Playwright Peter Parnell has fashioned a new libretto based on Alan Jay Lerner's 1965 original, about a shrink who hypnotizes patient Daisy Gamble, unlocking her past life. In the original, the good doctor fell in love with the past woman, named Melinda, leaving the present lady confused. In the 2011 version, conceived by Mayer, Dr. Mark Bruckner (Connick) falls in love with Melinda (Mueller, making her Broadway debut), confusing the conduit patient, Davey (Turner), who is gay and seeking harmony with his partner, Warren (Gehling).
Here is a first look at publicity stills of the show's stars:
The creative team includes American Idiot Tony Award winner Christine Jones (sets), five-time Tony Award winner Catherine Zuber (costumes), American Idiot and Spring Awakening Tony Award winner Kevin Adams (lighting), two-time Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (sound), Tom Watson (hair), Lawrence Yurman (music director and arrangements) and three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman (orchestrations). Here's how the producers characterize the romantic musical comedy: "Love blooms in unexpected places in the delightfully reimagined world of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Still in love with his deceased wife, Dr. Mark Bruckner (Harry Connick, Jr.), a dashing psychiatrist and professor, unknowingly takes on the case of his life with David Gamble (David Turner), a quirky young florists' assistant. While putting David under hypnosis to help him quit smoking so he can move in with his perfect boyfriend Warren (David Gehling), Dr. Bruckner stumbles upon what he believes to be David’s former self — a dazzling and self-possessed 1940s jazz singer Melinda Wells (Jessie Mueller). Instantly intrigued by Melinda, Dr. Bruckner finds himself swept up in the pursuit of an irresistible (and impossible) love affair with this woman from another time and place, who may or may not have ever existed."
The score includes the songs "Come Back To Me," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have Now?," "She Isn't You," and the title song, plus "Love With All the Trimmings" and "Go to Sleep," as well as "Ev'ry Night at Seven," "You're All the World To Me," "Open Your Eyes" and "Too Late Now."
Originating producer Liza Lerner joins with Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman and Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams) to bring the show to Broadway.
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