Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) has announced additional casting and a production timeline for the upcoming mounting of the Stephen Sondheim revue “Old Friends.” The previously announced production will begin previews on March 25, 2025 and open on April 8 at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The revue, a transfer from London’s West End, is scheduled to play a limited engagement through June 1.
Newly announced cast members are Tony Award winner Beth Leavel, Tony nominee Gavin Lee, Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding, Olivier nominee Jason Pennycooke, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, David Harris, Bonnie Langford, Ryan McCartan, Jeremy Secomb, Maria Wirries, Daniel Yearwood, Kevin Earley, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez and Peter Neureuther.
Leavel won a Tony for her featured turn in 2006’s “The Drowsy Chaperone.” She received additional nominations for her leading performances in 2011’s “Baby It’s You!” and 2018’s “The Prom.”
Lee is a two-time Tony nominee for his leading turn in 2007’s “Mary Poppins” and his featured turn in 2017’s “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Langford, Pennycooke, Riding and Secomb are all alums of the West End mounting of “Old Friends.” The MTC transfer will mark the Broadway debut for all of them, with the exception of Langford, who appeared in the 1974 revival of “Gypsy,” and, more recently, the currently running revival of “Chicago.”
Forsberg appeared on Broadway in “Here Lies Love” and is currently featured as Jane Seymour in “SIX.”
“Old Friends” will mark Grant’s first Broadway musical credit since her turn as Sarah Brown in the 2009 revival of “Guys and Dolls.” Her most recent Main Stem appearance was the 2016 revival of “Noises Off.”
Harris has played the Duke of Monroth in “Moulin Rouge!” both on Broadway and on national tour.
A 2011 Jimmy Award winner, McCartan’s Broadway credits include “Frozen” and “Wicked.”
Wirries appeared in “Dear Evan Hansen” on the road and in New York City.
In 2023, Yearwood appeared in “Hamilton” as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and in “Sweeney Todd” as Anthony.
Earley’s credits include replacing in the original Broadway production of “Les Misérables,” as well as appearances in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “A Tale of Two Cities.”
Faure’s Broadway résumé includes a stint as the title role in “Cinderella,” in addition to tenures in “A Beautiful Noise,” “Company,” “Miss Saigon” and “Bullets Over Broadway.”
“Old Friends” will mark the Main Stem debut of both Lopez and Neureuther.
They all join the previously announced Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. One final performer will be announced. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
Co-directed by Matthew Bourne and Julia McKenzie and devised by Cameron Mackintosh, “Old Friends” features the work of and serves as a tribute to the legacy of Sondheim, who passed away in 2021. The production will feature choreography by Stephen Mear.
“I am thrilled that nearly half of our rapturously received London old friends are able to join our brilliant new American friends to bring this show to Broadway,” said Mackintosh in a statement. “It’s an added delight that I am reunited with Lynne Meadow and MTC, with whom Steve and I did our second revue, ‘Putting it Together.’ For all of us working on this show it is our love letter and thank you to Steve — a musical genius but also an old friend whose brilliant work and memory will last forever.”
Also newly revealed is the production’s creative team, which will include scenic designer Matt Kinley, projection designer George Reeve, costume designer Jill Parker, lighting designer Warren Letton and Tony-nominated sound designer Mick Potter. “Old Friends” will feature musical supervision by Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Brooker and musical arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe. Annbritt duChateau will conduct, while David Lober will serve as production stage manager.
Prior to its Broadway bow, “Old Friends” will be presented by Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group from Feb. 8 through March 9. 2025.
“Old Friends” is being produced by MTC, under the leadership of artistic director Meadow and executive director Chris Jennings, in association with Mackintosh and Daryl Roth.
