From Playbill:

Little Night Music Revival Is Gearing Up for Broadway; Nunn to Direct

By Andrew Gans

Tony Award winner Trevor Nunn will direct a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music, according to a casting notice.

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in October with an opening some time in December. Dates are "tentative," according to the Equity casting notice.

Producers are David Babani for Chocolate Factory Productions; Andrew Fell; Frankel, Viertel, Baruch, Routh Group. No official announcement about the production has been made.

The production will also feature musical supervision by Carolyn Humphris, musical direction by Tom Murray and choreography by Lynne Page, the same team behind Nunn's London production of Night Music, which officially opened Dec. 3, 2008, following previews that began Nov. 22, 2008 at the Garrick Theatre. Prior to the West End, the production played Southwark's Menier Chocolate Factory Nov. 22, 2008-March 8, 2009, where it completely sold out.

The London cast is headed by Hannah Waddingham as Desiree, Maureen Lipman as Madame Armfeldt, Alexander Hanson as Fredrik, Kelly Price as Countess Charlotte Malcolm and Jessie Buckley as Anne Egerman.

The casting notice states that all roles are open for the Broadway staging.

A Little Night Music — featuring a score by Sondheim and a book by Wheeler — originally opened at Broadway's Shubert Theatre on Feb. 25, 1973, with a cast that included Glynis Johns as Desiree, Len Cariou as Fredrik and Hermione Gingold as Madame Armfeldt. The show, directed by Harold Prince, garnered five 1973 Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. The Sondheim score features the composer's best-known tune, "Send in the Clowns," as well as "Every Day a Little Death," "The Miller's Son" and "A Weekend in the Country."

A recent Roundabout Theatre Company gala concert reading of the musical, directed by Scott Ellis, featured Natasha Richardson (Desirée Armfeldt) as well as Victor Garber (Frederick Egerman), Christine Baranski (Countess Charlotte Malcolm), Jill Paice (Anne Egerman), Marc Kudisch (Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm), Vanessa Redgrave (Madame Armfeldt), Steven Pasquale (Henrik Egerman), Kendra Kassebaum (Petra), Alexandra Socha (Fredrika), Maija Lisa Currie (Mrs. Nordstrom), Steven Goldstein (Mr. Erlandson), Leena Chopra (Mrs. Segestrom), Julianne Borg (Mrs. Anderssen) and Philip Cokorinos (Mr. Lindquist).

Nunn's dozens of directing credits include Gone With the Wind, Cats, Chess, Starlight Express, Not About Nightingales and Les Miserables. He has been the artistic director of both the Royal Shakespeare Society and the Royal National Theatre.

It's about time we had a major revival of this musical. It's not widely performed in regional or community theater and so there are a lot of theatergoers that may have heard of it but probably have never seen it.

Trevor Nunn tends to be a little hit-or-miss as a director, so we'll see there, I guess.

Predictions for casting? I know I read recently that Angela Lansbury said she would like to add Mme Armfeldt to her resume. Lobbying, perhaps?

I saw an L.A. production with Judith Ivey and Victor Garber in the leads that was a glorious, completely lovely piece of theatre.

Wow! I'm so excited. And to think that after this year's trip my partner and I were thinking of skipping a year or so. With this revival and possibly the musical version of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" opening on Broadway next year...we may not be skipping after all!

Count me in the category of heard of it but haven't seen it. Can anyone give me a brief synopsis of what "A Little Night Music" is about? I know it's widely beloved but never really understood why. Of course, it is Sondheim, and I adore his work. This show opened the year I was born. Based on what you all know of the characters, who do you think should be cast in the various roles?

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Count me in the category of heard of it but haven't seen it. Can anyone give me a brief synopsis of what "A Little Night Music" is about? I know it's widely beloved but never really understood why. Of course, it is Sondheim, and I adore his work. This show opened the year I was born. Based on what you all know of the characters, who do you think should be cast in the various roles?

ALNM is basically about several couples meeting in a Swedish estate, some of whom were previous lovers, and the different paramours that ensue. Due to Sweden's location on the planet, in that time of summer it never gets permanently dark and much of the story takes place in the perpetual twilight, hence the title. Buy the cast recording on Amazon.com right now. I'm serious. You'll love it; it is worth the risk of a blind buy.

On a Broadway board I frequent some people are bemoaning Nunn's treatment of the show on the West End and are fearing it will be the same production. In any case I will gladly trek out to NY to see it, as I am in love with the cast recording. It is an absolutely gorgeous score.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rand0mDude,

Thanks for the synopsis. It sounds like a fun show and worth building a trip to NY around. If they import the London production, do you think the London cast will cross the pond, too? If not, who do you think best fits some of the roles?

