Set against the backdrop of political unrest in Dublin, the show — written and composed by Alastair McGuckian and produced by Garrett McGuckian — was seen in an earlier developmental production in Ireland. Performances will play San Francisco's Golden Gate July 6-Aug. 10.
The move west to Canada (to the Princess of Wales Theatre, May 16-June 29) and the states will show off revisions to the material.
The California booking replaces the previously announced pre-Broadway engagement of The Wiz, which has been postponed due to schedule conflicts.
"This brand new show portrays a rich, moving, but troubled love story, set against a backdrop of political unrest and divided loyalties," according to the announcement from the 2007-2008 Citibank Best of Broadway season, under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays.
Ha'Penny Bridge is "set in Dublin during the Irish civil war in the early 1920s, a time of heightened nationalistic tension, [where] greed and deceit, jealousy and love are mixed with dramatic consequences." As previously announced, leading the international creative team will be Canadian director and choreographer Donna Feore (Stratford Festival's Oklahoma! and Oliver!). The creatives also include orchestrators Larry Blank (The Drowsy Chaperone and White Christmas) and Peter Myers (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me), vocal arranger Gordon Harrell (Fosse) and musical director Grant Sturiale (Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular), scenic designer Allen Moyer (The Little Dog Laughed and Grey Gardens), costume designer Michael Gianfrancesco (The Comedy of Errors and An Ideal Husband at the Stratford Festival), lighting designer Jock Munro, sound designer Peter McBoyle.
The cast for this Broadway-bound production of Ha'Penny Bridge as well as ticketing information and performance schedule will be announced at later date.
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SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres — San Francisco's major theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theatre series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway. For information on all SHN shows, please visit shnsf.com.
