FINIAN'S RAINBOW
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Finian's Rainbow box office opening release
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BOX OFFICE OPENS TODAY FOR
FINIAN’S RAINBOW
CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION
BEGINS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
AT BROADWAY’S ST. JAMES THEATRE
OPENING SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
FIRST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF CLASSIC MUSICAL
IN NEARLY 50 YEARS
“RADIANT” AND “EBULLIENT”
SAYS THE NEW YORK TIMES
PRODUCTION STARS
JIM NORTON, KATE BALDWIN, CHEYENNE JACKSON,
CHRISTOPHER FITZGERALD, AND CHUCK COOPER
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DIRECTOR-CHOREOGRAPHER WARREN CARLYLE
ANNOUNCES CHANGES FOR BROADWAY PRODUCTION
Tuesday, September 8 – Producers David Richenthal, Jack Viertel, and Alan D. Marks have announced that the box office opens today for the Broadway production of the critically-acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of Finian’s Rainbow, which transfers to Broadway’s St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, beginning Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, with an opening set for Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm.
Director-choreographer Warren Carlyle comments on the upcoming Broadway transfer, “It is with the greatest pleasure that I direct and choreograph the new revival of Finian's Rainbow this fall at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. Having directed a successful version of this musical last season at City Center Encores!, I am truly excited to revisit and build on my original concept. This new Broadway production is a total re-imagining of every design element.”
He continues, “The entire creative team, including Tony Award winning designers John Lee Beatty, Ken Billington, and Scott Lehrer, has worked tirelessly to bring a fully realized production of Finian's Rainbow to Broadway. One major difference between the Encores! concert staging and this new Broadway show is that the full orchestra will now be placed in the pit, providing me with more opportunities to fully choreograph sequences and expand the world of Rainbow Valley. Unlike the Encores! concert series this production allows for the design of nearly two hundred costume pieces by acclaimed designer, Toni-Leslie James.”
“We have also incorporated numerous moments of magic with the help of magic consultant, Matthew Holtzclaw. Many of the cast members return including Tony Award winner Jim Norton, as well as Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson. Joining the cast are Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper and Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald. With all of these additions and enhancements come an opportunity for me to present audiences with a fully realized and completely magical evening in the theatre,” Carlyle concluded.
Finian’s Rainbow has a book by Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by Yip Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. It is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle; musical direction is by Rob Berman.
With a sparkling score of beloved standards and a whimsical story that dances between romance, satire, and fairy tale, Finian’s Rainbow is a musical theater treasure. Set in the mythical southern state of Missitucky, Finian’s Rainbow pits a charming Irish dreamer and his headstrong daughter against the host of complications that await them in their newly adopted land: a bigoted southern Senator, a credit crisis, a pesky leprechaun, and, of course, a complicated love affair that gives birth to some of the most witty, charming and heartfelt songs ever written for the stage.
The musical’s score boasts such classic songs as "Old Devil Moon," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," Look to the Rainbow," and "If This Isn't Love.”
Finian’s Rainbow garnered rave reviews during its five-performance run last season at City Center:
“Radiant. Ebullient. Mighty waves of laughter. Finian’s Rainbow is surprisingly ageless. Its mad invention is bathed in a radiant score by Lane and Harburg…weaving a spell of happy enchantment. The ever-delightful Jim Norton is perfectly cast as Finian. Kate Baldwin is a discovery as Sharon. Her rich, pure soprano rides the crest of the melodies with ease. Pixie dust must have been mixed into the recipe for Finian’s Rainbow.”
Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“No Broadway score is as beguiling from beginning to end as Burton Lane’s savory stew of Celtic lilt, Southern gospel, and bubbling pop.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“Finian’s Rainbow is a pot of musical gold! A 24-carat revival packed with fantastic tunes. Thanks to a terrific cast assembled by director Warren Carlyle, it is hard to imagine ‘How Are Things in Glocca Morra,’ ‘Look to the Rainbow,’ ‘Old Devil Moon,’ ‘When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love’ and the other songs sounding any better. The wonderful Kate Baldwin and the charismatic Cheyenne Jackson have sparkling chemistry together.”
Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
“Dazzling! Magical! A stirring production featuring a top-flight cast!”
Frank Scheck, New York Post
“High spirits, extravagant comedy, political satire and irrepressible, twinkle-eyed wit. A cornucopia of bounteous melody cascades across the footlights. Those who hasten to Finian’s Rainbow will be rewarded with a pot of golden tunes. Tony winner Jim Norton demonstrates broad comic talents as Finian. The find of the production is Kate Baldwin. Terry White shakes the rafters.”
Steven Suskin, Variety
“Finian’s Rainbow is simply wonderful!”
David Finkle, Theatremania.com
This will be the first Broadway revival of the classic musical in nearly 50 years. The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian’s Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway’s 46th Street Theatre.
Finian’s Rainbow plays the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street. The preview performance schedule (through Sunday, November 1) is Monday through Saturday at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. There will be special added matinees on Wednesday, October 28 at 2pm and Sunday, November 1 at 3pm. The regular performance schedule, beginning Monday, November 2, is Tuesday through Thursday at 7pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $35 – $75 in previews and $50 – $120 post opening. There are also special post-opening Wednesday evening prices as low as $25.00. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning 212.239.6200. For groups, which are on sale now, phone 212.541.8457 or 1.800.BROADWAY. The St. James Theatre box office opens Tuesday, September 8. For more information about Finian’s Rainbow, visit www.FiniansOnBroadway.com.
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CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED
NEW YORK CITY CENTER ENCORES! PRODUCTION OF
FINIAN’S RAINBOW
TO TRANSFER TO BROADWAY’S ST. JAMES THEATRE
BEGINNING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
OPENING SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
FIRST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF CLASSIC MUSICAL
IN NEARLY 50 YEARS
“RADIANT” AND “EBULLIENT”
SAYS THE NEW YORK TIMES
PRODUCTION STARS
JIM NORTON, KATE BALDWIN, CHEYENNE JACKSON,
CHRISTOPHER FITZGERALD, AND CHUCK COOPER
DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY WARREN CARLYLE
HARBURG & LANE SCORE INCLUDES BROADWAY CLASSICS
“OLD DEVIL MOON” AND “HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA?”
Producers David Richenthal, Jack Viertel, and Alan D. Marks have announced that the critically-acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of Finian’s Rainbow, will transfer to Broadway’s St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, beginning Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, with an opening set for Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm.
Finian’s Rainbow has a book by Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by Yip Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. It is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle; musical direction is by Rob Berman.
The production stars Jim Norton (Finian), Kate Baldwin (Sharon), Cheyenne Jackson (Woody), Christopher Fitzgerald (Og), and Chuck Cooper (Bill).
With a sparkling score of beloved standards and a whimsical story that dances between romance, satire, and fairy tale, Finian’s Rainbow is a musical theater treasure. Set in the mythical southern state of Missitucky, Finian’s Rainbow pits a charming Irish dreamer and his headstrong daughter against the host of complications that await them in their newly adopted land: a bigoted southern Senator, a credit crisis, a pesky leprechaun, and, of course, a complicated love affair that gives birth to some of the most witty, charming and heartfelt songs ever written for the stage.
The musical’s score boasts such classic songs as "Old Devil Moon," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," Look to the Rainbow," and "If This Isn't Love.”
Finian’s Rainbow garnered rave reviews during its five-performance run last season at City Center:
“Radiant. Ebullient. Mighty waves of laughter. Finian’s Rainbow is surprisingly ageless. Its mad invention is bathed in a radiant score by Lane and Harburg…weaving a spell of happy enchantment. The ever-delightful Jim Norton is perfectly cast as Finian. Kate Baldwin is a discovery as Sharon. Her rich, pure soprano rides the crest of the melodies with ease. Pixie dust must have been mixed into the recipe for Finian’s Rainbow.”
Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“No Broadway score is as beguiling from beginning to end as Burton Lane’s savory stew of Celtic lilt, Southern gospel and bubbling pop.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“Finian’s Rainbow is a pot of musical gold! A 24-carat revival packed with fantastic tunes. Thanks to a terrific cast assembled by director Warren Carlyle, it is hard to imagine ‘How Are Things in Glocca Morra,’ ‘Look to the Rainbow,’ ‘Old Devil Moon,’ ‘When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love’ and the other songs sounding any better. The wonderful Kate Baldwin and the charismatic Cheyenne Jackson have sparkling chemistry together.”
Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
“Dazzling! Magical! A stirring production featuring a top-flight cast!”
Frank Scheck, New York Post
“High spirits, extravagant comedy, political satire and irrepressible, twinkle-eyed wit. A cornucopia of bounteous melody cascades across the footlights. Those who hasten to Finian’s Rainbow will be rewarded with a pot of golden tunes. Tony winner Jim Norton demonstrates broad comic talents as Finian. The find of the production is Kate Baldwin. Terry White shakes the rafters.”
Steven Suskin, Variety
“Finian’s Rainbow is simply wonderful!”
David Finkle, Theatremania.com
This will be the first Broadway revival of the classic musical in nearly 50 years. The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian’s Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway’s 46th Street Theatre.
Rounding out the cast of Finian’s Rainbow are Guy Davis (Sunny), Alina Faye (Susan Mahoney), Brian Reddy (Sheriff), David Schramm (Senator Rawkins), Terri White (Dottie), William Youmans (Buzz Collins), Aaron Bantum, Tanya Birl, Christopher Borger, Meggie Cansler, Bernard Dotson, Leslie Donna Flesner, Sara Jean Ford, Taylor Frey, Lisa Gajda, Kearran Giovanni, Tim Hartman, Lauren Lim Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevin Ligon, Monica L. Patton, Joe Aaron Reid, Steve Schepis, Devin Richards, Rashidra Scott, Brian Sears, Paige Simunovich, James Stovall, Elisa van Duyne, and Tyrick Wiltez Jones.
Jim Norton won the 2008 Tony Award and the 2007 Olivier Award for The Seafarer. In New York he has appeared in The Weir, Juno and the Paycock, Dublin Carol (Obie Award), and Port Authority. His West End credits include The Weir (Olivier nomination) and National Theatre credits include The Pillowman, Bedroom Farce, Comedians, Hamlet, St. Joan. Mr. Norton has appeared in the films Straw Dogs, Driving Lessons, Hidden Agenda, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Oyster Farmer, the recent Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Conor McPherson’s upcoming The Eclipse. His television credits include “Frasier,” “Poirot,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “Father Ted.”
Kate Baldwin’s Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie (original cast). Other New York credits include Babes in Arms, A Connecticut Yankee and Bloomer Girl at New York City Center Encores! Regionally she has appeared in The Women (Mary Haines, Old Globe), South Pacific (Nellie, Helen Hayes nomination), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Passion (Clara), The Last Five Years (Cathy), 1776 (Martha), A Little Night Music (Baltimore Center Stage), Henry V (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), She Loves Me (Huntington/Williamstown, IRNE Nomination), and Hello Dolly! (Paper Mill). She appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Opening Doors at Zankel Hall and has performed concerts with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, and Portland Symphony. Her television credits include “Law & Order: SVU.” Ms. Baldwin just recorded her first solo album for PS Classics due out in October and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Cheyenne Jackson’s Broadway credits include Xanadu (Drama Desk nomination), All Shook Up (Theatre World Award winner, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations), Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On the Twentieth Century, and The 24 Hour Plays. He played Joe Hardy in the Encores! production of Damn Yankees. Off-Broadway/workshops include Altar Boyz, The Agony and the Agony, The Cartells, Little Mermaid, Tale of Two Cities, Orpheus, The Great Gatsby, Illyria, Pretty Dead Girl and Red Eye of Love. Mr. Jackson portrayed Mark Bingham in the Oscar-nominated film United 93. Other films include Curiosity and Hysteria. His television credits include “Family Practice,” “Life on Mars,” and “Ugly Betty. This year Cheyenne debuted a solo club act Back to the Start, which sold out two performances at Feinstein’s at the Lowes Regency Hotel, and in June he teamed up with Michael Feinstein for a duo show The Power of Two, which received great reviews and will be recorded next month.
