The Vineyard Theatre celebrates the world-premiere opening of The Beast in the Jungle, a new dance play from the creative team behind The Scottsboro Boys, Tony-winning composer John Kander, Tony-nominated playwright David Thompson, and Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman. The production opens May 23 following previews that began May 4.
The original work, a play which fuses a waltz-inspired instrumental score with ballet and contemporary dance, is inspired by Henry James’ 1903 novella, The Beast in the Jungle. The story follows John Marcher, a man haunted by personal demons, whose great, yet unfulfilled love affair with an unforgettable woman spans decades and continents.
The cast is led by Teagle F. Bougere (The Crucible), Tony Yazbeck (On the Town), former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenko (The Americans), and Peter Friedman (Ragtime) with Maira Barriga (Miami City Ballet’s Corps De Ballet), Elizabeth Dugas (The Metropolitan Opera’s The Merry Widow), Leah Hofmann (Something Rotten!), Naomi Kakuk (The Producers), Brittany Marcin Maschmeyer (Bullets Over Broadway), Erin Moore (Shuffle Along), and Clifton Samuels (Follies).
The extended Off-Broadway engagement of The Beast in the Jungle continues through June 17.
