Bourne's Edward Scissorhands to Receive U.S. Premiere at the Ahmanson in Dec.
By: BWW News Desk Feb. 23, 2006
The upcoming US tour of Matthew Bourne's dance piece Edward Scissorhands, based on Tim Burton's gothic fantasia, will first come to L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre from December 12th through 31st, 2006, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.A few days ago it was announced that the show, which ran at London's Sadler's Wells from November 22nd, 2005
through February 5th, 2006, will be seen at American venues in L.A, San Francisco, St. Louis and other cities in 2007, according to Bourne's
website. The
director-choreographer has also stated that a Broadway run is not
impossible if the tour is a success. No dates or venues have been announced for the other engagements.Edward Scissorhands will not be the first Bourne dance piece to be seen at the Ahmanson Theatre. In 1997, his acclaimed Swan Lake had its American premiere at the theatre, and other Bourne shows have also been seen there. In addition, the new US tour of Swan Lake will come to the Ahmanson for two weeks in March.
Edwards Scissorhands tells through dance the story that the 1990 Johnny Depp-starrer
first unspooled: that of a socially-crippled man with scissors for
hands who becomes fascinated with a young woman (played by Winona Ryder
in the film). Dancers Richard Winsor and Sam Archer (both of whom have
appeared in 3 other Bourne shows) switch off in the
gothically-attired title role, while Bourne's frequent collaborators
Scott Ambler and Etta Murfitt will are also on hand for the production
(as associate directors, with Murfitt co-starring in the piece). Terry
Davies, with whom Bourne worked on The Car Man and Play Without Words, adapted his music from Danny Elfman's film score (which complemented Caroline Thompson's screenplay).
Edward
Scissorhands' design team comprises Lez Brotherston (set and
costumes), Howard Harrison (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).
One of the most successful choreographers working today, Bourne takes his inspiration from films (The Car Man, based upon The Postman Always Rings Twice, Play Without Words, based on Joseph Losey's The Servant), and from classics (Nutcracker!, Highland Fling). His Swan Lake
was a smash on both sides of the Atlantic, and picked up two 1999
Tonys, with Bourne garnering the awards for Best Choreography and Best
Direction of a Musical; the show stirred up some controversy, too,
regarding dance pieces and the Tonys. As for his musical theatre
credits, Bourne choreographed Trevor Nunn's revivals of My Fair Lady and South Pacific, as well as co-directing Mary Poppins with Richard Eyre.
For more information on the show, visit www.edwardscissorhands.co.uk.
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