Full cast announced for Maria Friedman's High Society at the Old Vic

Updated 20th February: Maria Friedman has cast Kate Fleetwood in the Grace Kelly role of Tracy Lord saying in High Society, saying she wanted a "fantastic actress who can sing brilliantly" adding  that Lord's character is "fiercely intelligent, bright, modern, charismatic human being."  (She  recently appeared in the National Theatre's London Road  and will appear in Rufus Norris's film version).  Joining her will be Rupert Young (The White Queen, Merlin) as Tracy's ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven, Jamie Parker (Assassins) as reporter Mike Connor (the roles played by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra in the 1956 film)  Barbara Flynn is Tracy's mother Margaret Lord, Annabel Scholey is the photographer Liz Imbrie wih  Ellie Bamber as Tracy's sister Dinah.

Other cast members include   Richard Grieve (George Kittredge), Christopher Ravenscroft ( Seth Lord), Jeff Rawle (Uncle Willie), Ricky Butt (Mavis) plus ensemble members John Brannoch, Omari Douglas, Claire Doyle, Chris Ellis-Stanton, Leon Kay, Sammy Kelly, Zak Nemorin,  Katharine Pearson and Philippa Stefani.

The musical will be presented in the round, accompanied by a 12-piece band with jazz pianist Joe Stilgoe as Joe.

London's Old Vic is presenting Cole Porter's High Society from Wed 30th April – Sat 22nd August 2015. It  is being directed by multi-award-winning director and musical star Maria Friedman (Merrily We Roll Along, Olivier Award-winner for Best Musical Revival, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical).
  
High Society is based on The Philadelphia Story and the 1956 MGM film musical starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Featuring classic numbers including ‘True Love’, ‘You’re Sensational’ , ‘Well did you Evah!’ and  ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

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Maria Friedman & Adam Guettel in Concert & Conversation

As part of the London Festival of Cabaret Triple Oliver Award-winning actress and director Maria Friedman joins celebrated Tony Award-winning American composer/lyricist Adam Guettel for just two nights at the Ambassadors Theatre on 20th and 21st May.

They will be accompanied by a five piece band in this intimate show which includes previews of Adam's newest work and offers a fascinating insight, as they discuss their relationships including Adam's grandfather - the great Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim and other musical theatre legends.



Tickets for Maria Friedman & Adam Guettel

More Concerts Added to Maria Friedman at the Pheasantry

Updated 8th March:  Due to sold out week two new shows added on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th March

Following her very successful directorial debut of  Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory (soon to transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre) the award winning Maria Friedman sings Lenny & Steve at The Pheasantry on the King's Road from 5th-10th March

With Tony nominated musical director Jason Carr she explores the work of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, performing songs from West Side Story,  New York, New York; I Can Cook Too; Losing My Mind and Send In The Clowns.

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Maria Friedman becomes Patron of Stephen Sondheim Society

The very talented  Maria Friedman has been directing the critically acclaimed Merrily We Roll Along at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory where its run has just been extended until 9th March 2013.   

She has now agreed to become a Patron of The Stephen Sondheim Society, joining an illustrious line up of other Patrons including Stephen Sondheim, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Bernadette Peters, Julia Mackenzie, Millicent Martin, Stuart Pedlar and Barbara Cook. 

The Stephen Sondheim Society is a Charitable Trust with a principal aim is to promote the works of Stephen Sondheim in the UK and elsewhere.

Maria Friedman - Sondheim & Me at Chickenshed

Olivier award-winning West End star Maria Friedman is presenting an intimate evening of music and conversation entitled Sondheim & Me at the Chickenshed on 27th May at 7:30 pm.

Maria will be celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim, which she has performed on stages all over the world. She has appeared in a number of Sondheim musicals including  Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Follies, Merrily We Roll Along, A Little Night Music, Passion and Anyone Can Whistle.

Maria also performs her own one-off concerts and will be directing a production of Merrily We Roll Along which opens this November at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Tickets for Maria Friedman –Sondheim & Me

Maria Friedman spending an Evening with Marvin Hamlisch

You can spend an Evening with Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch at the Playhouse Theatre in London on October 9th.  His many credits include the musicals A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song and the score to The Way We Were.

