National Theatre's Original Stage Production of WAR HORSE Heads to U.S. Theaters Today

By: Feb. 27, 2014
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Fathom Events, National Theatre Live (NT Live) and BY Experience have come together again to broadcast the National Theatre's original stage production of "War Horse," pre-recorded live from London's West End, for only one night in cinemas across the country tonight, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Based on Michael Morpurgo's novel and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, "War Horse" takes audiences on a journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of France during World War I. Filled with stirring music and songs, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-size puppets by South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on stage.

"National Theatre Live: National Theatre's War Horse" will be presented in more than 350 select movie theaters around the country through Fathom's Digital Broadcast Network. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

"War Horse" is the powerful story of a young boy named Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the English in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in no man's land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. The magnificent artistry of the Handspring Puppet Company brings the story to life with full-scale horses on stage, with their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. "War Horse" is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship.

Since its first performance at the National Theatre in 2007, "War Horse" has become an international phenomenon, seen by over 4 million people worldwide and receiving numerous awards, including two Olivier Awards in London, five Tony Awards in New York and three Dora Awards in Toronto. "War Horse" is currently in its sixth year in London and is on a major tour of North America which continues through 2014. The show is also on a UK/Ireland tour and a German language production is playing in Berlin.

"Fathom Events is proud to team up with BY Experience to bring another spectacular National Theatre Live production to movie theaters," said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events. "Live theater-lovers will have a front row seat to the extraordinary story, music and puppetry of 'War Horse' on the big screen."

About AC JV, LLC

Fathom Events is owned by a newly formed entity called AC JV, LLC. Fathom is the recognized leader in the alternative entertainment industry, offering a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theaters nationwide that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, the performing arts, major sporting events, music concerts, comedy series, Broadway shows, original programming featuring entertainment's biggest stars, socially relevant documentaries with audience Q&A and much more. Additionally, Fathom events take audiences behind-the-scenes and offer unique extras - creating the ultimate entertainment experience for fans of all ages. Co-owned by the three largest movie theater circuits in the United States, AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), Fathom's live digital broadcast network ("DBN") is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live events to more than 750 locations in 171 Designated Market Areas (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About National Theatre Live (NT Live)

National Theatre Live is an initiative by the National Theatre to broadcast live performances onto cinema screens around the world. Since its first season, which began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of "Phédre" starring Helen Mirren, over 2 million people have now experienced the work of National Theatre Live in cinemas worldwide. In addition to the recent record-breaking broadcast of "The Audience" starring Helen Mirren as The Queen (winner of two 2013 Olivier Awards, including the Best Actress award for Mirren), recent broadcasts have included The National Theatre of Great Britain's 50th anniversary celebration "Live from the National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage," Shakespeare's "Hamlet" starring Rory Kinnear in the title role, Shakespeare's "Othello" with Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear Shakespeare's "Macbeth" with Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston, James Graham's acclaimed new play "This House," Alan Bennett's new comedy "People" with Frances de la Tour, Arthur Wing Pinero's "The Magistrate" starring John Lithgow in the title role, a new production of Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens" starring Simon Russell Beale in the title role, Steven Beresford's acclaimed new comedy "The Last of the Haussmans," the theatrical adaptation of Mark Haddon's award-winning novel "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" (winner of seven 2013 Olivier Awards, including Master Card Best New Play). Upcoming titles include the Donmar Warehouse's production of "Coriolanus" starring Tom Hiddleston on January 30, 2014; and, the National Theatre's production "King Lear" directed by Sam Mendes and starring Simon Russell Beale on May 1, 2014. For more information, visit www.NTLive.com.

About BY Experience

BY EXPERIENCE kicked off the digital revolution of live events to movie theaters and other locations globally with David Bowie's 2003 Reality album launch and since then, over 20 million tickets have been sold worldwide for cinema events BY Experience has distributed globally. Credits: Worldwide HD Distribution Representative, The Met: Live in HD series (2006 to present); International (ex-UK) Distribution Representative, the U.K.'s National Theatre Live series (2009 to present); Executive Producer for Cinema Leonardo Live (February 2012) and the series Exhibition: Great Art on Screen (2013), the public radio shows Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Live (2013), This American Life - Live! with Ira Glass (2008, 2009, 2012) and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (February and October 2010), the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of The Importance of Being Earnest (June 2011), Red Hot Chili Peppers Live: I'm With You (August 2011); The Big Four: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax (June 2010), St. Olaf Christmas Festival (2007 and 2011), the New York Times speaker's series TimesTalks LIVE (2009), David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live from the Royal Albert Hall (September 2007), Distributor to Cinema Westlife: The Farewell Concert (June 2012), the classic music celebration BBC Last Night of the Proms (2009 - 2012), BBC Electric Proms: Robbie Williams (October 2009). BY Experience distributes to over 60 countries, to 2,000 movie screens. For more information, visit: www.byexperience.net.

Photo of 2011 War Horse West End cast by Brinkhoff & Mögenburg



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