Original London Cast to Star in US Tour of 'Scissorhands'

The original London cast of Matthew Bourne's dance piece Edward Scissorhands, based on Tim Burton's 1990 gothic fantasy, will star in the show's US national tour.

The tour, which will kick off in San Francisco in November, will star Sam Archer and Richard Winsor, who will alternate in the title role, as well as Scott Ambler, Kerry Biggin, Madelaine Brennan, Ross Carpenter, Gareth Charlton, Andrew Corbett, Gavin Eden, Andrew Galbraith, Sophia Dominique Hurdley, Steve Kirkham, Dena Lague, Rachel Lancaster, James Leece, Matthew Malthouse, Drew McOnie, Michela Meazza, Ebony Molina, Rachel Morrow, Etta Murfitt, Luke Murphy, Gemma Payne, Jake Samuels, Mikah Smillie, Mami Tomotani, Hannah Vassallo, Shaun Walters, Shelby Wlliams, Philip Willingham, and Chloe Wilkinson.

In addition, the creative team has been announced as: Lez Brotherston (sets and costumes), Howard Harrison (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).  All worked on the original production, as well.

Edward Scissorhands tour schedule is as follows:

Nov. 11-Dec. 10--Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, CA
Dec. 12-31--Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
Jan. 4-10, 2007--Belk Theatre in Charlotte, NC
Jan. 12-14--the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA
Jan. 16-21--the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 13-18--the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
March 6-11--the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, MO
March 13-31--Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, NY
April 3-8--Hummingbird Centre in Toronto, Ontario
April 10-15--the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN
April 17-22--the Buell Theater in Denver, CO
April 25-May 13--the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA

The acclaimed director-choreographer, whose Mary Poppins (co-directed with Richard Eyre) is opening in the fall, previously stated that a Broadway run is not impossible if the tour is a success.

Edwards Scissorhands tells through dance the story that the 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). Bourne created, directed and choreographed the stage version of Edward Scissorhands. Terry Davies, with whom Bourne worked on The Car Man and Play Without Words, adapted his music from Danny Elfman's film score.  Caroline Thompson has helped in adapting her screenplay for the stage.

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.  Mary Poppins, which he co-directed with Richard Eyre, will open on Broadway next month.

For more information on the tour, visit www.edwardscissorhands.co.uk.