La Mirada Presents DADDY LONG LEGS, Previews 11/5

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second production of their 2010-2011 season of shows - a brand new musical event from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and the creator of Jane Eyre, DADDY LONG LEGS, based on the novel by Jean Webster, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), book and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Les Miserables), original musical direction by Laura Bergquist, musical direction by Julie McBride and starring Megan McGinnis and Robert Adelman Hancock. DADDY LONG LEGS will open on Friday, November 5 (with a press opening on Saturday, November 6) and run through Sunday, November 21 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Don't miss this new musical event by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Nicholas Nickelby, Les Miserables) and the Tony-nominee Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), that began its life at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura and has been revised and re-worked at such great regional theatres as the Northlight in Chicago and TheatreWorks in Palo Alto prior to its La Mirada debut! Set in turn-of-the-century New England, this is the exquisitely moving story of Jerusha Abbot, a talented orphan sent to a prestigious college by an anonymous benefactor she nicknames Daddy Long Legs.

Revealed through witty, wistful letters, her journey to self-sufficiency, education, and romance chronicles the emergence of a delightfully independent American woman. Presented by La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment in association with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Rubicon Theatre Company, TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Michael Jackowitz.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

John Caird (Book Writer, Director) Broadway: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Les Misérables (Tony Award), Jane Eyre (Tony nominee), Stanley (Tony nominee). International: Macbeth (Almeida Theatre); Hamlet, Candide, Peter Pan, The Seagull (with Judi Dench), Stanley and Humble Boy (National Theatre); The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night and Dance of Death (Royal Dramatic Theatre, Sweden); A Midsummer Night's Dream (New National Theatre, Japan); Jane Eyre and The Beggar's Opera (Nissay Theatre, Japan). Television & Film: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, As You Like It, and his adaptation of Henry IV for the BBC. Additional credits include The Siegfried and Roy Spectacular in Las Vegas, numerous operas including Brief Encounter and Tosca at Houston Grand Opera and Don Carlos at Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. He has recently published a book about directing called Theatre Craft. Mr. Caird is an Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Principal Guest Director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm.

Paul Gordon (Music and Lyrics, Co-Orchestrator) was nominated for a 2000 Tony Award for composing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical Jane Eyre, directed by John Caird and Scott Schwartz. Paul's musical Emma, based on the novel by Jane Austen, premiered at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto in September 2007, breaking box office records. Emma has since had successful regional productions at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Paul's other projects include Lucky Break, written with Jay Gruska and Seth Friedman, based on the 1976 film "The Front," Death: The Musical, and Greetings from Venice Beach. Mr. Gordon has written several number one pop songs and is the recipient of nine ASCAP awards.

Megan McGinnis (Jerusha Abbott) originated the role of Jerusha at the Rubicon Theatre (Independent Award), TheatreWorks and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Acclaim Award). She was last seen on Broadway starring as Eponine in the revival of Les Misérables. She originated the role of Beth March in the Broadway musical Little Women and played a year-long run as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Other Broadway credits: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Parade and The Diary of Anne Frank. National Tours: The Sound of Music (Liesl) and James Joyce's The Dead (Lily). Television & film: Dear John; Sister, Sister; Wings; Blossom (recurring); Anywhere But Here and A Goofy Movie. Megan can be heard on the original cast recordings of Little Women and Parade, and most recently, on Sutton Foster's album Wish singing the duet "Flight."

ROBERT ADELMAN HANCOCK (Jervis Pendleton) National Tour: Mamma Mia! New York: College the Musical, New York Musical Theatre Festival. Regional: Daddy Long Legs (TheatreWorks, Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), James Joyce's The Dead (Court Theatre), The Fantasticks (Utah Shakespearean Festival), Hair (Hangar Theatre), Route 66 (Original Cast - Milwaukee Rep), Forever Plaid (Barrymore nomination - Delaware Theatre Company), Muscle (Pegasus Players), A Christmas Carol (Westport Country Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (Rubicon Theatre Company). Television & Film: Guiding Light and The Liver. Mr. Hancock has performed as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic and is a member of The Music Theatre Company of Chicago.

DADDY LONG LEGS has assembled an award-winning design team. The set and costume design is by David Farley. The lighting design is by Paul Toben.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

DADDY LONG LEGS will begin performances on Friday, November 5 (with a press opening on Saturday, November 6) and runs for three weeks through Sunday, November 21. Performances will be 7:30pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8pm on Fridays; 2pm and 8pm on Saturdays; and 2pm and 7pm on Sundays.

There will be no matinee performance on Saturday, November 6 and no evening performance on Sunday, November 7. There will be a talk-back session following the performance on Tuesday, November 9.
Tickets range from $35 - $50 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre's website, www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student, Senior, Children and group discounts are available.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.

Need more Los Angeles Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...