The musical, which will play Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, will be directed by the previously announced Lonny Price. Jim Noone will provide the stage design with costumes by Tracy Christensen, lighting by Kevin Adams, sound by Tom Clark, choreography by Casey Nickalaw and combat direction by Rick Sordelet. Candide will run May 5-8. Backed by the New York Philharmonic, Candide will star Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth and Patti LuPone as, respectively, Cunegonde and The Old Lady. They will be joined by tenor Paul Groves in the title role, tenor Stanford Olsen as Governor/Vanderdendur/Ragotski and baritone Sir Thomas Allen as Pangloss/Martin. The concerts will also feature the Westminster Symphonic Choir under the direction of Joseph Flummerfelt. Marin Aslop will conduct the Philharmonic.

Based on Voltaire's novel, Candide premiered on Broadway in 1956 at the Martin Beck Theatre. Although it boasted music by Leonard Bernstein, a book by Lillian Hellman and additional lyrics by John La Touche, Dorothy Parker and Richard Wilbur, the musical ran a brief 73 performances. The 1997 revival at the Gershwin Theatre featured a cast led by Jim Dale, Andrea Martin, Jason Danieley and Harolyn Blackwell.

Candide will be performed May 5 and 6 at 7:30 PM and May 7 and May 8 at 8 PM at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Single tickets, priced $50 $150, are available by calling (212) 875-5656. For more information about the New York Philharmonic, visit www.newyorkphilharmonic.org.