James Dreyfuss joins West End cast of Candide

James Dreyfus will return to the role of Pangloss  to star in LMTO's concert staging of Candide directed by Shaun Kerrison at Cadogan Hall on Friday 21st July.
 

Dreyfus played the role in the Menier Chocolate Factory production in 2013 and  has theatre credits including The Producers, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Harvey.

With a score by legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, Candide tells the story of Candide, the bastard cousin of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tonck, who is expelled from home, dragged into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle, and separated time and again from his true love Cunegonde. She, too, bears a barrage of misfortunes including, sale into prostitution, forced marriage to an exorbitantly wealthy man, and slavery. Through it all, however, they try to hold onto the lessons of their dear master Dr. Pangloss: “Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”. The musical features the songs "Glitter and Be Gay", "We Are Women" and "Make Our Garden Grow".

Based on Voltaire's novel, this concert production of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical will feature a 34-piece orchestra conducted by Freddie Tapner.
 

He joins the previously announced Rob Houchen as Candide with Louise Gold (Blood Brothers), Michael Matus (The Phantom Of The Opera), Stewart Clarke (Easy Virtue) as Maximillian, Anna O'Byrne (The Phantom of the Opera) as Cunegonde and Jessica Duncan (Les Miserables) as Paquette.

Dreyfus said: "I am very excited to be joining the London Musical Theatre Orchestra for their evening at the Cadogan Hall, especially as it's to revisit Dr Pangloss in Candide. To be surrounded by such talented young singers and musicians is very comforting! Can't wait."

Tickets for Candide