Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman, as previously reported, will direct A Journey to the Past—a celebration of the work of Tony-winning musical theatre writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty—June 6 at London's Lyric Theatre.
Friedman will also perform, singing "Back to Before" from her Olivier-winning turn as Mother in Ahrens and Flaherty's Ragtime. She will be joined by the newly announced Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella), Rob Houchen (Les Misérables), Cedric Neal (Back to the Future), Lucy St. Louis (The Phantom of the Opera), Olivier nominee Summer Strallen (Young Frankenstein), Georgia Anderson (Hairspray), Jordan Cunningham (Heathers), Jemal Felix (The Phantom of the Opera), Teddy Hinde (Anyone Can Whistle), Claudia Kariuki (Six), Nardia Ruth (The Prince of Egypt), Hana Stewart (Six), and Rodney Vubya (Cinderella).
The creative team also includes choreographer Nathan M. Wright, musical supervisor Simon Lee, musical director Michael Bradley, and set and lighting designer Andrew Exeter with casting by Leon Kay Casting.
Ahrens and Flaherty won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Ragtime and were nominated for Academy and Golden Globes Awards for the animated feature film Anastasia, which features the hit "Journey to the Past" and was subsequently adapted for Broadway. Among their other works are the Olivier-winning Once On This Island (also the recipient of the 2018 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical), Seussical, Rocky, My Favorite Year, Dessa Rose, A Man of No Importance, The Glorious Ones, Lucky Stiff, Knoxville, and the upcoming Little Dancer.
Ahrens said in an earlier statement, “After two long years of uncertainty, what a wonderful way to celebrate the return to theatre. I’m honored to have my work back on the boards in London!” Flaherty added, “I can’t wait to have our music and lyrics back on the West End in the historic Lyric Theatre, under the direction of our Ragtime leading lady and friend, Maria Friedman. What an evening it’s going to be!”
Friedman will also be represented Off-Broadway later this year when she directs New York Theatre Workshop's revival of Merrily We Roll Along, starring Daniel Radcliffe. She will also direct the forthcoming London concert of The Witches of Eastwick.
Click here for tickets to the Ahrens and Flaherty celebration.
