A Topiary Grows in Brooklyn: Edward Scissorhands Cuts a Rug at BAM March 14

By Zachary Pincus-Roth
and Kenneth Jones
14 Mar 2007

Michela Meazza and Sam Archer in Edward Scissorhands.
Michela Meazza and Sam Archer in Edward Scissorhands.
Photo by Bill Cooper

Matthew Bourne's dance show Edward Scissorhands begins its highly anticipated New York run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House on March 14, running through March 31. BAM is holding its spring gala in tandem with the first performance.

Edward Scissorhands — based on the Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp — arrives at BAM as part of a national tour that includes Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, among other cities.

Bourne (Swan Lake, Play Without Words, Broadway's Mary Poppins) devised, directs and choreographs the piece. Terry Davies provides the music and arrangements, which are based on themes from the film's score by Danny Elfman. The show had its world premiere in London in November 2005.

The cast includes Scott Ambler, Sam Archer, Kerry Biggin, Madelaine Brennan, Ross Carpenter, Gareth Charlton, Andrew Corbett, Gavin Eden, Adam Galbraith, Sophia Dominique Hurdley, Steve Kirkham, Dena Lague, Rachel Lancaster, James Leece, Matthew Malthouse, Drew McOnie, Michela Meazza, Ebony Molina, Rachel Morrow, Etta Murfitt, Luke Murphy, Gemma Payne, Jake Samuels, Mikah Smillie, Mami Tomotani, Hannah Vassallo, Shaun Walters, Shelby Williams, Philip Willingham,Chloe Wilkinson and Richard Winsor.

Edward Scissorhands follows the story of a young man (played on film by Depp) created by an inventor who leaves the man with scissors instead of hands. Dianne Wiest, Vincent Price, Winona Ryder, Kathy Baker, Anthony Michael Hall and Alan Arkin also starred in the 1990 Tim Burton movie.

The gala event begins with a cocktail reception in BAM's Lepercq Space, followed by a 7 PM performance and then a post-show dinner with the artists and special guests on the 52nd floor of the new 7 World Trade Center in Manhattan.

Tickets for the gala start at $300 per couple for the cocktail reception and performance only, and a pair of tickets for the entire evening plus an annual membership in the Producers Council is $1,500. Call BAM Patron Services at (718) 636-4182 for more information about the gala or to order gala tickets. BAM's Lepercq Space is at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. 7 World Trade Center is at 250 Greenwich Street in Manhattan.

Edward Scissorhands plays the Howard Gilman Opera House at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. For tickets or more information call (718) 636-4100 or visit www.bam.org.