Finding Neverland, which features a score by U.K. pop songwriters Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy and is also based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee, finished its pre-Broadway run at the American Repertory Theater Sept. 28. It has a book by Olivier Award nominee James Graham (This House).
Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus (Pippin, Porgy and Bess, Hair), who is the artistic director of A.R.T., helms the new musical.
Broadway insiders have speculated that the Lunt-Fontanne would be home to Finding Neverland. The theatre's current tenant, Motown, will end its Broadway run Jan. 18, 2015.
An official Broadway opening for Finding Neverland has been set for April 8.
"I am so grateful to A.R.T. and its audiences for providing the perfect environment to incubate this new musical," Weinstein said in a statement. "We are excited to continue the work and bring the musical to Broadway audiences this spring. I know that the Lunt-Fontanne, which has housed so many memorable productions, will be the ideal home for Finding Neverland." Casting for the Broadway production has not been announced. Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (Bonnie & Clyde, Newsies, "Smash") played Barrie opposite Olivier Award winner Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins) as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in the A.R.T. premiere. There has also been talk that "Glee" star and Tony nominee Matthew Morrison, who starred as Barrie in a New York workshop of the musical, could step into the leading role when Finding Neverland arrives on Broadway.
According to producers, Finding Neverland "explores the power of imagination to open up new worlds, and the pressures put upon those worlds by the inevitability of growing up."
The production's pre-Broadway engagement began at A.R.T. July 23. Executives there announced that the world-premiere engagement of Finding Neverland had become the "highest grossing and highest attended production to date." Read critics reviews of the Boston try-out here.
The musical features choreography by Emmy Award winner Mia Michaels. The creative team includes scenic designer Scott Pask, costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting designer Philip Rosenberg and sound designer Jonathan Deans.
