Broadway Bound TUCK EVERLASTING to Play Boston June 2013; Shear, Miller, Tysen & Nicholaw on Creative Team

Producers Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Howard Kagan and Barry Brown have just announced that the new Broadway musical TUCK EVERLASTING will have its pre-Broadway world premiere at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Colonial Theatre (106 Boylston Street) in June of 2013. With a book by Tony Award nominee Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde), music by Chris Miller (The Burnt Part Boys), lyrics by Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys) and directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), TUCK EVERLASTING is based on the novel by Natalie Babbitt. Broadway production details, design team and casting for TUCK EVERLASTING will be announced at a later date.

Good girl Winnie Foster's world has been safely contained behind the picket fence that surrounds the house she shares with her mother and grandmother. Yearning to break free, Winnie runs deep into the woods behind their house where she discovers the Tuck family and the secret they've been keeping. That secret sets Winnie and the Tucks out on an adventure that will test what they believe and challenge them to truly be alive, now and forever.

The 1,700 seat Citi Performing Arts Center Colonial Theatre was designed by Clarence Blackall and first opened its doors for a performance of Ben-Hur on December 20, 1900. In the early and mid 20th century, Boston was considered a launching pad for Broadway producers to try out new productions before bringing them to New York. Boston theatergoers were treated to a sneak peek of many well-known Broadway shows at the Colonial including Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and La Cage aux Folles. This year, July will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Colonial Theatre. The nonprofit Citi Performing Arts Center will assume operations of the theatre, with a booking agreement with Broadway Across America, ensuring that the Boston tradition of presenting Broadway shows continues in its historic home.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

Claudia Shear (Book) has written the plays Restoration (La Jolla Playhouse, New York Theatre Workshop), Dirty Blonde (Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Jefferson Award and Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations) and Blown Sideways Through Life (Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award). As a performer, Ms. Shear's Broadway credits include Dirty Blonde directed by James Lapine (Lucille Lortel Award, Clarence Derwent Award and Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations) and Smell of the Kill directed by Christopher Ashley. Other theater credits include Chicago (West End), Who's the Daddy directed by Tamara Harvey (London), Remains of the Day directed by Scott Elliott (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Blown Sideways Through Life directed by Christopher Ashley (Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations) and Dirty Blonde (West End, Off-Broadway). Ms. Shear's TV credits include "Blown Sideways Through Life" (PBS), "Friends," and "The Player." Film credits include Living Out Loud and It Could Happen to You. Ms. Shear also writes for numerous publications including The New York Times, Vogue, Travel & Leisure, New York Magazine and Harper's Bazaar.

Chris Miller (Composer). With Nathan Tysen, Miller composed the musical The Burnt Part Boys (book by Mariana Elder), which was nominated for a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award for Best New Musical. It was presented in a lab production at the Vineyard Theatre (May 2009), a production at New York Stage & Film (Summer '09), and as a co-production with the Vineyard Theatre at Playwrights Horizons (May 2010), with an original cast album released on Yellow Sound Label. Also with Tysen, Miller composed the song cycle Fugitive Songs (2008 Drama Desk Nomination) and contributed songs to PBS's "The Electric Company," "Sesame Street," and "Elmo's World." Recently he co-composed the 1st ever New York revival of Angels in America with Michael Friedman, directed by Michael Greif at the Signature Theatre. Miller is currently working with lyricist Nathan Tysen on a commission for Lincoln Center Theatre, a Playwrights Horizons/TheatreWorks Palo Alto co-commission, and an original musical as part of the American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. He is a proud graduate of Elon University and NYU.

Nathan Tysen (Lyrics) is a Brooklyn based songwriter and performer. Musical theatre work with composer Chris Miller includes lyrics for The Burnt Part Boys (2009 Lucille Lortel Nomination for Best New Musical), Fugitive Songs (2008 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Revue), and an adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's picture book, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Boston Globe Top Ten Pick of 2008). Current projects with Miller include two commissions from Lincoln Center Theater and Playwrights Horizons/ Theatreworks Silicon Valley. An accomplished writer and performer of children's music, Nathan has penned tunes for "Sesame Street," "The Electric Company," "Storytime By Design," and "Little Maestros." Nathan has also worked for over a decade writing and directing for the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, helping to create over a dozen new musicals with young adults. He plays in the bands Joe's Pet Project and Blue Bottle Collection. MFA: NYU GMTWP, BFA: Missouri State Univ. Nathan hails from Salina, KS. www.nathantysen.com

Casey Nicholaw (Direction/Choreography) won the 2011 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his work as co-director on The Book Of Mormon. Other Broadway credits: ELF: the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations), and Monty Python's Spamalot, directed by Mike Nichols (2005 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Choreography). Additional New York credits: for City Center Encores! – the highly acclaimed productions of Anyone Can Whistle and Follies (direction and choreography), Bye Bye Birdie (choreography) and Can-Can (musical staging); for N.Y. Philharmonic – Candide; South Pacific at Carnegie Hall (also on PBS Great Performances), Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way at Radio City Music Hall starring the world-famous Rockettes. He directed and choreographed the world premieres of Minsky's at Center Theater Group, Robin and the 7 Hoods at The Old Globe and Disney's Aladdin at the 5th Avenue in Seattle.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA (Producer), part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com, is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities. Broadway.com is the premier theatre website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. Under the supervision of Beth Williams (CEO – Theater Division), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Current Productions include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Godspell; Jesus Christ Superstar; Memphis; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; CSI: The Experience in Las Vegas; the NY and Touring productions of Million Dollar Quartet; and upcoming productions include One Man, Two Guvnors; Hands on a Hardbody; Tuck Everlasting; and the Vegas production of Million Dollar Quartet. For more information, please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

HOWARD KAGAN (Producer). Broadway: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Bonnie & Clyde, Stick Fly. Mr. Kagan is proud to help bring Tuck Everlasting to Boston after an equally immortal career on Wall Street where he was an accomplished banker and investment manager. His company Maxolev Productions looks for entertaining, commercial productions with atypical heroes, especially strong, independent women.

Barry Brown (Producer) produced the original Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles (1983) and the 1989 revival of Gypsy starring Tyne Daly and Linda Lavin. MR. Brown won Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Musical Revival respectively. He has also produced Kander and Ebb's The Visit (Chicago, New York). On Broadway MR. Brown has directed Company (1993) and Angela Lansbury - A Celebration (1996).

Beth Williams (Executive Producer) is the CEO – Theater Division for Key Brand Entertainment, parent company of Broadway Across America. Among her producing credits are How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Million Dollar Quartet (NY and tour); Promises, Promises; Grey Gardens; The Producers; Sweet Smell of Success; Fosse; Cabaret (tour); and many Nickelodeon family productions. Beth also worked as a conductor and/or pianist on Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera and Dreamgirls.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Season Series Patrons interested in tickets should call Broadway In Boston directly at 1-866-523-7469 and for Member tickets please call 1-866-551-7469. For group tickets please call Broadway In Boston Group Sales at 617-482-8616, email BostonGroups@broadwayinboston.com or contact Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales by calling 617-532-1116, email at groups@citicenter.org. Member and single tickets will be on sale at a later date. TUCK EVERLASTING is part of the Lexus Boston Area Dealers Broadway In Boston Series.