I'm very excited about this announcement! Already have my season tickets.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 'FINDING NEVERLAND' CASTING American Repertory Theater presents The World Premiere of the Musical FINDING NEVERLAND Music and Lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy Book by James Graham Directed by Diane Paulus Choreography by Mia Michaels July 23-September 28
Cambridge, MA — The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; announced today the first production of its 2014/15 Season: the world premiere of the musical Finding Neverland, with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy, book by James Graham, directed by Diane Paulus with choreography by Mia Michaels, presented at A.R.T. by special arrangement with Harvey Weinstein.
When a faltering playwright meets a widow and her four boys in Kensington Gardens, he embarks on a friendship that inspires one of the most beloved stories of all time. Based on the Miramax film written by David Magee, Finding Neverland follows the real-life relationship between the Llewelyn Davies family and James Matthew Barrie as he writes the revolutionary 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. Staged by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus and with music by U.K. pop sensation Gary Barlow (Take That), this new musical explores the power of imagination to open up new worlds, and the pressures put upon those worlds by the prospect of growing up.
The cast will be led by Jeremy Jordan as J.M. Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies; with Roger Bart as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmelo as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, , Sawyer Nunes as George, and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. Members of the ensemble are Courtney Balan, Dana Costello, Rory Donovan, Gaelen Gilliland, Thayne Jasperson, Josh Lamon, Cara Massey, Melanie Moore, Mary Peg Nance, Stuart Neal, Emma Pfaeffle, Jonathan Ritter, Tyler Ross, Julius Rubio, JC Schuster, Paul Slade Smith, and Ron Todorowski.
The creative team also includes scenic designer Scott Pask, costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting designer Philip Rosenberg, sound designer Jonathan Deans, projection designer Gilles Papain, fan designer Daniel Wurtzel, music supervisor David Chase, music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and orchestration by Simon Hale.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Have to say, power to Jeanna De Waal. She's been working so consistently over the past few years from American Idiot to Carrie to Wicked to Kinky Boots.
I saw the "fan design" credit too. Had to read it several times to make sure I wasn't MISreading it!
I guess there will crazy use of fans onstage. Or, maybe they are going to pre-determine fan girl eligibility.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
MIa Michaels as choreographer? That "contemporary dance" woman from the reality tv dance shows? What an unlikely choice given the time period of this piece.
He did the earlier workshops. I don't remember seeing ANYTHING confirmed before now.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Thanks, dramamama611! You're right. I missed this note at the bottom of the article:
A spokesman for the American Repertory Theater said that Mr. Morrison would not take part in this summer’s production of “Finding Neverland” because of conflicts with his shooting schedule for “Glee.”
"Have to say, power to Jeanna De Waal. She's been working so consistently over the past few years from American Idiot to Carrie to Wicked to Kinky Boots."
Agreed. Just saw her in Kinky Boots and she was terrific.
WAY too young. J.M. Barrie was 44 when Peter Pan was released (roughly when the events of the story take place). Depp was about 40 when Finding Neverland was filmed. Jordan is 29 and reads younger.
Thinking of getting tickets to this. I noticed that the show is in previews from the end of July to mid-August. Should I get tickets to a preview or after the show actually opens? I've never been to a show preview before... Is it worth going to and is much different? Looks like they have affordable good seats for the preview nights.
I usually go to the last preview, as it often gets you reduced pricing, but you're also seeing the frozen show with as many kinks worked out as possible.
Not sure about out of town stuff, but most press in NYC come to the final preview or two to write their reviews, not on the actual opening night, so the cast will always be there in full. Then again, the cast is always planning to be there in full.
While you can never know about planned absences or illness, you have just the same chance of seeing the full cast as opposed to understudies. The preview is for THEM just as much as the creatives.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.