Menier Chocolate Factory's 'THE LIFE OF THE PARTY' Andrew Lippa Tribute Begins Tonight

Performances begin tonight for The Life of the Party - A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa, a spectacular evening with one of Broadway's most exciting composers and lyricists with David Babani, Artistic Director of the Chocolate Factory, directing alongside an Olivier Award winning creative team. Lynne Page - Choreography, Gareth Owen - Sound Design, Tim Lutkin - Lighting Design and Morgan Large - Set and Costume Design.

Accompanied by Caroline O'Connor, Damian Humbley and Summer Strallen, Andrew Lippa hosts a unique concert performance of his songs from some of his most successful shows including John & Jen, The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish and his brand-new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk. Expect some surprises as Andrew and the cast explore these stories and characters, sharing their journeys in this funny, poignant and joyous musical celebration.

David Babani's previous credits include Maria Friedman Re-Arranged, Menier Chocolate Factory and Trafalgar Studios (Olivier nomination); Orchestral concerts with Andrew Lippa, Jason Robert Brown and Maltby & Shire; Simply Barbra, Jermyn Street, Playhouse Theatre and international tour; and Fully Committed, Menier Chocolate Factory and Arts Theatre.

Sound Design is by Gareth Owen, following immediately from his success at the 2014 Olivier awards where he won Best Sound Design for the Chocolate Factory production of Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre. His most recent West End credits include I Can't Sing, Palladium; Top Hat, Aldwych. For the Chocolate Factory: Candide, Pippin, Road Show, Aspects of Love, Sweet Charity, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Little Shop of Horrors, The Last Five Years, Tick, Tick.. Boom!

Lighting Design is by Tim Lutkin, who won the 2014 Olivier award for Best Lighting Design for Chimerica. Recent credits include Strangers On A Train, Gielgud; Candide and All's Well That Ends Well, RSC; The Full Monty, Noël Coward and UK Tour.

Lynne Page returns to the Chocolate Factory to choreograph, following successes including Tony award winning shows La Cage aux Folles and A Little Night Music, the Olivier nominated Little Shop of Horrors and Aspects of Love. Recent credits include American Psycho, Almeida; Oh! What A Lovely War!, Theatre Royal Stratford East; Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre and Company, Sheffield Theatres.

Previously announced, Set and Costume Design is by Morgan Large. Recent credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , Novello and Othello, Sheffield Theatres. Morgan designed the Olivier Awards from 2006 to 2013.

Orchestrations are by Will van Dyke and Musical Direction is by Andy Massey.

Born in Leeds, Andrew Lippa's Broadway credits include Big Fish, The Addams Family and the score for The Farnsworth Invention (written by Aaron Sorkin). He also contributed three new songs and all new arrangements for the 1999 production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. In 2000 his musical The Wild Party (Manhattan Theater Club) won the Outer Critics Circle award for best Off-Broadway musical and the 2000 Drama Desk Award for best music. In addition he wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book with Tom Greenwald for John & Jen (The Lambs Theater) and wrote the music for A Little Princess (Theaterworks, Palo Alto). His oratorio I Am Harvey Milk was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the recording, released in October 2013, reaching number two on the iTunes Classical Chart. I Am Harvey Milk will be seen at LA's Disney Hall in July and in NYC later this year. Andrew has also been musical director for Kristin Chenoweth since 1999, playing and conducting her sold-out shows in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and London.

DETAILS:

The Life of the Party - A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa

Venue: Menier Chocolate Factory

Address: 53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU

Dates: Today, 27th May - 14th June

Press Night: Friday 30th May, 8pm

Times: Tue - Sat 8pm, matinees Sat and Sun 3.30pm

Ticket Prices:

Until 27th May: standard £27.50 / premier seats £35 / meal deals* £35.50

28th May onwards: standard £29.50 / premier seats £35 / meal deals* £37.50

*A meal deal ticket includes a 2-course meal from the pre-theatre menu in the Menier Restaurant as well as the theatre ticket.

Concessions & Groups 8+ £25 - call Box Office for booking & full information

Telephone booking: 020 7378 1713 (£2 transaction fee per booking)

Opening: 09:00 - 22:00 Mon - Fri, 10:00 - 22:00 Sat, 12:00 - 18:00 Sun

Website: www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1 transaction fee per booking)

Restaurant: 020 7407 4411

Transport: London Bridge Tube, Borough High Street exit, RV1 and 381 buses

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