Damian Humbley, Jenna Russell and Mark Umbers will return to the Menier Chocolate Factory this winter to star in Maria Friedman’s forthcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along.
The London Bridge venue’s annual Christmas musical, which marks the directorial debut of triple Olivier Award-winning actress Friedman and plays from 16 November, is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart, and features iconic songs by the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim.
Umbers will lead the cast as Franklin Shepard, a talented composer who has abandoned his friends, family and Broadway songwriting career to become a producer of lucrative Hollywood films. Last seen at the venue in the critically acclaimed Sweet Charity, which went on to play a West End season, Umbers boasts theatre credits including recent hit The Browning Version and the National Theatre’s My Fair Lady, and has appeared on screen in The Scarlet Pimpernel, A Good Woman and Colour Me Kubrick.
Playing Shepard’s long-time friend and lyricist is Humbley, whose credits for the Menier include The Last Five Years and the UK tour of its acclaimed production of Little Shop Of Horrors. Russell, who will play Mary Flynn, is also a familiar face at the Menier following her Olivier Award-winning performance in Sunday In The Park With George. The actress’s other extensive credits include the Soho theatre’s current hit Soho Cinders, Season’s Greetings at the National Theatre, Guys And Dolls in the West End and The Three Sisters at the Royal Court.
Josefina Gabrielle, who received an Olivier Award nomination for her performance in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s Sweet Charity, joins the leading trio alongside Clare Foster (Crazy For You), former Phantom Glyn Kerslake (Road Show, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables) and Zizi Strallen, who is currently appearing in Rock Of Ages.
An equally acclaimed creative team joins Friedman with design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting by Tony Award-winner David Hersey, sound by Olivier Award nominee Gareth Owen and choreography by Tim Jackson.