Mirvish Theater Changes Line-up, THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH Plays 10/20-11/29

David Mirvish is delighted to announce a change to the line-up of shows for the 2009-10 Mirvish Theatre Subscription Season. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton's new musical THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH will be the second show in the season, replacing the already announced Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The new show will play October 20 to November 29, 2009 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Explains David Mirvish: "We had initially announced THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH to play the 2008-09 subscription season, but had to drop it from the season when we could not find an appropriate venue for this new musical. It was to have been co-produced with the Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC), which has been an excellent producing partner of ours for many years. MTC carried on with their production and we recently saw it in Winnipeg in a show featuring an all-Canadian cast, directed by Ben Elton.

"This new production is immensely impressive. The show has just ended its Winnipeg run, having had a great engagement, playing to capacity crowds who stood and cheered at the end of every performance. As soon as we saw it we knew we had to find a way to bring it to Toronto.

"Andrew Lloyd Webber visited MTC and agreed with our assessment; he too was anxious for the production to come to Toronto and agreed to postpone his Joseph to a future season.

"And as the Royal Alexandra Theatre is now available, we also had the perfect venue for this intimate but powerful new work.

"It's all come together so quickly, as is sometimes the case with shows that are meant to be. We couldn't be more delighted to have this production in the season."
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton's THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH tells the story of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this coming-of-age story is about a group of young men and women who are involved with a local soccer team at the start of a 30-year civil war. Some are drawn into the conflict, while others stand aside wanting only to be allowed to live and love in peace.

Writer Ben Elton tells their story with humour and compassion, with lyrics that are both funny and heartbreaking. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's evocative score combines heart-searing ballads and stirring anthems. This powerful and passionate musical is a joyous celebration of the freedom that love can bring.

The show began life as The Beautiful Game, playing for a year in London's West End, from September 2000 until September 2001. Receiving stellar reviews, with critics calling it Andrew Lloyd Webber's best musical and praising Ben Elton's book and lyrics, the show was awarded the prestigious Best Musical Award in the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards 2000.

The creators had wanted an opportunity to rework the musical for some time. That chance came with the MTC production. Now Toronto will be able to experience this major new work from the leading creators in musical theatre.
THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH stars an impressive all-Canadian cast. In the lead roles Tony Le Page plays John Kelly, Erica Peck plays Mary McGuire and Richard McMillan plays Father O'Donnell.

The Ensemble cast features: (in alphabetical order) Kathryn Ballantine, Matthew Bradley, Caleb Cosman, Tracy Dawson, Tom Delbello, Kelly Fletcher, Jacquelyn French, Jeff Giles, Richard Harte, Allie Hughes, David Hurwitz, Joanna Keats, Cody Scott Lancaster, Brandon McGibbon, Adrienne Merrell, Shawn Meunier, Matt Murray, Carson Nattrass, Laura Olafson, Ange Pagano, Kristen Peace and Justin Stadnyk.

Book and Lyrics writer and Director Ben Elton leads the creative team, which also features Music Director Bob Foster, Choreographer and Assistant Director Tracey Flye, Set and Costume Designer Brian Perchaluk, Lighting Designer Michael J. Whitfield and Sound Designer John Bent Jr.

The 2009-10 Mirvish Theatre Subscription begins this summer with THE HARDER THEY COME and continues with: STUFF HAPPENS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, The NEW Mel Brooks MUSICAL: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT. THE MUSICAL. Our two bonus shows include: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and CLOUD NINE.

The seven show package is priced from only $99 to $579. To purchase subscriptions, call 416-593-4225 or 1-800-771-3933 or www.mirvish.com

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