Award-winning musicals composer Stephen Schwarz has announced that his 1976 musical The Baker’s Wife is to get a new revival in London.
The show will play the Menier Chocolate Factory in South London this Summer 2024.
Schwarz announced the news at this evening’s Schwartz at 75 concert at the Lyric Theatre in London, celebrating the 75th birthday of the legendary composer of musicals including Wicked, Pippin and Godspell.
Performers at the birthday celebration included Rob Houchen, who organised the evening, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Louise Dearman, Adam Pearce, and even Schwarz himself.
The Baker’s Wife last played London off-West End at the Union Theatre in 2011. The original West End production, which only lasted just over two months in town, played the Phoenix Theatre in 1989 starring Alun Armstrong and Sharon Lee-Hill, directed by Trevor Nunn.
The show is yet to have a professional debut on Broadway, with the original 1976 US production starring Patti LuPone and Paul Sorvino never making it as far as New York.
The Baker’s Wife has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), based on the French novel “Jean-le-bleu” and the play “La Femme du Boulanger” by Jean Giono, and the classic French movie by Marcel Pagnol.
A host of songs from the show have become musical theatre standards including including Meadowlark, Chanson, Gifts of Love, Proud Lady and Where Is the Warmth?
During his incredible career Schwarz has also written lyrics for films including Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted; and picked up awards including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, four Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards.
There’s no current details on dates, casting or director or creative team for The Baker’s Wife.
Other new Stephen Schwarz projects in development for London include a new musical about Picasso with movie star Antonio Banderas, for Trafalgar Entertainment.
More about The Baker’s Wife Tickets at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London
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