MTI Acquires Rights to Tony-Winning Musical ONCE

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has secured worldwide licensing rights to Broadway's Tony award-winning musical, ONCE, it was announced today.

ONCE, the stage production of the 2006 film by the same name was nominated in 2012 for eleven Tony awards and won eight, including Best Musical. The book was written by Enda Walsh who won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, retaining many of the songs written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, including the Academy Award winning "Falling Slowly." The musical premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011, before transferring to Broadway in 2012. The emotionally captivating musical is the only show to appear on Broadway to have music that won the Academy Award, Grammy Award, Olivier Award and Tony Award.

According to New York Post, "The show wins its standing ovations the old-fashioned way: with a love story, great songs, compelling characters and inventive stagecraft." And the New York Times said, "What was always wonderful about ONCE, its songs and its staging, has been magnified. Who would have thought that this soft-spoken little musical would have found itself by raising its voice?"

Set in modern day Dublin, ONCE is the story of a Guy who gave up on his music-and his love-and the Girl who inspired him to dream again. Since ONCE is about musicians, the show feels like a play with music, because the songs are a natural part of the storyline and there is no spontaneous bursting into song. While the bittersweet love story between Guy and Girl is the show's central plotline, there is plenty of humor from colorful characters.

In the musical, the cast also serves as the orchestra. A minimalist set is used, including a bar in center stage with chairs lining stage left and right. Exiting cast members simply step to the side of the stage and sit down. They serve as the orchestra from these chairs. The bar is used before the show and at intermission as a working bar for theater patrons.

"ONCE is a wonderful show that works so well on many levels," stated Drew Cohen, President of MTI. "It's a beautifully told romance that avoids predictability, a musical that's accessible and achieves simplicity through careful attention to detail. We have heard from many of our customers around the world that they are looking forward to sharing this with their audiences."

The musical is currently playing around the United States on a National Tour.