STAGE TUBE: MERRILY Prepares For West End Transfer!

The full cast is announced today as rehearsals begin for the West End transfer of the stunning Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Sondheim/ Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along. Directed by triple Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman, previews begin at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Tuesday 23rd April.

Set over three decades in the entertainment business Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between three friends Franklin, Charley and Mary. Starting in 1980 and travelling backwards in time, this powerful and moving story features some of Sondheim's most beautiful songs including Good Thing Going, Not a Day Goes By and Old Friends.

Mark Umbers, Jenna Russell and Damian Humbley all reprise their roles as Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn and Charley Kringas respectively. Mark Umbers has appeared in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sweet Charity, My Fair Lady, The Browning Version and the BBC's The Scarlet Pimpernel. Jenna Russell won an Olivier Award and a Tony nomination for her role as Dot in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sunday in the Park with George; other notable credits include Guys and Dolls, Soho Cinders, Into the Woods and Season's Greetings. Damian Humbley starred in Lend Me A Tenor - the Musical, The Woman in White and the Chocolate Factory's production of The Last Five Years.

The production co-stars Josefina Gabrielle (Olivier Award-nominated for Sweet Charity) as Gussie Carnegie, Clare Foster (Crazy for You, Regent's Park/West End) as Beth and Glyn Kerslake (Road Show, Chocolate Factory) as Joe Josephson.

The ensemble features Matthew Barrow, Martin Callaghan, Bob Harms, Julie Jupp, ElAna Martin, Amanda Minihan, Kirk Patterson, Amy Ellen Richardson, Ashley Robinson, Robbie Scotcher, Zizi Strallen and Joanna Woodward. Noah Miller, Tommy Rodger and Joseph West alternate the role of Frank Jnr.

Orchestrations are by long-time Sondheim collaborator Jonathan Tunick, one of just 11 people to have won all four major American show business awards: Tony, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy. Musical supervision and direction is by Catherine Jayes, who was musical supervisor and director for the Chocolate Factory's production of Sondheim's Road Show.

Design is by award-winning Soutra Gilmour, whose work includes the Chocolate Factory's recent production of Torch Song Trilogy. Lighting designer David Hersey designed the original Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along and sound designer Gareth Owen was nominated for the Tony and Olivier for End of the Rainbow and the Tony for the Chocolate Factory's A Little Night Music. Choreography is by Tim Jackson, who choreographed La Perichole for Garsington Opera, Parade (Southwark Playhouse) and Saturday Night (Arts Theatre). Hair & wig design is by Richard Mawbey.

For this production audiences will be able to take advantage of the Menier Chocolate Factory's dynamic pricing policy with 100 seats* at £25.00 in the stalls and dress circle on sale for every performance until Saturday 1 June.

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