgirls , bringing to life the incredible visions of Tim Hatley and Gregg Barnes . Over one million Swarovski crystals have been incorporated into the production, adorning 275 costumes and 3 crystal curtains. 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. Liisi LaFontaine, Asmeret Ghebremichael and Marisha Wallace are appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity. Up Up

Back to News & Press Initial casting and production team announced for the world premiere of Tom Stoppard's new play Leopoldstadt Thursday, 24 October 2019 The cast includes Sebastian Armesto, Jenna Augen, Rhys Bailey, Joe Coen, Mark Edel-Hunt, Clara Francis, Ilan Galkoff, Caroline Gruber, Sam Hoare, Natalie Law, Noof McEwan , Dorothea Myer-Bennett , Jake Neads , Aaron Neil , Alexander Newland , Yasmin Paige , Adrian Scarborough , Griffin Stevens , Ed Stoppard, Luke Thallon, Eleanor Wyld and Alexis Zegerman . The children’s cast, comprising three sets of five children, includes Toby Cohen, Zachary Cohen, Olivia Festinger, Tamar Laniado, Maya Larholm, Daniel Lawson, Louis Levy, Libby Lewis, Jack Meredith, Chloe Raphael, Beatrice Rapstone and Montague Rapstone . Further adult and children’s casting will be announced at a later date. Sonia Friedman said: “We are thrilled to announce initial casting for Leopoldstadt, the remarkable new play from one of the world’s greatest living playwrights. Our company of 41 actors will come together in Patrick Marber’s production, to tell Tom Stoppard’s powerful and humane story spanning several decades during one of the most turbulent periods in world history. Focussing on endurance, survival, assimilation and resilience, it is a privilege to be producing this potent and timely new work.” Set designs are by Richard Hudson , with costume designs by Brigitte Reiffenstuel , lighting by Neil Austin , sound and original music by Adam Cork , and movement by EJ Boyle . Casting is by Amy Ball CDG , with children’s casting by Verity Naughton . Up Up

