Theatre News

Damian Humbley and Summer Strallen star in Andrew Lippa celebration at Menier from May

”The Life of the Party – A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa” will be hosted by the man himself and also stars Caroline O’Connor

Summer Strallen
Summer Strallen
© Dan Wooller

The Menier Chocolate Factory will host a celebration of the works of Andrew Lippa from 30 May to 14 June 2014 (previews from 27 May) with musical theatre stars Caroline O'Connor, Damian Humbley and Summer Strallen.

The Life of the Party – A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa will be hosted by the composer, whose shows include The Wild Party, The Addams Family and recent Broadway show Big Fish.

It promises a "funny, poignant and joyous musical celebration" of Lippa's work, and will also include numbers from his new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk.

Caroline O'Connor has stage credits including A Christmas Story (Broadway), Gypsy (Leicester Curve) and The Showgirl Within (Garrick Theatre). Damian Humbley was last seen at the Chocolate Factory in Maria Friedman's Merrily We Roll Along, and has other credits including Putting It Together (St James), Dickens Abridged (Arts) and Company (Sheffield Theatres).

Summer Strallen has appeared in the West End in Top Hat, Love Never Dies, The Sound of Music and The Drowsy Chaperone. She has most recently been touring the UK with Anton Du Beke in Ballroom to Broadway.

Tickets for the show, which is designed by Morgan Large, go onsale on Monday 14 April.