Based on the recent, acclaimed City Center Encores! engagement, Finian's will officially open on Broadway Oct. 29 at 6:45 PM.
David Richenthal and Jack Viertel will produce the Broadway transfer. Warren Carlyle (A Tale of Two Cities), who helmed the March Encores! staging, will again direct and choreograph. Rob Berman will also repeat his duties as musical director.
As previously announced, the cast will be headed by Wonderful Town's Kate Baldwin as Sharon McLonergan, Xanadu's Cheyenne Jackson as Woody Mahoney, The Seafarer Tony winner Jim Norton as Finian McLonergan, Young Frankenstein Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as the leprechaun Og and Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (The Life) as Bill Rawkins.
Newly announced cast members include Guy Davis (Sunny), Alina Faye (Susan Mahoney), Brian Reddy (Sheriff), David Schramm (Senator Rawkins), Terri White (Dottie) and William Youmans (Buzz Collins).
The ensemble comprises 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. Finian's Rainbow has a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. The musical, according to press notes, "tells the story of the Irishman Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon who travel to a small Southern town in the mythical state of Missitucky with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply. They have been followed from Ireland by the owner of the gold, a leprechaun, who shows up determined to recover his treasure."
The score boasts such tunes as "Look to the Rainbow," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," "Old Devil Moon" and "If This Isn't Love."
The original production of Finian's Rainbow opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Jan. 10, 1947, and played 725 performances. Michael Kidd won a Tony Award for Best Choreography.
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 West 44th Street.
Tickets are $35-$75 in previews and $50-$120 post-opening. There are also special post-opening Wednesday evening prices as low as $25. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning (212) 239-6200.
For more information visit www.FiniansOnBroadway.com.