Back to News & Press First production images released of Ivo van Hove’s All About Eve starring Gillian Anderson and Lily James Friday, 1 February 2019 Ahead of the first preview tomorrow, Saturday 2nd February, the first photography has been released. Shot by Jan Versweyveld , set and lighting designer of All About Eve , this is the first look at Emmy Award-winner Gillian Anderson as she returns to the stage alongside Lily James in the titular role. BAFTA Award-winner Monica Dolan will play Karen alongside Ian Drysdale as Max Fabian, Tsion Habte as Phoebe, Jessie Mei Li as Claudia Casswell, Julian Ovenden as Bill, Sheila Reid as Birdie, Rhashan Stone as Lloyd, Stanley Townsend as Addison DeWitt and Pianist Philip Voyzey . Merric Boyd , Fejiro Emasiobi , Charles Hagerty , Chanelle Modi , Stuart Nunn , Phillipa Peak , Grace Stone and Michael Warburton complete the Ensemble. Ivo van Hove ’s direction is accompanied by set and lighting design from Jan Versweyveld , costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winning recording artist PJ Harvey , alongside Tom Gibbons ’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG . Performances run from 2nd February at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre. “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…? Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show-business. Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world’s most innovative theatre directors, asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old. Throughout the run of All About Eve , over 20,000 tickets will be offered at £25 or under. Audiences can also access front row seats through the Today Tix Front Row Lottery at the same price. View the first production images here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Ghosts available on digital theatre from 18 September Tuesday, 19 August 2014 London, UK: DIGITAL THEATRE is delighted to announce its next title; Richard Eyre’s five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen’s Ghosts starring Olivier Award-winners LESLEY MANVILLE and JACK LOWDEN will be available to buy and watch online around the world from Thursday 18 September 2014. Continuing our mission to increase accessibility to the arts for everyone, Ghosts will also be available to rent or buy with the option of captioning provided by STAGETEXT. Robert Delamere, Co-Founder and Creative Director of DIGITAL THEATRE said: “Richard Eyre’s adaptation of Ghosts is an immensely powerful, affecting production with Lesley Manville giving one of the best central performances I have ever seen. I am thrilled to have worked closely with Sir Richard in translating the play from the stage to the screen, so that audiences around the world can experience this outstanding work of art and continue the dialogue around it on a global scale”. Helene Alving has spent her life suspended in an emotional void after the death of her cruel but outwardly charming husband. She is determined to escape the ghosts of her past by telling her son, Oswald, the truth about his father. But on his return from his life as a painter in France, Oswald reveals how he has already inherited the legacy of his father’s dissolute life. This acclaimed production sold out at the Almeida before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios where it played to packed houses, extending its original RUN due to popular demand. On 26 June, for one night only, Ghosts was screened in over 275 cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. LESLEY MANVILLE is a multi award-winning theatre, film and television actor. She was last on stage in Grief at the National Theatre, where she has previously been seen in Her Naked Skin, Pillars of the Community, The Alchemist and His Dark Materials. Other theatre credits include Six Degrees of Separation and All About My Mother at the Old Vic, Top Girls, Serious Money, The Pope’s Wedding and Three Sisters at the Royal Court and for the Royal Shakespeare Company she has been seen in The Wives’ Excuse, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and As You Like It. On screen, Lesley has regularly collaborated with Mike Leigh in films including Another Year, All or Nothing, Topsy-Turvy, Secrets and Lies and High Hopes. Her other film credits include The Christmas Candle, Molly Moon, Maleficent, Romeo and Juliet, Spike Island and A Christmas Carol. On television her credits include An Adventure in Space and Time, The Man Who Would Be Bond, Mayday, Cranford, North and South, Bodily Harm, Other Peoples' Children, Promoted To Glory, The Cazalets, David Copperfield, Painted Lady, The Bite, Holding On, Tears Before Bedtime, A Statement of Affairs, Top Girls, Grown-Ups and The Firm. RICHARD EYRE’s credits at the Almeida include The Dark Earth and the Light Sky, David Hare’s The Judas Kiss - his first production after leaving the National Theatre where he was Director from 1988-1997 - The Novice and Hedda Gabler. His more recent work as a director for the stage includes the award-winning production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible on Broadway, the world premieres of Nicholas Wright’s Vincent in Brixton and The Reporter both for the National Theatre, Noël Coward’s Private Lives on Broadway and the musical Mary Poppins. Most recently he directed Stephen Ward The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, Quartermaine’s Terms at the Wyndham’s Theatre and The Pajama Game for Chichester Festival Theatre, currently playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre. For television his credits include Changing Stages - a BBC series on the history of theatre in the 20th century, which he co-wrote with Nicholas Wright and presented. Eyre directed the BAFTA award-winning Tumbledown for the BBC and directed the critically-acclaimed Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 for the BBC’s 2012 Shakespeare Season. His film credits include Iris, Stage Beauty, Notes on a Scandal and The Other Man. Ghosts was produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and the Almeida Theatre with Rupert Gavin, Tanya Link Productions and JFL Theatricals/GHF Productions in association with 1001 Nights. For more information, and to register your interest in Ghosts visit http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/henrik-ibsen-ghosts Up Up

