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ENO On the Town Breaks Record in London

By: Jun. 02, 2005
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The English National Opera's production of On the Town has become the most successful production ever in the company's history by breaking all box office records at the London Coliseum.

Originally announced for 17 performances, the production added 3 additional performances following unprecedented demand for tickets and completed its record-breaking run on May 28. Seen by almost 45,000 people, On the Town grossed £1.7 million ($3.1 million) across 20 performances. It played to 95% attendance. 61% of ticket buyers were first-time ENO attendees. In view of the musical's success, negotiations for a revival are now underway.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and based on an idea by Jerome Robbins, On the Town is directed by Jude Kelly, choreographed by Stephen Mear, conducted by Simon Lee, designed by Robert Jones with lighting by Mark Henderson. The production features a cast and orchestra of 105, and is sponsored by Sky & Artsworld.

On the Town, which concerns a day of love and New York adventure for 3 on-leave sailors, originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on December 28, 1944 to run for 462 performances; Comden, Green and Nancy Walker were among the original cast. A 1971 revival at the Imperial Theatre starred Bernadette Peters and Donna McKechnie, and the most recent revival was directed by George C. Wolfe in 1999; that cast featured Lea Delaria, Mary Testa and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. A classic 1949 MGM musical with an altered score features Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Ann Miller.

"We are very proud that this great work of music theatre has joined our repertory and that the public has embraced it so wholeheartedly, with more than half the audience new to the London Coliseum and English National Opera," stated Seán Doran, ENO's Artistic Director and Chief Executive. "I hope that our next Season – with its broad range of repertory including Anthony Minghella's staging of Madam Butterfly and Nicholas Hytner's original production of The Magic Flute– will entice some of these newcomers to return."

For more information, visit www.eno.org.
 
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