Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland is an original musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham. Inspired by the 2004 film Finding Neverland, the musical made its world premiere at the Curve theatre Leicester in 2012, with the reworked version making its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] Following completion of its Cambridge run the production transfered to Broadway in the Spring of 2015.
Background
On 6 February 2011, La Jolla Playhouse, California, announced that they would produce a new stage musical based on the film with the book by Allan Knee, score by Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics), and directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford.[2] A planned production at La Jolla Playhouse was not held.[3] A developmental reading was held in New York on 31 March 2011, with Julian Ovenden, Kelli O’Hara, Tony Roberts, Mary Beth Peil, Michael Cumpsty, and Meredith Patterson, directed by Ashford.[4] The adaptation had its world premiere on 22 September 2012 at Curve in Leicester.[5] Directed by Rob Ashford, it starred Julian Ovenden as J.M Barrie and West End actress Rosalie Craig as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.
On 4 September 2013, it was announced that producer Harvey Weinstein has hired Barry Weissler as executive producer. They plan on opening a revised version of the musical at the American Repertory Theater (ART), Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2014. The revised musical has a new creative team, with Diane Paulus as director, a new book by James Graham and 22 songs by Gary Barlow,[6] with a few songs from the original composers. A private reading was held in September 2013 with Brian d’Arcy James as Barrie and Jason Alexander as the “nagging theater producer”.[7]
This version ran at the ART from 23 July 2014 to 28 September 2014, with songs by six-time Ivor Novello winner Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, the book by James Graham and choreography by Mia Michaels; ART artistic director Diane Paulus is the director.[8] The full cast and creative team was announced on 2 June 2014, with Jeremy Jordan as Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies featured. The cast also includes Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George and Hayden Signoretti as Jack.[9] Roger Bart who was originally announced for the character of Charles Frohman has been replaced by Michael McGrath.[10]
Jennifer Hudson debuted a song from the musical at the 68th Tony Awards on 8 June 2014.[11]
The ART production directed by Diane Paulus is moving to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in the Spring of 2015. [12] On 10 November 2014 it was announced that Tony-nominee Matthew Morrison and more recently the popular American musical television program Glee, will take Jordan’s place in the portrayal of J.M. Barrie in the production’s Spring 2015 move to Broadway.[13] Kelsey Grammer will star as Charles Frohman and Laura Michelle Kelly will reprise the role of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.[14]
Casts
| Role | Original Leicester Cast | Original A.R.T. Cast | Original Broadway Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.M. Barrie | Julian Ovenden | Jeremy Jordan | Matthew Morrison |
| Sylvia Llewelyn Davies | Rosalie Craig | Laura Michelle Kelly | |
| Charles Frohman† / James Hook | Oliver Boot | Michael McGrath | Kelsey Grammer |
| Mary Barrie | Clare Foster | Jeanna de Waal | Teal Wicks |
| Michael Llewelyn Davies | Worrall Courtney Jon Joe Flynn Morgan Heath Jamieson Hughes |
Alex Dreier | Alex Dreier Hayden Signoretti Noah Hinsdale |
| Jack Llewelyn Davies | Connor Fitzgerald Harrisson Slater Garrett Tennant |
Hayden Signoretti | Hayden Signoretti Chris Richards Alex Dreier |
| George Llewelyn Davies | Connor Phillips Josh Swinney Corey Wickenden |
Sawyer Nunes | Sawyer Nunes Chris Richards Jack DeMott Hill |
| Peter Llewelyn Davies | Theo Fewell Luke James Harry Folden |
Aidan Gemme | Aidan Gemme Chris Richards Jack DeMott Hill |
| Mrs. du Maurier | Liz Robertson | Carolee Carmello | |
| Miss Jones | Courtney Balan | ||
| Miss Potter | Dana Costello | ||
| Mr. Turpin / Sir Edward | Matt Wilman | Rory Donovan | |
| Miss Bassett | Gaelen Gilliland | ||
| Porthos | Champion Poolsway | Thayne Jasperson | |
| Mr. Cromer | Josh Lamon | ||
| Peter Pan | Michelle Francis | Melanie Moore | |
| Servant | Mary Page Nance Jonathan Ritter JC Schuster Ron Todorowski |
||
| Elliot | Stuart Neal | ||
| Wendy | Emma Pfaeffle | ||
| Lord Cannan† | Edward Lewisd French | Tyley Ross | |
| Mr. Henshaw | Paul Slade Smith | ||
In the Leicester production, Lord Cannan was called Lord Griffin and Charles Blount was called Maximilian Blunt. Cut characters include PG Wodehouse (Norman Bowman), Mermaid (Ashley Hale), Scheherazade (Frankie Jenna), Mother (Julia Jupp), Arthur Conan Doyle (Martin Ledwith), Sally (Zoe Rainey), GK Chesteron (Gary Watson), Jerome K. Jerome (Stephen Webb), and David (James Scudamore).
