Friedman to Lead Cast of UK's Annual CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK Celebration

Multi-award-winning leading lady Maria Friedman returns to the West End for one night only to headline this year’s instalment of Christmas in New York, the annual celebration of classic carols and seasonal show-stoppers, at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday 7 December 2008, alongside Avenue Q’s Julie Atherton, Wicked’s Oliver Tompsett and Ashleigh Gray, Spamalot’s Michael Xavier and a full supporting cast including Adrian Hansel, Zoe Rainey, Richard Reynard and Lorna Want.

Evoking a magical time of year in a much loved city and now in its third successful year, Christmas in New York is a multi-layered chocolate box of musical moments. Comprising contemporary interpretations of well known seasonal songs and brand new compositions by both British and American musical theatre composers, this unique confection offers a veritable variety of flavours infused with creative invention and reinterpretation at every turn.

In the spirit of fostering young talent, Christmas in New York will feature a brand new title song this year, which Notes from New York has commissioned from the burgeoning composer Michael Bruce, who won last year’s Notes for the Stage composition competition, run in conjunction with the entertainment industry’s weekly newspaper, The Stage. Bruce will also orchestrate and arrange other material for the show, which will feature a glorious string octet.

Perhaps best known for starring in the London productions of major American musicals including Chicago, Lady in the Dark, Passion, Ragtime and Sunday in the Park with George, Maria Friedman returns to the West End following her acclaimed solo season at the Menier Chocolate Factory earlier this year. Her other theatre credits include The Witches of Eastwick in the West End and The Woman in White in the West End and on Broadway. She has also won three Olivier Awards.

Julie Atherton, an Associate Artist of the Notes from New York series, recently headlined its gala staging of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years at London’s prestigious Theatre Royal Haymarket. She will next return to Avenue Q for the show’s final few months in the roles of both Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut, which she originated for the London run.

Oliver Tompsett and Ashleigh Gray, both currently in the West End production of the hit musical Wicked, are stalwarts of the Notes from New York series and return to Christmas in New York due to popular demand, whilst Michael Xavier, currently in Spamalot, joins the cast as a newcomer to the show and the series. Adrian Hansel and Zoe Rainey are both in the West End cast of Hairspray, whilst Richard Reynard is starring in Blood Brothers and Lorna Want is currently playing Gabriella in the UK tour of Disney’s High School Musical.

Notes from New York started life in 2003. Its purpose is to present the work of contemporary musical theatre composers in the West End. Initially focusing on the work of US composers, it has more recently explored avenues closer to home. Following five presentations of material from the other side of the pond, the company presented Not(es) from New York, featuring the music of British composers Charles Miller and Grant Olding and created a unique seasonal show entitled Christmas in New York, which received its world premiere in December 2006 and was revived in December 2007. Earlier this year it presented Notes in Heels featuring the work of a selection of female composers from New York. It recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with a gala staging of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years and now presents the third instalment of Christmas in New York.