'Gifts of Love': London The Baker's Wife Revival, Starring Lucie Jones, Clive Rowe, Opens July 17

The Menier Chocolate Factory's summer revival of The Baker's Wife, the Stephen Schwartz and Joseph Stein musical that famously closed before opening on Broadway and spawned the musical theatre classic "Meadowlark," officially opens July 17 following previews that began July 6.

Gordon Greenberg, recently represented on Broadway with The Heart of Rock and Roll, directs the production, which is scheduled to continue through September 14.

The cast is led by Lucie Jones (Wicked) as Genevieve, Olivier nominee Clive Rowe (Sister Act) as the Baker, Bobbie Chambers as Niece, Mark Extance as The Teacher, Josefina Gabrielle as Denise, Jack Gardner as Philippe, Hana Ichijo as Niece, Michael Matus as the Marquis, Robyn Rose as Niece, David Seadon-Young as Antoine, Matthew Seadon-Young as Priest, Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Dominique, Sutara Gayle as Therese, Norman Pace as Claude, Liam Tamne as Barnaby, and Finty Williams as Hortense plus ensemble members Bart Lambert, David Pendlebury, and Annabelle Williams.

Based on the film La Femme du Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono, The Baker’s Wife features music and lyrics by Schwartz and a book by Stein. The arrival of a new Baker and his younger wife turn a provincial French village upside down in the musical, which has attained cult status thanks to a cast recording that features Patti LuPone and Paul Sorvino. The score also includes "Gifts of Love," "Chanson," and "Proud Lady."

The production also has designs by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Paul Anderson, choreography by Matt Cole, sound design by Yvonne Gilbert, musical supervision and orchestrations by Stuart Morley, and musical direction by Dustin Conrad.

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