Back to News & Press The Ferryman transfers to the West End Wednesday, 8 February 2017 After the short run at the Royal Court Theatre sold out in just one day, the producers are delighted to announce that Jez Butterworth ’s epic, new play The Ferryman will transfer to the West End. Multi award-winning actor, director and writer Paddy Considine will be joined by Laura Donnelly and Genevieve O’Reilly in the production directed by Sam Mendes . The cast will also include Bríd Brennan , Turlough Convery , Fra Fee , Tom Glynn-Carney , Stuart Graham , Gerard Horan , Carla Langley , Des McAleer , Conor MacNeill , Rob Malone , Dearbhla Molloy , Eugene O’Hare and Niall Wright with further casting to be announced. The full company comprises 38 performers: 18 main adults, 7 covers, 12 children on rota and 1 baby. Rural Derry, 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 will run at the Gielgud Theatre for 16 weeks from 20 June – 7 October with an opening night on 29 June. Tickets go on sale to priority bookers on Wednesday 8 February and the Box Office opens for general on-sale on Friday 10 February at 9am. Developed by Sonia Friedman Productions , the premiere of The Ferryman is co-produced with Neal Street Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions . The West End production will follow the run at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs which begins 24 April 2017, with an opening night on 3 May. Jez Butterworth , whose plays include Jerusalem , Mojo and The River , previously collaborated with Sam Mendes on the scripts for Spectre and Skyfall from the Bond franchise. The Ferryman will be the sixth of Butterworth’s plays to be premiered at the Royal Court Theatre and marks his fourth collaboration with Sonia Friedman Productions. Sonia Friedman , on behalf of Sonia Friedman Productions , Neal Street Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions said: "We are delighted that we have made it possible to transfer Jez Butterworth's new play The Ferryman, which will move to the Gielgud Theatre almost immediately after its run at the Royal Court Theatre finishes. When it first went on sale at the Court, it sold out in record time. It became clear to us even then that there was a far larger demand to see the play than the Court run could ever accommodate. We have therefore worked at speed to find the production another home as quickly as possible, which is no mean feat, and we are very grateful to the company for helping us make this happen. It is thrilling to know that wider audiences will now have a chance to see this extraordinary new work from one of our most important writers. The scope, scale and ambition of Jez’s new play deserves this opportunity and I am delighted that together with Royal Court Theatre Productions and Neal Street Productions we are in the privileged position to make it happen. ” The Ferryman is directed by Sam Mendes , designed by Rob Howell , with lighting by Peter Mumford , and music and sound by Nick Powell . Up Up

Back to News & Press The Inheritance, The Jungle and Summer and Smoke nominated in the WhatsOnStage Awards Wednesday, 5 December 2018 The Inheritance is the most nominated play of 2018, with 7 nominations – Best New Play, Best Direction (Stephen Daldry ), Best Actor in a Play (Kyle Soller ), Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Andrew Burnap ), Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Paul Hilton ), Best Supporting Actress in a Play (Vanessa Redgrave ) and Best Show Poster. The Jungle is also nominated in the Best New Play category, as well as Best Set Design (Mirium Buether ) and Best Show Poster. Summer and Smoke is up for Best Play Revival and Best Actress in a Play (Patsy Ferran ). Both The Inheritance and Summer and Smoke must end their strictly limited runs in the West End on 19th January. Audiences can now see The Jungle at St Ann's Warehouse in New York, where it began previews last night. Up Up

Back to News & Press The Haunting of Hill House thrills critics in Liverpool Tuesday, 15 December 2015 ★★★★ "An undoubtedly enjoyable evening." The Guardian ★★★★★ "Intelligent, sophisticated horror – and electrifyingly scary." Merseysider Magazine ★★★★★ "A modern horror masterpiece." Low Down Magazine ★★★★★ "Hard to beat!" Downstage Centre ★★★★★ "Great storytelling and technical genius bring a classic psychological thriller to the stage with tremendous flair." Good News Liverpool ★★★★ "A genuinely chilling watch." WhatsOnStage.com ★★★★ "Hill House is a Gothic beauty." Liverpool ECHO ★★★★ "The perfect night out." Wirral Globe No-one ever visits Hill House, especially not after dark. When three strangers are invited to join the mysterious Dr Montague at the eerie house on the hill, not even their darkest dreams could have prepared them for what awaits. As their stay unfolds, they are plagued by a series of inexplicable events that propel them to the very edge of their existence. A terrifying psychological thriller that plays with our perceptions of reality, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House became one of the greatest horror films ever made (The Haunting, 1963) and her work influenced writers such as Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. This Christmas watch as Hill House stirs into life on stage, in a new adaption by Anthony Neilson (The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Realism and The Night Before Christmas) and directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Melly Still (Coram Boy). Up Up

