A Little Night Music

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“Send in the Clowns” is Stephen Sondheim’s most famous and best loved song, but few know the story behind it.  In August, you’ll be able to revel in the musical that the song was originally written for – A Little Night Music.  A stellar cast has been assembled to share this exquisite piece of theatre with Christchurch audiences at The Piano from 24th-27th August 2022.

This exceptional company includes Ali Harper, Jonathan Densem, Amanda Atlas, John Bayne, Katie Atkins, Alex McHugh, Catherine Hay, Drew Noble, Blair McHugh, Tara Martin and Shannon Hurley.  They will be joined by well-known Wellington-based singer, the wonderful Jane Keller, and promising young Christchurch performers Maddie Glossop and Sophie Landis.  The cast is complemented by upcoming performers Scott Christie, Elizabeth Ellison, Emily Maunder, Sarah Clare Judd and Sonya Li-McHenry. 

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At the helm is Director Louise Glossop, producing her second musical for Enchanting Productions following the successful season of The Secret Garden in 2021.  Enchanting Productions is a chamber theatre company formed to bring beautiful musicals to Christchurch audiences who enjoy top quality theatre at a reasonable price.  It also provides a training ground for aspiring performers to work alongside and learn from their more experienced colleagues.

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The production’s Musical Director, Mark W. Dorrell, a friend and colleague of Stephen Sondheim, conducted the National Theatre’s production of A Little Night Music in 1995 which starred Dame Judi Dench.  He is thrilled to be working with such a wonderful company on this ravishingly beautiful score again - "whipped cream with knives" is how the original director, Hal Prince, once described it. 

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Stephen Sondheim, who died last year, was one of the world’s most influential musical theatre writers, and is known for his many award-winning musicals including West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods.  His insightful perceptions of the complexities of love, life and relationships are displayed in his always sophisticated, witty, and entertaining works.

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A Little Night Music opened on Broadway in 1973 winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score.

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The show is set in Sweden at the turn of the last century and has been hailed as “heady, civilised and enchanting” (Clive Barnes, The New York Times).  The story centres around the charismatic actress, Desirée Armfeldt, and the love that surrounds her.  Desirée (played by Christchurch’s much-loved singer and actor Ali Harper) brings us Sondheim’s most commercially successful Grammy Award-winning song "Send in the Clowns".