In 1969, the celebrated American composer and lyricist Jerry Herman was already five musicals in by the time Dear World premiered on Broadway. Having achieved notable successes with Hello, Dolly! and Mame during the mid-'60s, it was expected that this new musical would surpass expectations and become his 'big hit' - it didn't.

However, with the future Murder She Wrote sleuth Jessica Fletcher, Angela Lansbury in a starring role, the musical won plaudits and aficionados amongst critics and audiences alike, as well as a coveted Tony Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of key Dear World character, Countess Aurelia. Despite having an interesting and meaningful plot, quite unlike many musicals of its time, the production closed after a few months and hasn't reared its head too often since. Until now.

London's New Player's Theatre, based in Charing Cross in the West End, will be the first venue to present a new version of Herman's under-rated story of greed brought about by a multi-national corporation discovering oil - under a Paris bistro. The corporation is desperate to extract the black gold and decides to blow up the bistro to get at it. Various sub-plots ensue, involving the aforementioned (and eccentric) Countess, a corporation executive and a bistro waitress.

Songs include 'Every Tomorrow Morning', 'Just a Little Bit More', 'Have a Little Pity on the Rich' and several more that might not be as famous as Herman's other hits in 'Hello, Dolly!', 'La Cage aux Folles' and 'Mack and Mabel', but will be meat and gravy for fans of his oeuvre. Betty Buckley, another established Tony-winning star, will play the role of the Countess.

We have tickets on sale now for the entire run which begins on 5th February 2013 and ends on 30th March. Prices start at £15 for slips and balconies and rise to £35 - £42.50 for stalls.