The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced full casting details for its upcoming new musical Paradise Found, with an all-American cast taking to the London Bridge venue’s stage this May, joining the previously announced Mandy Patinkin.
Based on Joseph Roth’s novel The Tale Of The 1002nd Night, Paradise Found tells of the exploits of the Shah of Persia. In search of new adventures, the Shah heads to Vienna and quickly finds himself in love with the Empress of the Empire, much to her husband’s dismay. Plotting to trick the Shah, the jealous husband employs a local prostitute to take his wife’s place for a night of passion with the Shah.
Joining the Tony Award-winning actor Patinkin – who makes his London acting debut in the production – and other previously announced actors Kate Baldwin, Shuler Hensley and Judy Kaye, are fellow Broadway actors George Lee Andrews (The Phantom Of The Opera, A Little Night Music), Lacey Kohl, Herndon Lackey, Pamela Winslow Kashani, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Daniel Marcus, John McMartin (Grey Gardens, Into The Woods), Nancy Opel (Toxic Avenge, Urinetown), Jim Poulos and Martin van Treuren.
Paradise Found is directed by Harold Prince and the choreographer and director Susan Stroman. The respected pair have a wealth of experience between them with Prince the recipient of 21 Tony Awards for his work as a producer and director and Stroman a two-times Laurence Olivier Award winner for her work on Crazy For You and Oklahoma!
Paradise Found makes its world premiere on 26 May, with previews from 19 May, and runs until 26 June.
CM