Christopher Fitzgerald’s Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Wicked, and Amour (Drama Desk nomination). Off-Broadway he has appeared in Gutenberg! The Musical! (Actors’ Playhouse), Stairway to Paradise, Babes In Arms, and Broadway Bash (New York City Center Encores!), Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (Lincoln Center), Fully Committed (Cherry Lane Theatre), Saturday Night (Second Stage, Drama Desk nomination), Wise Guys (New York Theatre Workshop), Corpus Christi (Manhattan Theatre Club) and The Cripple of Inishmaan (Public Theater). Regional credits include The Beauty Queen of Lennane (Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Joseph Jefferson nomination), Springtime for Henry (Huntington Theatre, IRNE Award), Ahmanson Theater, Portland Stage Company, American Conservatory Theater, and ten seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival (where favorite productions include Billings, The Trojan Women 2.0, A Midsummer’s Nights Dream, Where’s Charley?, and Dead End). Mr. Fitzgerald’s television credits include “Twins” (series regular, WB) and “The Electric Company” (PBS), and film credits include Personal Velocity (dir. Rebecca Miller), Dedication (dir. Justin Theroux), Revolutionary Road (dir. Sam Mendes), and the upcoming untitled James L. Brooks project.
Chuck Cooper won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his portrayal of Memphis in The Life. Finian’s Rainbow marks his tenth Broadway show. Other Broadway credits include Original Bus/Dryer in Caroline, or Change; Chicago; Lennon; Passion; Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me; Rumors; Amen Corner; Getting Away With Murder. National tours include The Tap Dance Kid, Eubie, and Whistle Down the Wind. Off-Broadway includes Caroline, or Change; Avenue X; Police Boys; and Colored People’s Time. Regionally he has appeared in the premiere of Dance of the Holy Ghosts, Two Trains Running, Putting it Together, Othello, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, The Tempest, St. Heaven, and Being Alive. On television he has appeared in "Gossip Girl,” "Nurse Jackie," "Three Pounds," “Without a Trace,” “Hack,” “Law & Order,” “100 Centre Street,” “Law & Order SVU,” Paul Reiser TV Project,” “Third Watch,” “Oz,” “Strangers with Candy,” “NYPD Blue,” “The Cosby Mysteries,” “New York Undercover,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” He has appeared in the films American Gangster, Find Me Guilty, Downtown, Requiem for a Dream, Our Song, The Hurricane, The Opportunists, Gloria, The Peacemaker, The Juror, and many independents. Mr. Cooper’s website is www.chuckcooper.net.
Warren Carlyle created the musical staging for A Tale of Two Cities when it was originally produced in an out-of-town tryout at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, where it played to standing-room-only audiences in October and November of 2007. His New York credits include Juno (New York City Center Encores!), Stairway to Paradise (Encores!), You Again (NY Fringe), Working (Zipper), Slut! (ATA), Roundabout 40th Gala 2006 and the first 24 Hour Musicals at the Public Theater. Regionally he has choreographed Mame (Kennedy Center), The Pirates of Penzance (Paper Mill; Goodspeed, Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography), The Baker's Wife (Goodspeed) and Pageant (Second City). In his native England his work has included Me and My Girl (UK tour, director as well, Best Production 2007 Theatregoers Choice Award), The Goodbye Girl (1st nat'l tour), Pageant (Vaudeville Theatre), Moving On (Bridewell Theatre) and Scrooge (European tour). He is represented on film and television by Deception (20th Century Fox), "Hope and Faith" (ABC), "An Evening at the Boston Pops" (PBS) and Elton John's "Made in England" video. As associate choreographer he has contributed to The Producers (Broadway/film), Oklahoma! (Broadway) and Center Stage (film). As a resident director/choreographer, Mr. Carlyle's productions have included Jolson (London, Toronto), Fosse (London) and Oklahoma! (London). He choreographed the Old Globe production of Dancing in the Dark on a pre-Broadway run in San Diego.
