THE LAST SHIP Sets Sail on Broadway Tonight

THE LAST SHIP - the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting and book by Tony Award winner John Logan and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey - begins previews tonight, September 29 on Broadway, prior to opening night on October 26.

THE LAST SHIP is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett. Musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements are by Emmy Award-winning and multi Grammy-nominated producer Rob Mathes.

THE LAST SHIP travels to New York following a pre-Broadway critically acclaimed tryout at The Bank of America Theatre in Chicago.

THE LAST SHIP - which marks Sting's debut as a Broadway composer - is set in the English seaside town of Wallsend, a close-knit community where life has always revolved around the local shipyard and the hardworking men construct magnificent vessels with tremendous pride. But Gideon Fletcher dreams of a different future. He sets out to travel the world, leaving his life and his love behind. When Gideon returns home many years later, he finds the shipyard's future in grave danger and his childhood sweetheart engaged to someone else. This love triangle ignites just as the men and women of Wallsend take their future into their own hands and build a towering representation of the shared dream that defines their existence. And in the end Gideon comes to understand that he had indeed left behind more than he could have ever imagined.

THE LAST SHIP is inspired by the Wallsend community where Sting was born and raised, and people's homes were often houses that existed in the shadows of the massive vessels in the shipyards. The Last Ship also reflects real-life incidents, including a history-making 'work-in' at a Scottish shipyard in the 70's, and a recent project in Poland for which a priest commandeered supplies and financial support so a group of laymen could not only have work, but also reclaim their pride and dignity by assembling a ship meant to sail the world.

The principal cast of THE LAST SHIP includes Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker, Jimmy Nail, Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and Collin Kelly-Sordelet.

THE LAST SHIP ensemble includes: Eric Anderson, Ethan Applegate, Craig Bennett, Dawn Cantwell, Jeremy Davis, Bradley Dean, Alyssa DiPalma, Colby Foytik, David Michael Garry, Timothy Gulan, Shawna M. Hamic, Rich Hebert, Leah Hocking, Todd A. Horman, Sarah Hunt, Jamie Jackson, Sean Jenness, Drew McVety, Johnny Newcomb, Matthew Stocke, Cullen Titmus and Jeremy Woodard.

THE LAST SHIP has scenic and costume design by Tony nominee David Zinn; lighting design by Christopher Akerlind; and sound design by Brian Ronan.

(Rachel Tucker and Jimmy Nail are appearing with the support of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance of this production.)