Best known as a three-time Olivier Award-winning (with seven nominations) star of
the musical stage, the heart of Maria’s career has been centered around the love
and work of her dear friend Stephen Sondheim. She has played Dot in Sunday in the
Park with George at the National Theatre, Fosca in Passion at the Queen’s (Olivier
Award), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at the Royal Festival Hall with Bryn Terfel,
and Mary in Merrily We Roll Along at the Leicester Haymarket. Additionally, in
concert, she has played Sally in Follies and both Charlotte and Petra in A Little
Night Music. In May 2009, Maria was honoured to sing for Stephen at his 80th birthday
celebrations in New York and Washington, as well as at the special all-Sondheim Prom
in July 2010. Invited by Marvin Hamlisch to appear as guest singer at the reopening
of the famous Venetian rooms in the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco. Starred in The
Invisible Man at The Menier Chocolate Factory. In June this year, Maria appeared
as guest singer with the English National Opera performing Strictly Gershwin at
the Royal Albert Hall. Maria’s latest appearance was in the proms at St Judes on
24th June.
Maria’s other leading musical roles include Anna in The King and I at the Royal Albert
Hall, Mother in Ragtime (Olivier Award), Liza in Lady In The Dark at the National,
Sukie in The Witches of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Roxie in Chicago at
the Adelphi, and Marian in The Woman In White at London’s Palace and also at Broadway’s
Marquis (Theatre World Award). She also starred in the original London production
of Blues In The Night, and played Hayyah in Nicholas Hytner’s acclaimed National
Theatre production of Ghetto. Non-singing roles include Break of Day (Royal Court), Square
Rounds (National) and April in Paris (Ambassador’s).
In 1994, the Donmar Warehouse presented Maria Friedman: By Special Arrangement, a
series of concerts with a virtuoso 11-piece band. The show went on to win an Olivier
Award, and transferred to the Whitehall Theatre in 1995 asMaria Friedman: By Extra
Special Arrangement. In 2008 she was invited to present a new version of the show
at the Menier Chocolate Factory -Maria Friedman: Re-arranged, which went on to transfer
to the Trafalgar Studios.
On screen, Maria has been seen as the Narrator in the best-selling film of Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond, and is often recognised
as Trish Baynes from Casualty.
Maria’s many international concert appearances include three sell-out seasons at
New York’s prestigeous Cafe Carlyle, and many concerts with Michel Legrand and Marvin
Hamlisch. Her most recent recording is Maria Friedman Sings The Great British Songbook on
Sepia.
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