Yip Harburg (1896 – 1981) was one of America’s greatest lyricists for the stage and screen. The son of poor Jewish immigrants, he attended CCNY. Also a bookwriter (usually with Fred Saidy), director, and poet, Harburg wrote lyrics for over 550 songs, including “It’s Only a Paper Moon” (with Harold Arlen), “April in Paris” (with Vernon Duke), and “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” (with Jay Gorney). His landmark musicals were Bloomer Girl (with Arlen) and Finian’s Rainbow (with Burton Lane). Mr. Harburg was final editor and wrote lyrics and continuity for the universally loved film, The Wizard of Oz.
Fred Saidy (1907 – 1982) was born in Los Angeles and edicated in New York where he studied journalism at NYU. He began his theatrical career writing screenplays, including Star Spangled Rhythm, Meet the People, and the Red Skelton comedy I Dood It. With Yip Harburg, Mr. Saidy also wrote the books for the Broadway musicals Bloomer Girl, Flahooley, Jamaica, and The Happiest Girl in the World. In 1968 he wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Finian’s Rainbow.
Burton Lane (1912 – 1997) began his career in the late 1920’s as a song plugger in Tin Pan Alley, and, over the years, collaborated with a notable collection of lyricists (including Yip Harburg, Alan Jay Lerner, Ira Gershwin, and Frank Loesser) to become one of American’s most distinguished composers of popular music. A good deal of his career was spent in Hollywood where he composed for over 45 films, including Royal Wedding, in which Fred Astaire famously danced on the ceiling to his “You’re All the World to Me.” He is also credited with discovering the eleven-year-old Frances Gumm, later better known as Judy Garland. In addition to Finian’s Rainbow, his Broadway scores include Three’s a Crowd, Earl Carroll’s Vanities (1931), Hold on to Your Hats, Laffing Room Only, Carmelina, and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
The set design for Finian’s Rainbow is by John Lee Beatty; the costume design is by Toni-Leslie James; the lighting design is by Ken Billington; the sound design is by Scott Lehrer; the hair, wig, and make-up design are by Wendy Parson.
Finian’s Rainbow plays the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street. The preview performance schedule (through Sunday, November 1) is Monday through Saturday at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. There will be special added matinees on Wednesday, October 28 at 2pm and Sunday, November 1 at 3pm. The regular performance schedule, beginning Monday, November 2, is Tuesday through Thursday at 7pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $35 – $75 in previews and $50 – $120 post opening. There are also special post-opening Wednesday evening prices as low as $25.00. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning 212.239.6200. For groups, which are on sale now, phone 212.541.8457 or 1.800.BROADWAY. The St. James Theatre box office opens Tuesday, September 8. For more information about Finian’s Rainbow, visit www.FiniansOnBroadway.com.
At FiniansOnBroadway.com, fans not only learn all about the Broadway production, they also engage with the show's interactive platforms in several innovative ways. "Look to the Rainbow" gives users the opportunity to contribute to and view a constantly changing gallery of everyday rainbows via the photo-sharing site Flickr, "Finian's Treasury" is a section of the site dedicated to show's storied past, including rare video footage from the Yip Harburg Foundation that chronicles the creation of some of his most beloved songs, and fans can also join real-time conversations on social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
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