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The National Theatre of Great Britain's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, will make its Nashville premiere at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall beginning today, June 3-8.
Michael Morpurgo's beloved novel, War Horse, is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's feature film of the same name, which earned six Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
Hailed by The New York Times as "theatrical magic," WAR HORSE is the powerful story of young Albert's beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. In a tale the New York Daily News calls "spellbinding, by turns epic and intimate," Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man's land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.
"We are so fortunate and honored to present this exceptional piece of theatre with our Broadway season. Staged by a brilliant creative team, this epic and moving story takes your breath away with some of the finest artistry I have seen on the stage," said Kathleen O'Brien, TPAC president and chief executive officer. "The imaginative interplay with the audience brings the horses to life right before their eyes in ways that communicate action and powerful emotion. It is both magical and meaningful as a loving tribute to the role animals play in war and a powerful message for peace."
The tour of WAR HORSE, which was adapted from the book by Morpurgo by Nick Stafford, is directed by Bijan Sheibani based on the original Tony Award-winning direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.
In addition to Best Play, WAR HORSE received Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Rae Smith), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Paule Constable), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Christopher Shutt). A Special Tony Award was given to Handspring Puppet Company for their integral work on the production.
WAR HORSE received its World Premiere in a limited engagement at the National's Olivier Theatre in 2007. The play returned to the National Theatre for a second run playing in 2008-2009 before transferring to the West End's New London Theatre in Spring 2009 where it continues to play an open-ended run. The American premiere was in Spring 2011 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York's Lincoln Center.
WAR HORSE has been seen by over four million people worldwide and is currently playing in London's West End, in Australia and on the North American Tour. This past autumn, a German version of the play entitled Gefahrten opened in Berlin and WAR HORSE began a major tour of the UK and Ireland.
The lead producers of the National Tour of WAR HORSE are Bob Boyett and the National Theatre of Great Britain.
For more information, visit: http://warhorseonstage.com/.
