Guthrie Theater to debut new Sheinkin/Portman musical...

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 10:18pm

Can't wait to hear the overture! Here's my to my secret hope that Gilbert and Swayze both continue on with the project here...

From Playbill.com http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112735.html

Francesca Zambello

Little House on the Prairie, a new musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's popular "Little House on the Prairie" book series, will make its world premiere at the Guthrie's McGuire Proscenium Stage in summer 2008.

Little Mermaid's Francesca Zambello, who helmed an April 2007 workshop of the musical, will direct. The creative team will also include Michelle Lynch (choreography), Kristen Blodgette (music director/supervisor), Adrianne Lobel (sets) and Martin Pakledinaz (costumes).

In a statement Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling said, "The work of Laura Ingalls Wilder has a deep and powerful connection to the people of the Midwest. This musical fits perfectly within the Guthrie's goal to develop new work that speaks directly to this community. I'm particularly proud to welcome Francesca Zambello and a world-class artistic team to the Guthrie. Francesca's work has been seen on stages around the world and we're thrilled to have her here."

Director Zambello added, "There is no better place to develop this musical than the Guthrie in Minneapolis. I wanted to make a musical from these poignant stories the moment I rediscovered them as an adult. Reading of the exuberance of these characters as they encountered the immense power and force of the Prairie speaks to our history as a country and a people. It did in the 1880's and it does now. Our musical focuses on the independent spirit of the teenager, Laura Ingalls Wilder and her struggles to become an adult; along side the story of the land – as it becomes the American West. The Guthrie allows us to fuse together an integral part of American culture with unique theater writers of today in the heartlands where the Little House began its life."

The new musical features a book by Rachel Sheinkin, music by Rachel Portman and lyrics by Donna DiNovelli.

No Little House casting has been announced, although the April workshop in Manhattan featured Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura in the TV version of the "Prairie" books, as Ma with Patrick Swayze as Pa. The cast also included Sara Chase as Laura, Michael Arden as Almanzo, Sara Ford as Nellie and Olivier Award winner Jenny Galloway as Mrs. Brewster.

Little House on the Prairie is being produced at the Guthrie by special arrangement with Global Prairie Productions, Inc.

The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street in downtown Minneapolis. For more information visit www.guthrietheater.org.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 5:36pm

is this the same musical from the workshop CD? or a completely different composer?

[*brina-doll*]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 6:27pm

Interesting, I'll have to see about getting tickets for this.

[kooky]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 6:53pm

Wow. can't wait to see this!

[somuchtodo]

Posted: 11/17/07 at 9:52pm

Sara Chase is 24. Half-pint grew up?

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 9:38pm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2004169897_broadway10.html

This article states that Little House is slated for Broadway in the fall. Any truth in this?

If so it excites me greatly. I'm not a tween, but I'm a huge Little House fan.

Also, any idea when this is going to play the Guthrie?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 9:41pm

Here's to hoping Zambello's direction is better than her work on Mermaid!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 9:51pm

Looking forward to seeing this!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 9:57pm

My only question is why?

Having grown up watching the show on sunday nights in the 70's, the joy of growing up in country Australia where we had the choice of two TV stations. The last thing i think i ever want to do is revisit this in musical form.