Back to Productions FUNNY GIRL – UK TOUR This tour opened at Manchester Palace on 20th February and closed at Southend Cliffs Pavilion on 19th August 2017. ★★★★★ Don’t believe this five-star hype? Go see for yourselves… if you can get in. The Telegraph ★★★★★ Michael Mayer’s exhilarating embrace of a production. The Independent The 5-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. Funny Girl brought global fame to Barbra Streisand 50 years ago and boasts some of the most iconic songs in film and theatre history, including ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’. This ‘iconic, legendary, laugh-out-loud ’ (The Times ) musical tells the story of Fanny Brice, whose vocal talents and comedic ability see her rise from Brooklyn music hall singer to Broadway star. Funny Girl is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions , Scott Landis Productions , Chocolate Factory Productions , Dante Di Loreto and Michael Harrison . ★★★★ Triumphantly reinvents Funny Girl for a new generation. Evening Standard CAST SHERIDAN SMITH NATASHA J. BARNES DARIUS CAMPBELL NIGEL BARBER ZOE ANN BROWN MARTIN CALLAGHAN JENNIFER HARDING RACHEL IZEN JOSHUA LAY MYRA SANDS RHIANNE ALLEYNE KIT BENJAMIN LLOYD DAVIES FLORA DAWSON JOSEPH DOCKREE ABIGAYLE HONEYWILL BRONTE LAVINE DAVID MCINTOSH PETER NASH GILLIAN PARKHOUSE TOM PARTRIDGE ALEXANDREA WAIT-ROBERTS SAM WINGFIELD ALEXANDREA WRIGHT CREATIVES BOB MERRILL – Lyrics ISOBEL LENNART – Book HARVEY FIERNSTEIN – Revised Book MICHAEL MAYER – Director LYNNE PAGE – Choreography MICHAEL PAVELKA – Set Designer MATTHEW WRIGHT – Costume Designer MARK HENDERSON – Lighting Designer RICHARD BROOKER – Sound Designer JULE STYNE – Music ALAN WILLIAMS – Musical Supervisor and Arrangements CHRIS WALKER – Orchestrations THEO JAMIESON – Musical Director CAMPBELL YOUNG ASSOCIATES – Wigs, Hair and Make-Up

Back to News & Press Twelfth Night & Richard III extends its run through February 16, 2014 Wednesday, 4 December 2013 The all-male Shakespeare’s Globe repertory productions of William Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT and RICHARD III, which have broken the box office record at the Belasco Theatre and earned across the board ecstatic critical praise, will be extended by popular demand for an additional two weeks. The productions, which are directed by Tim Carroll and designed by Jenny Tiramani, with music by Claire van Kampen, will play through February 16, 2014 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street). For a schedule of performances and more information, please visit www.shakespearebroadway.com . Up Up

Back to Productions IN CELEBRATION This production began performances on 5th July and closed on 15th September 2007. A piece of serious theatre about issues that matter? A welcome sight in the West End. Financial Times David Storey 's modern classic took audiences by storm at the Royal Court in the 1960s and established him as one of the country's most powerful playwrights. Three brothers - Andrew, Colin and Steven - return home to the northern roots of their childhood for a family reunion. Although they have returned to celebrate, the explosive complexities of family life and long-held grievances are unlikely to improve the chances of a decent party. Compelling and emotionally thrilling, In Celebration is an exploration of family love and of how the consequences of best intentions can threaten to destroy treasured hopes and dreams. The acting is excellent in this moving piece of compelling drama Mail on Sunday In Celebration received its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in 1969 and subsequently Lindsay Anderson directed a film version with a cast including Alan Bates , James Bolam , Constance Chapman , Brian Cox , Gabrielle Dray and Bill Owen . A fine play, richly satisfying. The Guardian CAST ORLANDO BLOOM – Steven TIM HEALY – Mr Shaw LYNDA BARON – Mrs Burnett DEARBHLA MOLLOY – Mrs Shaw PAUL HILTON – Andrew GARETH FARR – Colin CIARAN MCINTYRE – Reardon CREATIVES DAVID STOREY – Playwright ANNA MACKMIN – Director LEZ BROTHERSTON – Designer MARK HENDERSON – Lighting STEPHEN WARBECK – Music JOHN LEONARD – Sound SCARLETT MACKMIN – Choreographer