Rehearsals Begin for Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's Premiere of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

Tony, Oscar and Golden Globe award-winning lyricist Tim Rice is coming to Auburn, New York, this summer for the North American premiere of his new musical based on the novel by James Jones, "From Here to Eternity" as part of Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's 2016 season. Rice is best known for writing the lyrics to THE LION KING, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, ALADDIN, EVITA and more. Rice will be in Auburn for rehearsals. The show premieres June 29 and runs through July 20 at The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse as part of The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's 2016 season.

Based on James Jones' award-winning novel written in 1951 and, later, an eight-time Academy Award winning film (1953) of the same name, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY takes place in 1941 in Honolulu. The men of G Company are restless and disgruntled. One of their own, the rebellious but soulful Private Prewitt, falls for escort club girl Lorene, and his platoon sergeant embarks on a dangerous affair with his commander's wife. As the infamous date of the Pearl Harbor attack approaches, the claustrophobic world of the four lovers and the desperation of the soldiers of G Company splinter amidst an escalating war. The new musical is an epic, sweeping story of love, redemption and hope set against the backdrop of a beautiful but conflicted paradise.

The world premiere of the show opened on London's West End on Sept. 30, 2013, running at the Shaftesbury Theatre through March 29, 2014. The North American premiere at The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is a new production and the next step in the musical's development.

Tickets are on sale now through the Box Office, which can be reached at 315-255-1785 or 1-800-457-8897, or online at www.fingerlakesmtf.com.