Barry Weissler Joins as Executive Producer for Revamped FINDING NEVERLAND

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, FINDING NEVERLAND is now aiming for a Spring 2014 run at A.R.T. in Boston before heading back to the West End, and on to Broadway. PIPPIN's Diane Paulus -- who is the Artistic Director of the A.R.T. -- is directing the production. Now, according to the New York Times, Broadway producer Barry Weissler will executive produce the project. Weissler recently worked with both the A.R.T. and Paulus on the recent Tony-winning revival of Pippin.

Producer Harvey Weinstien told NYT: "It's hard as hell to do this. Barry allows me to work on the things I wanted to work on, and not worry about what lawyer to call, what actor did I have to sort out. And I don't want to worry about rolling the show out around the world - I'll take Barry's advice on that. I've never delegated in my life, but I've never had Barry Weissler to delegate to."

The production held a workshop in New York City on August 26th, featuring Laura Michelle Kelly, Jason Alexander, Brian d'Arcy James and Kathleen Chalfant. In its first incarnation, the show featured book by Allan Knee, but James Graham has signed on to re-write the musical for the West End.

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The new musical FINDING NEVERLAND premiered in Leicester on September 22, and lead producer Harvey Weinstein is looking to bring the show to Broadway in the 2013-14 season. The Leicester cast featured Julian Ovenden as James Barrie, Rosalie Craig as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Liz Robertson as Mrs DuMaurier, and Clare Foster as Mary Barrie.

Adapted from the much-loved Oscar-winning Miramax film, FINDING NEVERLAND, this exquisite new production was brought to the Leicester stage by celebrated Oscar and Tony Award-winner Harvey Weinstein, with direction and choreography by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford (Anna Christie at Donmar Warehouse), a book by Allan Knee (Little Women on Broadway), and music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Scott Frankel and Michael Korie.

Escape to a wonderful world of enchantment with this musical tale of the life of playwright J.M. Barrie, and the inspiration behind his classic book, The Adventures of Peter Pan. With his last play a failure, James Barrie is crippled by writer's block and success seems like a far-away land. But then a chance encounter with widow Sylvia Llewellyn Davies and her four young sons sends his heart and imagination soaring, and their friendship gives birth to a magical tale that will live forever.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos