Maltby & Shire’s Take Flight Premieres at Menier????
Date: 8 March 2007
The past two summers at the Menier Chocolate Factory have seen UK premieres of US musicals – Jonathan Larson’s Tick Tick Boom! in 2005 and Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years last year. This summer, the Menier aims to go one further, with the world premiere of a new American musical. Richard Maltby Jr and David Shire’s Take Flight has been in development for several years but, subject to final transatlantic negotiations, will wing its way to London receive its premiere at the Southwark-based 150-seater, which is riding high after winning no fewer than five Olivier Awards for the West End transfer of its revival of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, now Broadway bound. Take Flight is inspired by the Wright Brothers and the history of flying. Maltby and Shire have previously collaborated on Big, Baby, Closer Than Ever and Starting Here, Starting Now, while individually Maltby provided lyrics for Miss Saigon, and conceived and directed Fosse and Ain’t Misbehavin’ on Broadway, and Shire has had award-winning success writing film scores. Ahead of the summer musical, the Menier plans to present a new play by Jonathan Lewis, whose Our Boys ran at the Donmar Warehouse in 1995.
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