An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch will be a celebration of his career when he will perform his most popular songs including music from The Way We Were, Nobody Does It Better from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me as well as songs from A Chorus Line.

Hamlisch will play and sing at a piano and will be joined on stage by West End performer Maria Friedman for some of the songs. He will also share anecdotes with the audience and take part in a question and answer session.

Hamlisch’s performance at the Playhouse will follow his appearance at the Royal Albert Hall on October 6th, where he will conduct the orchestra for Idina Menzel’s concert.

Book here for An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch

Maria Friedman Strictly Gershwin Concert at Royal Albert Hall

West End diva Maria Friedman is appearing in Strictly Gershwin at the Royal Albert Hall from Thursday 9th June - Sunday 19th June 2011.

The concert is homage to George Gershwin, the big band era and the razzmatazz of the thirties. His famous tunes have been adapted by Gareth Valentine with Derek Deane providing some sensational choreography conjuring up the Silver Screen genius of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Maria Friedman is the guest singer accompanied by pianist Jonathan Scott with dancers from the English National Ballet, Guillaume Côté and from the National Ballet of Canada, Tamara Rojo and Friedemann Vogel. Guest Tappers are Douglas Mills and Paul Robinson

Friedman will be performing Gershwin numbers including An American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue, Summertime, Strike up the Band, Someone to Watch over Me, 'S Wonderful. Shall We Dance and I Got Rhythm.

Tickets can be purchased at : www.royalalberthall.com


Maria is currently appearing in The Invisible Man at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Maria Friedman directing Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at Menier

Maria Friedman is going to direct Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory later this year.

  

The musical is also due for an airing at the Donmar Warehouse: as part of their Sondheim 80th Birthday Celebrations they are presenting a concert performance on  Sunday 7th November 2010 at 19:30.  The cast is yet to be announced.

  

As well as appearing in the Merrily We Roll Along in 1992 at the Leicester Haymarket, Maria Friedman is on the soundtrack from that production with Gareth Snook, Louise Gold and  Jacqueline Dankworth. More recently she directed the piece with students from the Central School.

Maria Friedman Sings Sondheim Concert

Maria Friedman Sings Sondheim at the Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square on Thursday 5th August and Friday 6th August at 19:30.

Maria Friedman Sings Sondheim features songs from Follies, Into The Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Passion, A Little Night Music and Road Show.

She will be accompanied by Jason Carr on the piano and James Potter on the cello.

Maria Friedman Signing New Album at Dress Circle on 10th April

Maria Friedman will be at Dress Circle in Monmouth Street  on Saturday, 10th April  at 13:00 to sign copies of her new album Maria Friedman - Celebrates The Great British Songbook.  This collection was first presented last February at London’s Shaw Theatre during Feinstein’s At The Shaw season.

You can also see Miss Friedman in concert later this year in  The Magical World of Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Barbican Hall on Sunday 14th March and at Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday Gala at the Cadogan Hall on Saturday 3rd April.

Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Gala Celebration

If you want a real treat get yourself a ticket for this special show being presented at the Cadogan Hall in London on Saturday 3rd April at 7.30pm.

The concert will feature vocalists Maria Friedman, Daniel Evans and Graham Bickley accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with David Firman as Musical Director.

They will present a great evening featuring the very best of Stephen Sondheim from his award-winning shows including Sweeney Todd, Follies and  Into the Woods including the classic songs Send in the Clowns, Losing My Mind, Agony and Being Alive.  There is also a brand new UK première which has been specially written for Sondheim’s 80th birthday!

For more information visit Musical Theatre News Concerts

Maria Friedman Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert

Maria Friedman and Daniel Evans perform show-stoppers from the legendary Broadway duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein at the Barbican Hall in London on Sunday 14th March. They will be accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra and Capital Voices.

Maria Friedman and Daniel Evans bring to life the colourful characters, fabulous storylines and timeless tunes from four of the greatest musicals of all time, Oklahoma! The King and I, South Pacific and Carousel.

The Magical World of Rodgers & Hammerstein programme  includes. Hello Young Lovers – The King and I, People Will Say We’re in Love – Oklahoma!, Some Enchanted Evening – South Pacific and If I Loved you and You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.