Theater Round-Up: Sonia Friedman’s ‘Travesties,’ Jack Thorne’s ‘Kiri,’ and More!

Sonia Friedman Productions is hotter than a cat on a tin roof!

Leaky has been closely following the transfer of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Broadway, reporting on cast announcements and ticket information. We’ve also covered the exciting speculation that two of Friedman’s other productions, The Ferryman and Our Lady of Perpetual Succor, will eventually make the jump across the pond.

Now we can confirm that she is partnering with London’s Menier Chocolate Factory to bring Tom Stoppard’s award-winning Travesties to Broadway for the first time. Director Patrick Marber and actor Tom Hollander will return when the revival opens its limited run with previews on Mar. 29, 2018.

Playbill describes the play as follows:

“Set in 1917 Zurich, a British military official (Hollander) recalls serving in Zurich while James Joyce and Vladimir Lenin were also there. He imagines a meeting between the two men, which is performed in the style of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Cursed Child continues to have the magical equivalent of the Midas touch for those connected to it, as writer Jack Thorne’s new series, Kiri, began filming on Clifton Downs. The dark four-part drama delves into the investigation of the titular character’s horrific abduction and murder.

According to the Bristol Post, which scored the on-set first look, the official description says:

“As the investigation works towards the truth about Kiri’s tragic death, the secrets at the heart of two very different families – one white, one black – begin to bubble to the surface, challenging our assumptions and shedding new light on the case.”

It sounds like the story will be intense! Hopefully fans won’t be kept in suspense too long as more details and sneak peaks are released as productions continues.

And just as Cursed Child attracted scores of new theater-goers, The Stage suggested that Beyond the Score: Dvorak’s New World Symphony may do the same for concerts. The BBC Proms performance will marry acting with the live music to tell the history of the music and its composer.

Toby Jones, voice of the beloved house elf, Dobby, joined the cast of the production, which Chicago Symphony Orchestra creative director Gerald McBurney called “an adventure for everyone involved.” He elaborated:

“[It’s] a way of exploring together the strangeness, hidden dangers, depths and endlessly unexpected and delicious feelings of an art form none of us should ever take for granted. And what better place to do that than at the Proms?”

Indeed! These new collaborate efforts in the performing arts are sure to intrigue and excite new and old fans alike.

Finally, Cherelle Skeete, who played Rose Granger-Weasley during the original Cursed Child run, will be part of the ensemble cast featured in Villain: DeBlanks in London. The production will run for one night only–Sept. 3–to benefit TheatreMAD, which combats HIV and AIDS.

BroadwayWorld gives the following summary of the popular play:

“Villain: DeBlanks is the uproarious improvisational comedy where the cast says words you put in their mouths. The audience provides nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc. (the wilder, the better), and the actors provide the laughs-uncensored and unrehearsed-as they enact the story of Philip DeBlanks’ untimely demise. It’s ‘Clue’ meets adult ‘Mad Libs,’ and it’s never the same show twice.”

It looks to be an incredible play–and for a good cause!–easily landing it among the other not-to-be-missed productions above. Tickets are £25. Interested theater-goers may call 020 7734 4888 or visit brasseriezedel.com for tickets. Other information is available at villaindeblanks.com.