Finborough Theatre Presents ME AND JUILIET, 10/5

Snapdragon and Benn Cody in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's ME AND JULIET.  Presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of R & H THEATRICALS OF NEW YORK. Directed by Thom Southerland. Musical Direction by Joseph Atkins. Choreography by Sally Brooks. Designed by Alex Marker. Lighting by Howard Hudson.Presented by Snapdragon and Benn Cody in association with Neil McPherson at the Finborough Theatre.

Cast includes: Adam Anderson. John Addison. Gemma Atkins. Terry Doe. Daniella Gibb. Robert Hands. Reeda Harris. Dafydd Gwyn Howells. Jodie Jacobs. Peter Kenworthy. Laura Main. BrenDan Matthews. Stephen McGlynn. Tom O' Brien. Olivia O'Shea. Anthony Wise.

Following the huge success of Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair at both the Finborough Theatre and in the West End, Me and Juliet is the second UK premiere of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to be directed by acclaimed young music theatre director Thom Southerland, running for a limited four week season from Tuesday, 5 October 2010 (Press Night: Thursday, 7 October 2010 at 7.30pm) at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre.

A love story, a comedy, a show within a show, and a tongue in cheek satire of 'showbusiness', Me and Juliet is Rodgers and Hammerstein's valentine to the Theatre. When singer Jeanie and stage manager Larry are secretly married, they arouse the suspicion and jealousy of lighting technician and ex-boyfriend Bob. It's chaos on stage, and unbridled passion back stage, but the show must go on... Remembered by Broadway aficionados for its infectiously catchy score including the timeless classic No Other Love , as well as for Rodgers and Hammerstein's groundbreaking innovations in reinventing musical theatre, Me and Juliet ran for a year on Broadway in 1953, and this production will be its long overdue European premiere, and also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of Oscar Hammerstein II.

Director Thom Southerland is one of the leading young directors of music theatre in Britain. Prior to the Finborough production and West End transfer of State Fair, he directed revivals of Calamity Jane and Call Me Madam (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), The Full Monty (New Players Theatre), Dick Whittington (Cochrane Theatre) and Hobson's Choice and Singin' in the Rain (Broadway Studio). Other productions include - as Resident Director of the Union Theatre - the European premiere of I Sing!, Divorce Me Darling!, Annie Get Your Gun (Time Out Critics' Choice), The Pajama Game (Time Out and Evening Standard Critics' Choice) and all-male productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore and The Mikado; and - as Resident Director at the Catford Broadway Theatre, Bent by Martin Sherman, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, The UK Premiere of The Diary of Anne Frank, Rent and Mack and Mabel. He has also assisted John Doyle on Man of La Mancha (BAC), Sweeney Todd and Mack and Mabel (National Tour and West End). Composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) was one of America's most prolific composers. Best known for his partnerships with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II, he composed forty Broadway scores. He was one of only two people to win an Oscar, Grammy, an Emmy a Tony Award and the coveted Pulitzer Prize award. His collaboration with Hart produced shows such as Dearest Enemy, A Connecticut Yankee, On Your Toes, Babes in Arms, Pal Joey and By Jupiter . Their songs included hits like My Funny Valentine, The Lady is a Tramp, Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered and Blue Moon. Rodgers began his collaboration with Hammerstein in 1943, the same year as Hart's death, and composed the hit show Oklahoma! together, beginning arguably the most successful writing partnership in musical theatre history.

Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) won eight Tony Awards and two Academy AwardsÒ for his writing, and was also a celebrated producer and director of musicals for almost forty years.  His credits include Always You with music by Otto Harbach; the masterpiece of American musical theatre Show Boat with Jerome Kern; and Book and Lyrics for Carmen Jones, an adaptation of Bizet's Carmen for an all-black cast.

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