Finding Neverland Casting

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 6:22am

I'm very excited about this announcement! Already have my season tickets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 'FINDING NEVERLAND' CASTING
American Repertory Theater
presents
The World Premiere of the Musical
FINDING NEVERLAND
Music and Lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy
Book by James Graham
Directed by Diane Paulus
Choreography by Mia Michaels
July 23-September 28

Cambridge, MA — The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; announced today the first production of its 2014/15 Season: the world premiere of the musical Finding Neverland, with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy, book by James Graham, directed by Diane Paulus with choreography by Mia Michaels, presented at A.R.T. by special arrangement with Harvey Weinstein.

When a faltering playwright meets a widow and her four boys in Kensington Gardens, he embarks on a friendship that inspires one of the most beloved stories of all time. Based on the Miramax film written by David Magee, Finding Neverland follows the real-life relationship between the Llewelyn Davies family and James Matthew Barrie as he writes the revolutionary 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. Staged by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus and with music by U.K. pop sensation Gary Barlow (Take That), this new musical explores the power of imagination to open up new worlds, and the pressures put upon those worlds by the prospect of growing up.

The cast will be led by Jeremy Jordan as J.M. Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies; with Roger Bart as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmelo as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, , Sawyer Nunes as George, and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. Members of the ensemble are Courtney Balan, Dana Costello, Rory Donovan, Gaelen Gilliland, Thayne Jasperson, Josh Lamon, Cara Massey, Melanie Moore, Mary Peg Nance, Stuart Neal, Emma Pfaeffle, Jonathan Ritter, Tyler Ross, Julius Rubio, JC Schuster, Paul Slade Smith, and Ron Todorowski.

The creative team also includes scenic designer Scott Pask, costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, lighting designer Philip Rosenberg, sound designer Jonathan Deans, projection designer Gilles Papain, fan designer Daniel Wurtzel, music supervisor David Chase, music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and orchestration by Simon Hale.

Updated On: 6/2/14 at 06:22 AM

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 7:19am

Is this Broadway's first "fan design" credit?! Looks like the Drama Desks may be even LONGER next year...

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 7:58am

Fan design????

Have to say, power to Jeanna De Waal. She's been working so consistently over the past few years from American Idiot to Carrie to Wicked to Kinky Boots.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 8:39am

I saw the "fan design" credit too. Had to read it several times to make sure I wasn't MISreading it!

I guess there will crazy use of fans onstage. Or, maybe they are going to pre-determine fan girl eligibility.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 9:25am

Very excited to see Jeremy in this.

Jeanna de Waal, I don't see the appeal of at all. Found her awful in Idiot and Carrie.

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 9:41am

Here I thought they couldn't find someone that would be more miscast as J.M. Barrie than Matt Morrison. They have proven me wrong.

Thrilled for Laura and Jeanna though. And Bart should be interesting.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 9:46am

MIa Michaels as choreographer? That "contemporary dance" woman from the reality tv dance shows? What an unlikely choice given the time period of this piece.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 10:06am

Is this a joke?
Jordan as Barrie?
C'mon.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 11:20am

I happen to love this casting. I think Jeremy will make an excellent Barrie.

[Blackbird3]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 11:26am

I thought Matthew Morrison was confirmed for this? Did something change?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 11:29am

He did the earlier workshops. I don't remember seeing ANYTHING confirmed before now.

[Blackbird3]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 11:40am

Thanks, dramamama611! You're right. I missed this note at the bottom of the article:

A spokesman for the American Repertory Theater said that Mr. Morrison would not take part in this summer’s production of “Finding Neverland” because of conflicts with his shooting schedule for “Glee.”


NY Times Article From March 2014

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 11:55am

"Have to say, power to Jeanna De Waal. She's been working so consistently over the past few years from American Idiot to Carrie to Wicked to Kinky Boots."

Agreed. Just saw her in Kinky Boots and she was terrific.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 12:39pm

Doesn't he seem waaaay too young for this? It's not like he exactly reads older on stage?

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 1:10pm

WAY too young. J.M. Barrie was 44 when Peter Pan was released (roughly when the events of the story take place). Depp was about 40 when Finding Neverland was filmed. Jordan is 29 and reads younger.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 1:49pm

Very excited for Kelly, she has beautiful voice and is a wonderful actress. As for Jordan, I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 2:38pm

I'm excited for Carolee! I feel like she is someone who should be on broadway every season.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 3:34pm

"I'm excited for Carolee! I feel like she is someone who should be on broadway every season."

Depending on the project... she could have skipped 2012.

[matttaylorr021]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 3:35pm

Thinking of getting tickets to this. I noticed that the show is in previews from the end of July to mid-August. Should I get tickets to a preview or after the show actually opens? I've never been to a show preview before... Is it worth going to and is much different? Looks like they have affordable good seats for the preview nights.

Updated On: 6/2/14 at 03:35 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 3:38pm

I usually go to the last preview, as it often gets you reduced pricing, but you're also seeing the frozen show with as many kinks worked out as possible.

[matttaylorr021]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 4:04pm

Okay cool! Maybe I will do that. And I should see the expected cast right? They don't have understudies in a preview, do they?

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 4:13pm

Not sure about out of town stuff, but most press in NYC come to the final preview or two to write their reviews, not on the actual opening night, so the cast will always be there in full. Then again, the cast is always planning to be there in full.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 4:27pm

I think I'll wait until it reaches Broadway. If that even happens. Weird choice for J.M. Barrie.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 4:40pm

While you can never know about planned absences or illness, you have just the same chance of seeing the full cast as opposed to understudies. The preview is for THEM just as much as the creatives.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/2/14 at 4:42pm

I'm excited for Carolee and Laura Michelle Kelly!