Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD with Betty Buckley Opens Tonight at Charing Cross Theatre

As previously reported, Tony Award winner Betty Buckley will be playing the "Madwoman of Chaillot," the Countess Aurelia, in a London revival of Jerry Herman's Dear World at Charing Cross Theatre. The show has an opening date of tonight, February 4, running for eight weeks until March 30, 2013.

DEAR WORLD will be directed and choreographed by Tony-Nominated Gillian Lynne (CATS, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, PICKWICK, HOW NOW DOW JONES, ASPECTS OF LOVE, and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG).

Set design will be by Matt Kinley, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Mike Robertson, orchestrations by Sarah Travis and musical direction by Ian Townsend.

DEAR WORLD features book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It opened on Broadway in 1969 starring Angela Lansbury, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of the Countess Aurelia. The story is based on Jean Giraudoux's play THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT.

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for her performance as Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS. She received her second Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a musical for her performance as Hesione in TRIUMPH OF LOVE, and an Olivier Award nomination for her critically acclaimed interpretation of Norma Desmond in the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD, which she repeated on Broadway.

Her other Broadway credits include 1776, PIPPIN, SONG AND DANCE, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD and CARRIE. Off-Broadway credits include WHITE'S LIES, Lincoln Center's ELEGIES, the original NYSF production of EDWIN DROOD, THE EROS TRILOGY and JUNO SWANS.

Her newest CD, "Ah Men: The Boys of Broadway," was released on August 28.

For tickets and more information, call the box office on 0844-493-0650 or visit charingcrosstheatre.co.uk