Photo Flash: From Encores! to Broadway, FINIAN'S RAINBOW Opens at the St. James!
By: Eddie Varley Oct. 29, 2009
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Finian's Rainbow began previews at Broadway's ST. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, on Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, and celebrates Opening Night, this evening, Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm.
Finian's Rainbow has a book by Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by Yip Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. It is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle; musical direction is by Rob Berman.
The musical's score boasts such classic songs as "Old Devil Moon," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," Look to the Rainbow," and "If This Isn't Love."
This is the first Broadway revival of the classic musical in nearly 50 years. The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian's Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre.
Finian's Rainbow plays the ST. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street. The preview performance schedule (through Sunday, November 1) is Monday through Saturday at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. There will be special added matinees on Wednesday, October 28 at 2pm and Sunday, November 1 at 3pm.
The regular performance schedule, beginning Monday, November 2, is Tuesday through Thursday at 7pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $35 - $75 in previews and $50 - $120 post opening.
There are also special post-opening Wednesday evening prices as low as $25.00. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning 212.239.6200. For groups, which are on sale now, phone 212.541.8457 or 1.800.BROADWAY.
For more information about Finian's Rainbow, visit www.FiniansOnBroadway.com.
Photos by Joan Marcus
Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson
Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson
Terri White and the cast
James Stovall, Chuck Cooper, Bernard Dotson and Guy Davis
Alina Faye and Christopher Fitzgerald
Cheyenne Jackson, Kate Baldwin, Jim Norton, Terri White with the cast
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