Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing, La Bête), who staged the London production, repeats his work on Broadway along with the original London design team. Ghost will officially open on Broadway April 23.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin adapted his original screenplay for the musical, which has music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Dave Stewart (of the Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard. Rubin also contributed lyrics. The score also includes "Unchained Melody," which prominently figures into the film.
The Broadway production stars original London leads Richard Fleeshman ("Coronation Street," Legally Blonde) in his Broadway debut as Sam, opposite Caissie Levy (Hair, Wicked, Hairspray) as his girlfriend Molly. The two originated the roles in the London staging of the pop musical that opened July 19, 2011, at the Piccadilly Theatre.
The principal cast also includes Bryce Pinkham (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Orphans' Home Cycle) as Carl Bruner and Broadway newcomer Da’Vine Joy Randolph in the role of medium Oda May Brown. Completing the Ghost company are Tyler McGee, Lance Roberts, Moya Angela, Jason Babinsky, Michael Balderrama, James Brown III, Stephen Carrasco, Jeremy Davis, Sharona D’Ornellas, Josh Franklin, Albert Guerzon, Afra Hines, Carly Hughes, Karen Hyland, Alison Luff, Vasthy Mompoint, Jennifer Noble, Joe Aaron Reid, Constantine Rousouli, Jennifer Sanchez, Daniel Watts and Jesse Wildman.
Ghost has set and costume design by Rob Howell, choreography by Ashley Wallen with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and projection design by Jon Driscoll. David Holcenberg is musical director. Illusions are by Paul Kieve.
Ghost is produced on Broadway by Colin Ingram Productions Limited and Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Adam Silberman, Donovan Mannato, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter, Patricia Lambrecht in association with Paramount Pictures Corporation.
According to producers, "Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her."
The original film starred the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Whoopi Goldberg earned the Academy Award for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown. "Ghost" also earned the Oscar for Best Screenplay.
The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre is located at 205 West 46th Street. For tickets visit Ticketmaster.
