BWW Flashback: GHOST THE MUSICAL Leaves Broadway, Moves Beyond Today, Aug 18

Ghost The Musical will play its final performance on Broadway tonight, August 18th at 8pm, after 39 previews and 136 regular performances. Ghost The Musical opened on April 23, 2012, at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, having begun previews on March 15th. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you on a journey through the life and "death" of Ghost on Broadway!

Ghost The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing) and choreographed by Ashley Wallen (The X Factor, Kylie Minogue), with an original score by Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill), and a book by Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder, The Time Traveler’s Wife), who has adapted his Academy Award-winning original screenplay for the stage. The score also includes the iconic song “Unchained Melody,” famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers.

Ghost The Musical stars Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy, reprising their starring roles as Sam and Molly, which they originated in London’s hit West End production, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Oda Mae Brown and Bryce Pinkham as Carl Bruner.

The cast also features Michael Balderrama, Tyler McGee, Lance Roberts, Moya Angela, Carly Hughes, Jason Babinsky, James Brown III, Mike Cannon, Stephen Carrasco, Jeremy Davis, Sharona D’Ornellas, Josh Franklin, Albert Guerzon, Afra Hines, Karen Hyland, Alison Luff, Vasthy Mompoint, Jennifer Noble, Joe Aaron Reid, Constantine Rousouli, Jennifer Sanchez, Daniel J. Watts, and Jesse Wildman.

Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, music direction by David Holcenberg, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Bobby Aitken, and projection design by Jon Driscoll.

Ghost got its start as the beloved 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg- written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker. In the movie, Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze), a banker, and Molly Jensen (Demi Moore), are a loving couple who move into a New York City apartment. At work, Sam discovers a major discrepancy in one bank account, and confides in his good friend and colleague, Carl Bruner (Tony Goldwyn). Soon afterward, Sam and Molly are attacked by armed thug and Sam is killed by a gunshot during a struggle. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her. Watch the movie trailer below!

Ghost: The Musical opened in London's West End at the Piccadilly Theatre on July 19, 2011, starring Broadway favorite Caissie Levy and UK star Richard Fleeshman. Prior to its West End run, Ghost The Musical played a seven-week, critically-acclaimed engagement at the Opera House in Manchester, England from March 28 through May 14, 2011.

On September 19, 2011 it was announced that Ghost would transfer to Broadway in Spring 2012. Earlier this year, the show hosted the Ghost Light Sessions, a special sneak peek presentation to welcome the new musical to Broadway and introduce the cast and creative team to the US.

Following the sneak peeks and previews, Ghost The Musical opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 23, with the West End leads reprising their roles. Scroll down for photos from the production and opening night bows!

 













BroadwayWorld was there for the magical opening night and captured a look at the premiere curtain call, along with interviews with the cast and creatives at the after party.

A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, the Ghost The Musical recipient was cast member James Brown III.

As the 2012 Tony Awards approached, BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge sat down and spoke with nearly all of the year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, including Da'Vine Joy Randolph nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Ghost the Musical for her portrayal of "Oda Mae Brown".

Ghost The Musical was the recipient of the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design (Jon Driscoll, Rob Howell and Paul Kieve) and the 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (Hugh Vanstone). The production was nominated for three 2012 Tony Awards including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll) and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Hugh Vanstone).

On July 18, GHOST celebrated its 100th performance at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with a cake and champagne toast on stage after their evening performance.

As Ghost The Musical ends its Broadway run, international productions will open in Korea, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Japan, China and Australia, with additional international productions in development. Ghost The Musical continues to delight audiences in London at the Piccadilly Theatre. More than half a million people have seen Ghost The Musical in London and on Broadway.

A U.S. national touring production of Ghost The Musical will launch in the fall of 2013, with more details to be announced. Be on the look-out for news about casting, tour stops and more. And for now, wish Ghost The Musical a heavenly send-off!