The first preview is now scheduled for 8 PM Saturday, May 10. No May 10 matinee had been scheduled. Patrons with tickets to May 9 should go to the point of purchase.
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There is enough pressure in high school without the Lord appearing to you and telling you what to do — even if he does provide a divine setup for a song. That's the way it goes in the new affectionate, coming-of-age musical, Saved, getting its world premiere at Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons.
Tony Award nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) plays Mary, who gets guidance from Jesus when her boyfriend reveals a secret.
Directed by Gary Griffin (Dancing in the Dark, The Color Purple), Saved — set in and around American Eagle Christian High School — has music and lyrics by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman (The Civilians' Gone Missing and Paris Commune) and book and lyrics by two-time Olivier Award nominee John Dempsey (The Witches of Eastwick) and Obie Award winner Rinne Groff (The Ruby Sunrise, Showtime's "Weeds"). Choreography is by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). It's based on the 2004 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban.
Saved will officially open on the Mainstage at Playwrights Horizons June 3. Performances continue to June 22. Saved is being produced by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical, with an eye toward a wider life if it finds salvation with critics and audiences.
According to Playwrights Horizons, "In Saved, good girl Mary (Celia Keenan-Bolger) and her domineering best friend Hilary Faye (Mary Faber) are starting their senior year at the top of the social food chain at American Eagle Christian High School — that is, until Mary's boyfriend (Aaron Tveit) tells her he thinks he's gay. When Jesus appears in a vision, and Mary heeds his message 'to do everything she can to help him,' her good deeds are met with dire consequences, and Mary is forced to question everything she's ever believed. Through it all, she finds faith in unexpected places and learns what it truly means to be saved."
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As previously announced, the cast of Saved features Tony Award nominee John Dossett (Gypsy, Mamma Mia!), Drama Desk Award nominee Julia Murney (The Wild Party, Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and national tour), Mary Faber (Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky at Playwrights Horizons, Avenue Q), Josh Breckenridge (The Ritz), Juliana Ashley Hansen (national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie), Curtis Holbrook (Xanadu), Van Hughes (Hairspray), Jason Michael Snow (Fredric in Pirates of Penzance at Goodspeed), Morgan Weed (Next to Normal), Aaron Tveit (Next to Normal), Emily Walton (national tour of A Christmas Carol) and Daniel Zaitchik (Kimberly Akimbo).
The Saved design team includes scenic designer Scott Pask (The Coast of Utopia, The Pillowman), costume designer Jess Goldstein (The Rivals) and lighting designer Donald Holder (The Lion King). All three are Tony Award winners. Sound design is by three-time Drama Desk Award nominee Brian Ronan (Grey Gardens, Spring Awakening).
Orchestrations are by Curtis Moore (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin), musical director is Jesse Vargas and music coordinator is John Miller. Production stage manager is Judith Schoenfeld, and stage manager is Michael McGoff.
The performance schedule for Saved will be Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2:30 & 8 PM and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. Tickets are $70.
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For ticket information, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200. Playwrights Horizons is at 416 W. 42nd Street in Manhattan.
For more information, visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.
