Maria Friedman to Take Medical Leave From The Woman in White

Beginning November 3, Maria Friedman will take a brief leave of absence from the Broadway production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical The Woman in White to recover from surgery related to Stage 1 breast cancer. She is expected to return to the show within a few days and be ready to open on November 17; an understudy will take over her role of Marian Holcombe during her absence. (Friedman previously played the part in the London production of the musical.)

Directed by Trevor Nunn, The Woman in White also stars Michael Ball, Angela Christian, Jill Paice, Walter Charles, and Ron Bohmer. The show has a score by Lloyd Webber and lyricist David Zippel and is based on Wilkie Collins’ classic novel of the same title.

Friedman is regarded as one of Britain’s leading musical theater performers. She has been nominated seven times for the Olivier Award, winning for her one-woman show Maria Friedman: By Special Engagement, Passion, and Ragtime. In New York, she has appeared at the Café Carlyle.