Breaking News: Tony Nominee Sydney Lucas to Star in Manhattan Concert Productions' THE SECRET GARDEN in 2016

Manhattan Concert Productions has announced initial casting, leadership, and ticketing information for their concert performances of Tony award-winning musical The Secret Garden in its 25th Anniversary year. Both concerts will take place at David Geffen Hall (formerly known as Avery Fisher Hall), Lincoln Center on February 21, 2016 and February 22, 2016, both at 8pm. The Secret Garden marks the fourth installment of Manhattan Concert Productions' Broadway Series that has included Ragtime, Titanic, and Parade. The concert performances of The Secret Garden will feature a chorus of over 200 singers from the across the United States, a professional cast and creative team, and the enlarged forces of the New York City Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am on Friday, October 9, 2015. Visit Manhattan Concert Productions' Facebook page for exclusive discount information. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.lincolncenter.org; calling CenterCharge (212) 721-6500; or visiting the David Geffen Hall box office at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza (Columbus Avenue at 65th Street).

After winning the hearts of millions for her Tony nominated performance as Small Alison in Fun Home, Sydney Lucas will assume the principal role of Mary Lennox in both concert performances of The Secret Garden. Broadway: Fun Home. Off-Broadway: Fun Home (awards: Obie recipient, youngest in history; nominations: Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League). Opera: Verdi's Macbeth (Met Opera). Workshops: Amelie, Iowa, Once Around the Moon, Table. Film: She's Funny That Way, The Skeleton Twins, Fool's Day, Girl Most Likely. TV: "How and Why" (FX), "Law & Order: SVU," "Royal Pains," "SNL" and more.

Stafford Arima, director of Manhattan Concert Productions' concert performance of Ragtime in 2013, returns to direct The Secret Garden. Arima was nominated for an Olivier Award for his direction of the West End premiere of the musical, Ragtime. His production received 8 nominations including Best Musical. He also directed the critically acclaimed musical Altar Boyz, which received the Best Musical Outer Critics Circle Award, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Musical, and ran over 2,000 performances Off-Broadway. He is currently directing the Broadway production of Allegiance, which is in previews and opens on November 8, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre.

Other selected work includes: Carrie (Off-Broadway revival; nominated for 5 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Revival of a Musical and an Outer Critics nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Musical; MCC Theater); Saturday Night (The York Theatre Company, NYC); The Tin Pan Alley Rag (nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, Roundabout Theatre Company); Candide (San Francisco Symphony); Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris (Stratford Shakespeare Festival); A Tribute to Sondheim (Boston Pops); Marry Me a Little (Cincinnati Playhouse); Guys and Dolls (Paper Mill Playhouse); and Abyssinia (Goodspeed Musicals). Arima was the associate director for the Broadway productions of Seussical and A Class Act. He graduated from York University (Canada), where he was the recipient of the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Creative Work. He serves as Artistic Advisor for the Broadway Dreams Foundation, is an Adjunct Professor at UC Davis, and a proud member of SDC.

Emmy award-winner and Grammy award nominee Michael Kosarin will conduct both performances of The Secret Garden. Kosarin, the conductor and music director of the original Broadway production of The Secret Garden, is currently the music supervisor and conductor for Disney's Aladdin on Broadway. He has more than 30 years on Broadway as music director, arranger, and conductor: Nine (1982), Grand Hotel, Mayor, King David, Triumph of Love, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap of Faith, and Newsies. He has been Alan Menken's music director for 20 years: films include the upcoming live adaptaion of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Captain America, Tangled, Enchanted, Hercules, Home on the Range, and Pocahontas.

The book and lyrics of the musical, based on the 1911 novel of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, are by Pulitzer prize- and Tony award-winner Marsha Norman, with music by Grammy award-winner Lucy Simon.

Orphaned while living in India, 10 year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire, England to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald, whom she has never met. There, the ill-tempered and lonely Mary meets Martha, a chambermaid, who tells her of a secret garden which belonged to her aunt Lily before she died. Mary's search for the garden introduces her to a slew of other characters including Dickon (Martha's brother), Ben (the head gardener), Neville (her other uncle), and a spirited robin that seems to be trying to talk to her. This compelling tale of forgiveness and hope reveals that even the cruelest of environments can blossom with new life.

The Secret Garden is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.