The musical will play Paris' Théâtre du Châtelet Feb. 15-20, 2010, with Kristin Scott Thomas as Desiree Armfeldt, David Curry as Henrik Egerman, Rebecca Bottone as Anne Egerman, Lambert Wilson as Fredrik Egerman, Francesca Jackson as Petra, Nicholas Garrett as Count Carl-Magnus Malclom, Deanne Meek as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Celeste de Veazey as Fredrika Armfeldt, Leslie Caron as Madame Armfeldt, Damian Thantrey as Mr. Lindquist, Kate Valentine as Mrs. Nordstrom, James Edwards as Mr. Erlanson and Daphné Touchais as Mrs. Segstrom.
Lee Blakeley, who will direct the production, recently took a few moments out of his busy schedule to chat with Playbill.com about his Night Music. "Primarily my career has been in opera, but as the Théâtre du Châtelet is bridging the gap between the opera and musical stages, I was approached to direct A Little Night Music. Amongst other things I have had recent successes with notoriously tricky operettas — notably a very contemporary celebrity-culture-based Die Fledermaus for Scottish Opera and a nostalgic 1930's take on The Merry Widow in Belgium. I think I appeared a good choice to tackle the show for the Châtelet as their audiences are familiar with the operetta form more than that of the musical.
"Of course we are incredibly excited with the cast we have on board, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Caron and Lambert Wilson — each of them perfect for the show," Blakeley added. "The sets have been designed by Olivier Award-winning designer Rae Smith, and the costumes are being created by Dutch designer Jo Van Schuppen. I don't want to give too much away, but the production is set in period and rises to the challenge of the grandeur of the Chatelet stage. It certainly promises to be an elegant, surprising and magical show."
Blakeley said he is also set to direct a new production of Madame Butterfly for Santa Fe Opera that will open in summer 2010.