Run
|
Date
|
Type & Version
|
Theatre
|
| Apr 15, 2015 – Open | Musical, Original |
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC
|
Musical Numbers
|
|
Full Broadway Cast
| Carolee Carmello | Madame du Maurier | |
| Kelsey Grammer | Charles Frohman | |
| Laura Michelle Kelly | Sylvia Llewelyn Davies | |
| Matthew Morrison | J.M. Barrie | |
| Jackson DeMott Hill | ||
| Alex Dreier | ||
| Aidan Gemme | ||
| Noah Hinsdale | ||
| Josh Lamon | ||
| Sawyer Nunes | ||
| Chris Richards | ||
| Hayden Signoretti | ||
| Jessica Vosk | ||
| Teal Wicks | ||
| Courtney Balan | ||
| Chris Dwan | ||
| Dana Costello | ||
| Colin Cunliffe | ||
| Rory Donovan | ||
| Kevin Kern | ||
| Melanie Moore | ||
| Fred Odgaard | ||
| Mary Page Nance | ||
| Emma Pfaeffle | ||
| Jonathan Ritter | ||
| Tyley Ross | ||
| Julius Anthony Rubio | ||
| Paul Slade Smith | ||
| Ron Todorowski | ||
| Jaime Verazin |
Broadway Creative
Producer - Harvey Weinstein
Book by James Graham
Based on the play “The Man Who Was Peter Pan” by Allan Knee
Dance and incidental music arrangements by David Chase
Music orchestrated by Simon Hale
Vocal Design by AnnMarie Milazzo
Musical Director: Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Directed by Diane Paulus
Choreographed by Mia Michaels
Associate Director: Nancy Harrington
Assistant Director: Mia Walker
Assistant Choreographer: Kevin Wilson and Jamie Verazin
Scenic Design by Scott Pask
Costume Design by Suttirat Larlarb
Lighting Design by Kenneth Posner
Sound Design by Jonathan Deans
Hair & Makeup Design by Richard Mawbey
Projection Design by Jon Driscoll
Associate Scenic Design: Orit Jacoby Carroll and Mary Hamrick
Associate Costume Design: Martin Schnellinger
Associate Lighting Design: Joel Shier
Assistant Costume Design: Seth Bodie and Lizzie Donelan
Assistant Lighting Design: Nick Solyom
Assistant Sound Design: Brian Hsieh
Associate Projection Design: Gemma Carrington
Moving Lights Programmer: David Arch
Executive Producer: Barry & Fran Weissler, Alecia Parker and Victoria Parker
General Manager: B.J. Holt
Company Manager: Daniel Hoyos
Associate Gen. Mgr: Amanda Murray
Assistant Co. Mgr: Tyler Forrest
Production Stage Manager: C. Randall White
Stage Manager: Kathleen E. Purvis
Assistant Stage Mgr: Sharika Niles
Production Manager: Juniper Street Productions
Musical Supervisor: David Chase
Musical Coordinator: Howard Joines
Conducted by Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Associate Conductor: David Gardos
Keyboard: Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Keyboard/Accordion: David Gardos
Reeds: Janet Axelrod and Alden Banta
Trumpet: Alex Bender
Trombone: John Allred
Guitars: Sean Driscoll
Guitar/Keyboard: Matt Hinkley
Basses: Brian Hamm
Drums: Chris Parker
Percussion: Dave Roth
Violin: Justin Smith
Viola/Violin: Robert Taylor
Cello: Sarah Hewitt-Roth
Electronic Music Programmer: Jeff Marder
Music Copying: Emily Grishman Music Preparation/Emily Grishman, Katharine Edmonds
References
- Joel Brown (15 August 2014). “Standout performances elevate ART’s ‘Finding Neverland’”. Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- Staff. “‘Finding Neverland’ Musical by GREY Gardens Team Ashford Directs Choeographs”. BroadwayWorld.com. 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
- Jones, Kenneth. ” ‘Finding Neverland’, With Score by Michael Korie & Scott Frankel, Gets London Presentation; Julian Ovenden Stars” playbill.com, 12 December 2011
- Jones, Kenneth. “‘Finding Neverland, the Musical’, Gets NYC Presentation With Kelli O’Hara and Julian Ovenden”. Playbill.com. 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
- “Finding Neverland Musical, Starring Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Craig, Premieres in U.K. Sept. 22″. playbill.com. Playbill. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- “Episode 4″. The Sound of Musicals. Season 1. 3 December 2013. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-sound-of-musicals/4od.
- Healy, Patrick. “Weinstein Lands a Big-Name Executive Producer for ‘Finding Neverland’ “ The New York Times (artsbeat.blogs), 4 September 2013
- Hetrick, Adam. “Revised Finding Neverland Musical Will Premiere as Part of American Repertory Theater’s 2014-15 Season” playbill.com, 27 March 2014
- “Breaking News: Jeremy Jordan and Laura Michelle Kelly to Lead ‘Finding Neverland’ Cast; Plus Bart, Carmello & More - Full Cast and Creative Team Announced” broadwayworld.com, Retrieved 4 June 2014
- Bowgen, Philippe. “Tony Winner Swap: Michael McGrath To Replace Roger Bart in A.R.T.’s ‘Finding Neverland’ Opening July 23″ playbill.com, 12 June 2014
- “Jennifer Hudson Will Perform Song from ‘Finding Neverland’ at the Tony Awards!” broadwayworld.com, Retrieved 4 June 2014
- Finding Neverland Will Fly to Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Retrieved November 13, 2014
- Official: Matthew Morrison Will Return to Broadway in FINDING NEVERLAND! Broadway World, Retrieved November 13, 2014
- Breaking News: Kelsey Grammer Joins FINDING NEVERLAND; Laura Michelle Kelly to Reprise Role on Broadway! Broadway World, Retrieved November 13, 2014
Category: Musical
