The Cardiff International Festival of Musical Theatre 2005 — April 1-17 — will feature an all-star concert of Tim Rice, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson's Chess as well a new production of The Who's Tommy. Chess will be presented April 2 at St. David's Hall, and Tommy will play the New Theatre. A production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate is also set to play the new Wales Millennium Centre.
The musical Amazing Grace — penned by Mal Pope — will be presented at the Sherman Theatre. Michael Bogdanov will direct the musical, which celebrates the Great Welsh Revival of 1904.
Other festival highlights: the Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre competition; the Global Search for New Musicals contest, which boasts 236 entries from 28 countries; and concerts celebrating the works of composers Harold Arlen, Frederick Loewe and Jule Styne.
In a statement, Joanne Benjamin, chief executive of the Cardiff International Festival of Musical Theatre, said, "I am delighted that the success of the inaugural Festival has enabled us to continue and expand on the work we started in 2002. In 2005 the Festival will continue to bring to Cardiff, in its centenary year, the best of musical theatre stars, productions and audiences from all over the world."
For more information visit www.cardiffmusicals.com.
