Ship of Dreams! TITANIC Revival Will Play Toronto in Spring 2015; Opera Star Ben Heppner Leads

David Mirvish has announced that Ben Heppner, the greatest opera tenor of his generation, will be joining the cast of the new production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC.

TITANIC is part of the Mirvish 2014-15 Subscription Season. It will play May 20 to June 21, 2015 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The production was originally slated to open in Toronto last summer, prior to a Broadway run, but was cancelled.

Heppner will play the role of Isidor Straus, a prominent U.S. politician and businessman. Among his many accomplishments and business holdings, he was the co-owner of Macy's department store. With his wife Ida, he was among the wealthy and famous members of society who wanted to be the first to sail on the maiden voyage of the unsinkable RMS Titanic.

In this new reimagining of the musical, director Thom Southerland uses an ensemble cast, meaning that everyone in the cast plays two or three or more roles in the telling of the story. Besides playing Straus, Heppner will play three other roles.

Over his career, Heppner has performed some of the most iconic roles in opera with the world's top orchestras and at the most acclaimed opera venues - including New York's Metropolitan Opera House, London's Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera and Toronto's Canadian Opera Company - both in stage productions as well as in concerts or recitals. He has also released a host of recordings, winning Grammy and Juno awards.

In April 2014, Heppner announced he would no longer be singing opera. He said he would pursue some new interests, including broadcast work, which he had already begun with his CBC Radio programme Backstage with Ben Heppner.

Ben Heppner explains his decision to work in musical theatre and TITANIC in particular: "Last spring I mentioned to David Mirvish that I'd love to do some acting in one of his shows. I never thought that he might take me seriously. I'm totally pumped to climb aboard the production of TITANIC. Just think, I get to sail onstage again without having to drink Isolde's poison or wear Viking horns! And I get to play a captain of industry - Isidor Straus to boot. How cool is that!"

Composer/Lyricist Maury Yeston comments: "It is an absolute coup for the cast of TITANIC to be joined by the remarkable Ben Heppner. To have probably the leading operatic dramatic tenor of our day lend his talents to playing the heroic Isidor Straus, who nobly with his wife Ida perished aboard ship, and to have him sing the part and join the ensemble will bring a choral glory to the evening that any composer would cherish, as I do. I look forward to this moment when musical theatre can now avail itself of what has been a treasure of the Opera and Concert worlds."

Director Thom Southerland adds: "Knowing Ben's work as I do, it will be a real privilege to work with him and see him create the role of Mr. Straus in Toronto. I can't wait to begin rehearsals and to finally bring the show to you in Toronto."

Producer David Mirvish says: "The most exciting part of creating theatre is the chance to bring together some of the most creative minds in various disciplines working today. To be able to do this by having Ben Heppner join the cast of TITANIC and to see his world and the world of musical theatre work together will be a thrill. That alone is worth producing TITANIC in Toronto. But the musical also has so much going for it. I can't wait to have it on stage next spring."

The haunting tragedy of the great ship is transformed by composer and lyricist Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel) and book writer Peter Stone (musicals Woman of the Year and 1776; film Charade) into a riveting musical in which the hopes and dreams of rich and poor, heroes and cowards, lovers and foes are woven together in a celebration of the human spirit.

In the final hour of April 14, 1912 the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and "the unsinkable ship" slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century. Based on actual characters aboard the greatest ship in the world, this stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly-enfranchised Second Class dream of achieving the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and the millionaires of the First Class dream of their gilded world lasting forever.

The original Broadway production won five Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Now, British director Thom Southerland's acclaimed reimagining will come direct from London for its North American premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

TITANIC is available as part of the 5-show Mirvish subscription package, together with THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD, BLITHE SPIRIT starring Angela Lansbury, KINKY BOOTS and Disney's NEWSIES. For more information about subscription go to www.mirvish.com/subscriptions or call 416-593-4225.

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