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Music and Emotion Mix in Coram Boy, Opening on Broadway May 2
By Andrew Gans
02 May 2007
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Uzo Aduba and Xanthe Elbrick in Coram Boy.
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| photo by Joan Marcus | The New York premiere of the National Theatre of Great Britain's hit play Coram Boy officially opens May 2 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre. The production began previews April 16.
Set in 18th-century England, the music-infused production tells the tale of "two orphans at the Coram Hospital for Deserted Children: Toby, saved from an African slave ship and Aaron, the abandoned son of the heir to a great estate."
The 40-person cast features Drama Desk Award winner Jan Maxwell as villainess Mrs. Lynch, Jolly Abraham (Bombay Dreams) as Molly, Uzo Aduba as Toby, Jacqueline Antaramian (Julius Caesar) as Mrs. Hendry, Bill Camp (Heartbreak House) as Otis Gardiner, Dashiell Eaves (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as adult Thomas Ledbury, Xanthe Elbrick as Young Alexander Ashbrook/Aaron, Tom Riis Farrell (Dirty Blonde) as Mr. Claymore, Brad Fleischer (Pig Farm) as Meshak Gardiner, Karron Graves as Isobel Ashbrook, Laura Heisler as Edward Ashbrook, Angela Lin as Miss Price, David Andrew Macdonald (Two Shakespearean Actors) as Lord Ashbrook, Quentin Maré (Julius Caesar) as Frederic Handel, Kathleen McNenny (The Constant Wife) as Mrs. Milcote, Cristin Milioti (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as Alice Ashbrook, Charlotte Parry (The Real Thing) as young Thomas Ledbury, Christina Rouner as Lady Ashbrook, Ivy Vahanian as Melissa/Angel and Wayne Wilcox (Suddenly Last Summer) as adult Alexander Ashbrook.
Also part of the cast is a 20-member onstage choir, which performs Handel's "Messiah" as well as over an hour's worth of original music composed by Adrian Sutton. The choir includes Philip Anderson, John Arbo, Sean Attebury, Renée Brna, Charlotte Cohn, Sean Cullen, Katie Geissinger, Zachary James, Tinashe Kajese, Katherine Keyes, Evangelia Kingsley, bj Karpen, Eric William Morris, Samantha Soule, Daniel Neer, Nina Negri, Mark Rehnstrom, Martín Solá, Alisson Weller and Greg Wright. The singers are backed by a seven-piece chamber orchestra.
Adapted by Helen Edmundson from Jamila Gavin's award-winning novel, Coram Boy features direction by Melly Still. The creative team also includes Ti Green and Melly Still (designs), Paul Constable (lighting design), Adrian Sutton (music), Christopher Shutt (sound design), Constantine Kitsopoulos (music director) and Thomas Schall (fight director).
Coram Boy recently announced a half-priced ticket initiative for theatregoers ages 12-18. Entitled "The Under 18 Project," the plan allows theatregoers of that age to attend the new Broadway production at half price ($51.25) with the purchase of one full-priced ticket ($101.25). A similar program was launched during Coram Boy's London run, and the show's Broadway producers hope "The Under 18 Project" will "develop new American audiences and introduce young adults to the magic of theatre just as the UK program was successful in doing." "The Under 18 Project" tickets are available for all performances of Coram Boy and may be purchased by calling (212) 947-8824 or by visiting www.broadwayoffers.com.
Regular tickets, priced $56.25-$101.25, are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. The Imperial Theatre is located in Manhattan at 249 West 45th Street.
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Ivy Vahanian (center) and company in the Broadway production of Coram Boy at the Imperial Theatre,
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| photo by Joan Marcus |
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