Henshall Stars in Legrand, Boublil & Schonberg's Marguerite

West End star Ruthie Henshall will appear as the French courtesan of the title in Marguerite, the new musical by Michel Legrand (Amour, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Pirate Queen), according to the London Daily Mail.

The new musical will be part of The Theatre Royal Haymarket's new season under the direction of Jonathan Kent. Also starring Julian Ovenden (Butley), Marguerite will open on May 6th, 2008.

Marguerite will feature music by the legendary Legrand, with a libretto by Boublil, Schonberg and Kent.  The romantic musical, based on Alexandre Dumas fils' La Dame aux Camellias, is reset to "Occupied Paris, early in World War II, (where) Marguerite is a famous courtesan who has taken up with Otto, a high-powered Nazi officer...When she meets Armand (Ovenden), a handsome pianist half her age, a dangerous romance ensues. He's in the French Resistance and their romantic interlude will put them in jeopardy," according to the article.  It will be produced in association with the Theatre Royal.

Henshall will lead a cast of 16 in the new musical, which is small-scaled when compared to other Boublil-Schonberg pieces.  Henshall is one of thr West End's most popular actresses. She has played leads in many London musicals, including Crazy For You, She Loves Me, Chicago and most recently, The Woman In White.  On Broadway, she has been seen in Putting It Together.

More casting will be announced.

Photo courtesy of The Daily Mail