Jason Robert Brown and More Talk BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY National Tour

The first national tour of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY opens at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on December 10, 2015, and playing through January 17, 2016. (Previews on December 8 and 9.) Check out photos from a press preview here!

"I'm very grateful that these audiences around the country will get a much more direct experience of the piece," says songwriter Jason Robert Brown, who won a Tony Award for the show's score. "To be able to really say, 'This is the way we meant the show to be' is really gratifying."

Elizabeth Stanley and Andrew Samonsky lead the tour. "When the auditions came up, it was one of the few times where I allowed myself to want a job," Samonsky says. "I think those simple, honest musicals really speak to me. I mean, I love a big, fancy song-and-dance show, too, but when you can do a musical like this, it's really special."

Brown highly praised his cast, continuing, "No one was going to get into this tour who was not able to draw from the ground, pull something from inside of them. It's a really committed cast, which is important. It's a show that asks for a lot of emotional connection."

Director Bartlett Sher also shared his high hopes for the tour, "I think this is just the beginning of a really long life for a show which I think will be around and performed pretty consistently for decades to come."

Joining Elizabeth Stanley (On the Town, Million Dollar Quartet) as Francesca and Andrew Samonsky (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, South Pacific) as Robert are Cullen R. Titmas (The Last Ship, Avenue Q) as Bud, Mary Callanan (Mamma Mia!, Annie) as Marge, David Hess (Sweeney Todd, Annie Get Your Gun) as Charlie, DaveThomas Brown(The Legend of Georgia McBride, Heathers) as Michael, Caitlin Houlahan (Parade at Lincoln Center) as Carolyn andKatie Klaus (THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Original Broadway Cast Member, Bonnie & Clyde) as Marian/Chiara/State Fair Singer. The ensemble is comprised of Cole Burden (LES MISERABLES), Caitlyn Caughell(Newsies), Brad Greer (I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center), Lucy Horton (Cats), Amy Linden (Cheer Wars),Trista Moldovan (The Phantom of the Opera), Jessica Sheridan (Sister Act), Matt Stokes (Jesus Christ Superstar),Tom Treadwell (Annie) and Bryan Welnicki (Peter and the Starcatcher).

The critically acclaimed musical features one of Broadway's most accomplished creative teams with music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years), book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple, 'night, Mother) and direction by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The King & I, The Light in the Piazza), recreated by Tyne Rafaeli (Fiddler on the Roof, The King & I).

The team also includes scenic design by two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Yeargan (The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific), costume design by six-time Tony Award?winner Catherine Zuber (The King and I, South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza), lighting design by two-time Tony Award-winner Donald Holder (South Pacific, The Lion King), sound design by Jon Weston (Les Miserables, The Color Purple), wig and hair design by David Brian Brown, arrangements and orchestrations by Jason Robert Brown (Curious Incident, Sister Act), music supervision by Tom Murray (The Last Five Years, Parade), movement by Danny Mefford (Fun Home, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) and casting by Telsey + Company/Cesar Rocha, CSA.

Based on the best?selling novel by Robert James Waller, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It's an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, now available on Ghostlight Records, was released on April 15, 2014, and debuted as the #1 Cast Recording on the Billboard charts. For more information or to purchase the Cast Recording, visit www.sh-k-boom.com/bridgesofmadisoncounty.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, national tour starts at the Des Moines Civic Center with performances beginning Saturday, November 28 and an official opening on Tuesday, December 1st. The tour will travel to more than 15 cities in its first season. For more information, visit www.BridgesMusical.com.

Photo credit: Walter McBride

Source: AP