Also new to the Gary Griffin-directed project are Tony Award-winning designers Scott Pask (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes) and Donald Holder (lights).
Saved, inspired by the darkly comic film of the same name, is the sixth and final entry in the upcoming 2007-08 Playwrights Horizons season Off-Broadway.
Saved has music and lyrics by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman (the Civilians, Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare in the Park) and book and lyrics by two-time Olivier Award nominee John Dempsey (The Witches of Eastwick) and Obie Award winner Rinne Groff (The Ruby Sunrise, TV's "Weeds"). It's based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written by Brian Dannelly & Michael Urban.
Gary Griffin (The Color Purple) will direct a cast led by Tony Award nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Misérables). Previews begin in May 2008 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater, 416 W. 42nd Street.
Scenic designer Scott Pask designed The Coast of Utopia and The Pillowman on Broadway (and took home Tonys for both); costume designer Jess Goldstein created costumes for The Rivals (sewing up a Tony win); and lighting designer Donald Holder created lighting for The Lion King (for which he won the Tony). Trujillo was nominated for both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for choreographing the Tony-winning Best Musical Jersey Boys. His additional choreography credits include All Shook Up on Broadway; the world premieres of Zhivago (La Jolla), The Mambo Kings (San Francisco), Peggy Sue Got Married (London) and the recent pre-Broadway tryout of the revival of The Wiz (La Jolla); plus Disney's re-imagined European production of Tarzan; and the Off-Broadway productions The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bare: A Pop Opera and Shakespeare in the Park's recent Romeo and Juliet. For his work in Canada, he's earned an Ovation Award and three Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations. He also has extensive ballet and opera credits. Trujillo began his career as a Broadway performer, appearing in three Tony-winning musicals: Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Guys & Dolls and Fosse.
In Saved, according to Playwrights Horizons, "Good girl Mary (Celia Keenan-Bolger) and her domineering best friend Hilary Faye are starting their senior year at the top of the social food chain at American Eagle Christian High School — that is, until Mary's boyfriend tells her he thinks he's gay. When Jesus appears in a vision, and Mary heeds his message 'to do everything she can to help him,' her good deeds are met with dire consequences, and Mary is forced to question everything she's ever believed. Through it all, she finds faith in unexpected places and learns what it truly means to be saved."
Playwrights Horizons is committed to new plays and musicals. Past musicals by the respected not-for-profit include Grey Gardens, James Joyce's The Dead, Floyd Collins, Assassins and Sunday in the Park with George.
Further casting and dates for Saved will be announced in the coming months.
For more information visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.
