Producers John N. Hart, Patrick Milling Smith, Fred Zollo, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have aligned to bring the folk-tinged Irish film to the Broadway stage. Once will first receive a pre-Broadway workshop presentation this April and May at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA. A Broadway theatre has not been announced.
Director John Tiffany, who earned critical praise for the National Theatre of Scotland production of Black Watch, will direct Once, which will have a book by Walsh. American Idiot choreographer Steven Hoggett, who also staged the military maneuvers in Black Watch, will provide musical staging. Tiffany, Hoggett and Walsh's work has been seen by New York audiences at St. Ann's Warehouse in recent seasons.
"In recent years, Enda Walsh, John Tiffany, Bob Crowley, and Steven Hoggett have been responsible for some of the most groundbreaking theatre in New York and around the world," producer John N. Hart said in a statement. "It's a dream come true to have them all working together to bring Once to the stage."
As previously reported, the Frames band member Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who starred and co-wrote the Oscar-winning songs in the film about a struggling Irish street musician, are also penning the score.
Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (Aida, Coast of Utopia, The History Boys, Love Never Dies) will design the production, which will have musical direction by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The film, directed by penned by John Carney, follows a down-and-out Dublin street performer who encounters a young Czech immigrant flower seller, who is taken with his music. Named only "Guy" and "Girl," the duo begin a music-fueled relationship where they spend a week writing and performing music together. The tale culminates in a nightlong recording session for a demo which they hope will land them a music contract in London. While only one of them ever makes it to London, the impact of their relationship leaves them both changed.
The independent Irish film was made for under $150,000, was shot in 17 days, and went on to gross over $10,000,000, becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. Songwriters Hansard and Irglová continue a worldwide tour performing songs from the Grammy-nominated soundtrack.
