Tharp & Dylan's 'Times' Sets Theatre and Dates; Manuel Joins

The Times They Are A-Changin,' the new musical collaboration between Twyla Tharp and Bob Dylan, is now set for its Broadway run. The dance musical will open on October 26th at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

The show was previously seen in its premiere at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, where it opened on February 9th and ran through March 19th (after being extended twice, due to high demand for tickets).

The Broadway run will retain the services of Michael Arden (Bare, Pippin at Reprise!) and Thom Sesma (Man of La Mancha revival, La Cage aux Folles), but Jenn Collela (Urban Cowboy) has been replaced by Caren Lyn Manuel (Brooklyn, Rent). In addition, Tony Award-nominee John Selya (Movin' Out) will be seen in the show's ensemble.

The show will also feature Lisa Gajda (Spamalot, Movin' Out), Charlie Hodges (Movin' Out, Twyla Tharp Dance), Luke Longacre (The Frogs); Jason McDole (Twyla Tharp Dance), Jonathan Nosan, and Ron Todorowski (Helen Hayes Award winner for Movin' Out National Tour). Alex Brady, Lisa Brescia, Marcus Choi, John Herrera, Alaine Kashian, Keith Kuhl, Marty Lawson, Joseph Putignano and Jason Wooten complete the company.

Hal Luftig/Warren Trepp, Debra Black, Terry Allen Kramer, Patrick Catullo and Rick Steiner, will produce The Times...on Broadway.

As with Movin' Out, in which she directed and choreographed a narrative dance piece set to the songs of Billy Joel, Tharp has envisioned a theatrical world based on the songs of legendary folk-rock singer/songwriter Dylan.

The Times They Are A-Changin' is "set within a low-rent traveling circus run by Capt. Arab, whose wagon hasn't moved from its location in some time ? though not by lack of effort from his ragtag band of clowns and performers. One such performer is the animal trainer Cleo, a young woman exploited by Capt. Arab and loved by his son, Coyote. Coyote longs for a world outside the confines of the family business, and as the circus show plays out, he must decide whether to flee or stay, and if he does stay, how to inspire change within the troupe," according to press notes. Sesma plays Capt. Arab, while Manuel and Arden will be featured as Cleo and Coyote, respectively.

The show's design team features Santo Loquasto (sets and costumes), Donald Holder (lighting) and Peter Hylenski (sound). The show has orchestrations by Bob Dylan and Michael Dansicker, with music adapted and supervised by Dansicker and musical direction by Henry Aronson.

Beginning Monday, September 25, The Times They Are A-Changin' will be performed Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Beginning Tuesday, October 31, the musical will be performed Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $31.25-$111.25 and are available via Ticketmaster.com at 212-307-4100. Tickets will go on sale exclusively to American Express Priority Cardholders on Wednesday, July 12. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Sunday, August 6.  Tickets will be available in-person at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre Box Office (256 West 47th Street) beginning Sunday, September 10.  For more information, visit www.timestheyareachangin.com.