Tamzin Outhwaite Is the Menier Chocolate Factory's Sweet Charity

Tamzin Outhwaite will lead the cast as title star Charity Hope Valentine in the Menier Chocolate Factory's upcoming production of Sweet Charity, to be directed by Matthew White. Featuring music by Cy Coleman, book by Neil Simon and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, the musical will begin previews November 21, with opening night set for December 2. The limited London engagement plays through March 7, 2010.

Joining Outhwaite are Josefina Gabrielle, Tiffany Graves, Paul J. Medford, Ebony Molina and Mark Umbers. Additional casting details will be announced shortly.

Sweet Charity follows the misadventures of love encountered by the gullible and guileless Charity Hope Valentine, a woman who always gives her heart and her dreams to the wrong man. Cy Coleman’s score features many of his favorite hits, including "Hey, Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "The Rhythm of Life." Originally directed and choreographed icon by Bob Fosse, Sweet Charity premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it ran for over 600 performances. The production won the Tony Award for Best Choreography in the same year. In 1967 the production opened in London at Prince of Wales Theatre, starring Juliet Prowse. A 1969 film version, also directed and choreographed by Fosse, starred Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin. In 1986 the production was revived on Broadway winning four Tony Awards, and again in 2005 starring Christina Applegate.

Outhwaite's stage credits include Matthew Warchus’ revival of Boeing-Boeing at the Comedy Theatre, Breathing Corpses and Flesh Wound for the Royal Court, Oliver! at the London Palladium and Baby on Board, Absent Friends and They’re Playing Our Song, all for Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. She is known on television for her roles in Red Cap, Hustle, Frances Tuesday, Hotel Babylon and EastEnders. She can currently be seen in the ITV1 drama The Fixer and will also shortly be seen in the new BBC One drama Paradox. Her film work includes Cassandra’s Dream, Back Waters and the award-winning Out of Control.

Gabrielle’s stage credits include Hello, Dolly! at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre, Singing in the Rain at Sadler’s Wells and Leicester Haymarket, A Chorus Line for Sheffield Crucible, Oklahoma! for the National Theatre (also West End and on Broadway), The Witches of Eastwick at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre and Fame at the Cambridge Theatre.

Graves has been seen onstage in Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre, Shout! at the Arts Theatre and Cats and Sunset Boulevard in the West End, as well as UK tours of Run For Your Wife, Godspell and Tonight’s The Night.

Medford was an original company member of Five Guys Named Moe at the Lyric Theatre. Other credits include Follow My Leader at Hampstead Theatre; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for the Royal Shakespeare Company, My One and Only at the Piccadilly Theatre, Mother Clap’s Molly House for the National Theatre, Roll with the Punches at the Tricycle Theatre and Road for the Royal Court. His television credits include This Life, EastEnders and Minder.

Molina’s theater credits include Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, Sinatra at the London Palladium, Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Romeo and Juliet and My One and Only at the Piccadilly Theatre, as well as On The Town for English National Opera. She has also appeared in Dorian Gray, Nutcracker!, The Car Man and Edward Scissorhands, all for Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company.

Umbers' theater credits include Funny Girl for Chichester Festival Theatre, The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Theatre, The Vortex for the Donmar Warehouse, My Fair Lady, Candide and The Merchant of Venice for the National Theatre and The Pirates of Penzanzce for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Television credits include Mistresses, Harley Street, Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, The Merchant of Venice and The Scarlet Pimpernel. His film credits include Cassandra’s Dream and Che: Part Two.