Producers David Richenthal and Jack Viertel have announced that the critically-acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of Finian's Rainbow, will transfer to Broadway's ST. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, beginning Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, with an opening set for Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm.
Finian's Rainbow has a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. It is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle; musical direction is by Rob Berman.
The production stars Jim Norton (Finian), Kate Baldwin (Sharon), Chuck Cooper (Bill), and Christopher Fitzgerald (Og).
Finian's Rainbow tells the story of the Irishman Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon who travel to a small Southern town in the mythical state of Missitucky with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in The Shadows of Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply. They have been followed from Ireland by the owner of the gold, a leprechaun, who shows up determined to recover his treasure.
The musical's score boasts such classic songs as "Old Devil Moon," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," Look to the Rainbow," and "If This Isn't Love."
This will be the first Broadway revival of the classic musical in nearly 50 years. The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian's Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre.
Jim Norton won the 2008 Tony Award and the 2007 Olivier Award for The Seafarer. In New York he has appeared in The Weir, Juno and the Paycock, Dublin Carol (Obie Award), and Port Authority. His West End credits include The Weir (Olivier nomination) and National Theatre credits include The Pillowman, Bedroom Farce, Comedians, Hamlet, St. Joan. Mr. Norton has appeared in the films Straw Dogs, Driving Lessons, Hidden Agenda, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Oyster Farmer, the recent Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Conor McPherson's upcoming The Eclipse. His television credits include "Frasier," "Poirot," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and "Father Ted."
Kate Baldwin's Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie (original cast). Other New York credits include Babes in Arms, A Connecticut Yankee and Bloomer Girl at New York City Center Encores! Regionally she has appeared in The Women (Mary Haines, Old Globe), South Pacific (Nellie, Helen Hayes nomination), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Passion (Clara), The Last Five Years (Cathy), 1776 (Martha), A Little Night Music (Baltimore Center Stage), Henry V (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), She Loves Me (Huntington/Williamstown, IRNE Nomination), and Hello Dolly! (Paper Mill). She appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Opening Doors at Zankel Hall and has performed concerts with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, and Portland Symphony. Her television credits include "Law & Order: SVU." Ms. Baldwin just recorded her first solo album for PS Classics due out in October and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
