'ROB ROY' Musical Hits Toronto's Elgin in March 09' After Chicago Premiere

Rob Roy The Musical, a new musical based on the legendary Scottish hero from the late 17th and early 18th centuries, will receive its world premiere in Chicago, Feb. 3 - Mar 15. The musical will then run March 24 to April 19 2009 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.

The Chicago production of Rob Roy The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Len Cariou, and is co-produced by David Warrack and Bernard Abrams. The executive producers are Bernadine and Hugh Cameron, with Mitchell Schmiedling serving as Associate Producer.

Rob Roy The Musical stars George Masswohl in the title role, Susan Gilmour as his wife Mary, David Dunbar as Rob Roy's nemesis the Duke of Montrose as well as a supporting cast of 22 and an orchestra of 10 musicians.

Opened in 1960 and rebuilt following a 1967 fire, the Arie Crown underwent a $6 million renovation in 1997 to improve acoustics, enhance audience comfort and amenities and provide a more intimate rapport between the performers and the stage. With one of the most expansive stages in Chicago, the theater has in more recent years played host to a wide array of trade shows, limiting its availability as a venue for public performances. During its history, the Arie Crown played host to some of the most legendary productions in the history of the theater, including The King and I starring Yul Brynner. Sweeney Todd starring Angela Lansbury and Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing, as well as other dance, opera and concert programming. For many years, it was the site of the annual production of Ruth Page's The Nutcracker.

"We are very excited that Rob Roy The Musical will be presented at the Arie Crown," said the theater's director Dulcie Gilmore. "This is an ideal production for showcasing our excellent acoustics and fantastic sightlines to a larger audience. We think the production will look terrific at the Arie Crown, and hope this will be the first of many musicals that will play our stage."

"Chicago is known for having one of the savviest audience bases in the world, which is why we wanted to premiere Rob Roy The Musical here, before taking it to Toronto, and eventually to Broadway," said Rob Roy The Musical producer David Warrack. "When we saw the Arie Crown, we knew instantly that the show would look great in this facility. I look forward to working with Dulcie and her team to bring this production to Chicago."

Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America, offers 2.7 million square feet of exhibit space. McCormick Place is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and attracts approximately three million visitors each year. McCormick Place is comprised of four state-of-the-art buildings: the North, South and West Buildings and Lakeside Center, as well as the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel. Together, they form what many consider to be the economic engine that powers the entire convention and tradeshow industry    

For more information please visit, www.robroythemusical.com

Photo Credit for Len Cariou: Richard Lewin