"A Little Night Music" is the musicalization of Ingmar Bergman's classic romantic comedy "Smiles of a Summer Night" and as that lovely film would make my list of ten ten films of all time I would highly recommend renting it before seeing the musical.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

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Originally posted by YoungRestlessOne:
Thanks for the synopsis. It sounds like a fun show and worth building a trip to NY around. If they import the London production, do you think the London cast will cross the pond, too? If not, who do you think best fits some of the roles?

Pretty much no chance they'd bring the London cast, I'd think. It was not the sort of production, by reports, that was special because of its performances. And American investors will almost certainly think that this particular show needs some recognizable names to sell.

I thought the cast they put together for the reading sounded great. Unfortunately we lost Natasha Richardson. Desiree is a tough role to cast, I'd have to think about that some.

They might be a little to old to play Desiree, but I would love to see Barbara Streisand or Bernadette Peters return to the stage in that role. If one of those ladies was cast, Angela Lansbury would fit in perfectly as Madame Armfeldt.

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Originally posted by Royal Night:
They might be a little to old to play Desiree, but I would love to see Barbara Streisand or Bernadette Peters return to the stage in that role. If one of those ladies was cast, Angela Lansbury would fit in perfectly as Madame Armfeldt.

Desiree is middle aged so I could see Bernadette Peters playing her as she looks a lot younger than she is. The original actress Glynnis Johns was probably in her late 40s when she played the part. I saw Judith Ivey play it in L.A. and she would have been in her 50s. I think Judi Dench would have been in her early 60s when she played the part though she would have been playing ten years younger. The character is middle aged but not so old that it is unbelievable for her to have a 12 or 13 year old daughter.

Streisand would almost ruin the whole thing for me; anyway, she will never do a Broadway musical again. Too little money, too much work.

I would like to see Meryl Streep or Glenn Close but they both have bigger money options on the table at all times. I think Annette Bening would be well cast in the part if she could sing. Or even just sorta sing as Glynnis Johns and Judi Dench would never be considered great or even very good singers. It is the rare case of a musical where the lead role has the easiest singing to so.

I think Glenn Close is a tremendous actress. But after Sunset Blvd, I never, ever, want to hear her sing in a musical again.

I hope they go with a stage actress. Does Janet McTeer sing? Right age, right look, right gravitas.

After "Mary Stuart", I want to see her in everything.

This is from the casting notice:


Casting Director's note: "Please note the ages of the characters in this production."

Desiree Armfeldt: 35 – 40. An actress. Sophisticated, independent, intelligent, with a great sense of humor and warmth. Mezzo.

Looks like they're going age-specific.

I was about to add Christine Ebersole and Christine Baranski to a list of possibilities but they would not fit that age profile.

P.S. I saw Christine Baranski play Mrs. Lovett opposite Kelsey Grammar in "Sweeney Todd" and she was the finest of the many Mrs. Lovett's I have seen... and that includes Angela Lansbury whom I saw on video.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

Christine Ebersole could absolutely do the part; she looks terrific, and beyond that, she has the charm and the subtlety as an actress that "Desiree" calls for.

Angela Lansbury would be a PERFECT Madame Armfeldt, although it may be a bit much to hope for, with ehr coming off the heels of "Blithe Spirit"...even an 83-year-old with Ms. Lansbury's reservoir needs to pace herself.

just had to had my complete sorrow again regarding natasha richardson...she and her mom would have made an incredible duo in ALNM. Perhaps Ms. Redgrave could participate as a tribute to her daughter.

having seen the original, and others, the role of desiree requires an actress rather than a great singer.

off the top of my head: kate burton is approx. 53 years old...tonya pinkins is 48...cythnia nixon is 44. joanna gleason would do a marvelous charlotte.

Janet McTeer would be a great choice for Desiree.

After the benefit this past January, it was well known around town that Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave were both on board to do this production early next year on Broadway. Natasha's death is such a tremendous loss.

What about Kristin Chenoweth as Desiree? She is 40(almost 41), even though she doesn't look near that age. I know she has a lot on her plate, but I figure "Sit Down, Shut Up" is on the verge of cancellation and NBC hasn't picked up "Legally Mad" yet, so she might not be needed for it until the spring. I just want Chenoweth to return to the stage, because she is definitely one of the greatest living stage actresses!