Finian's Rainbow began previews at Broadway's ST. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, on Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, and celebrated Opening Night, last night, Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm. BroadwayWorld.com was there as the stars arrived for the first night festivities!
Finian's Rainbow has a book by Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics byYip 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 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 is 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.
Finian's Rainbow plays the ST. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street. The preview performance schedule (through Sunday, November 1) is Monday through Saturday at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. There will be special added matinees on Wednesday, October 28 at 2pm and Sunday, November 1 at 3pm.
The regular performance schedule, beginning Monday, November 2, is Tuesday through Thursday at 7pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $35 - $75 in previews and $50 - $120 post opening.
There are also special post-opening Wednesday evening prices as low as $25.00. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning 212.239.6200. For groups, which are on sale now, phone 212.541.8457 or 1.800.BROADWAY.
For more information about Finian's Rainbow, visit www.FiniansOnBroadway.com.
Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
Opening Night Performance of FINIAN'S RAINBOW
Opening Night Performance of FINIAN'S RAINBOW
FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the ST. James
Warren Carlyle
Alison Pill and Abigail Breslin
Alison Pill and Abigail Breslin
Alison Pill
Alison Pill
Alison Pill
Abigail Breslin
Abigail Breslin
Bryan Batt
Bryan Batt
Brenda Braxton
Brenda Braxton
Kenneth Cole
Kenneth Cole
Brett Claywell
Brett Claywell
Brett Claywell
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee
Chris Diamantopoulos
Chris Diamantopoulos
Chris Diamantopoulos
David Hasselhoff
Hayley Amber Hasselhoff and David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
Deborah Monk and Edward Hibbert
Deborah Monk
Edward Hibbert
Crystal Hunt
Rue McClanahan
Chris Diamantopoulos and Becki Newton
Becki Newton
Becki Newton
Daniel Reichard
Daniel Reichard and Christopher Spaulding
Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen
Bryan Batt
Bryan Batt
Bryan Batt
Abigail Breslin
Abigail Breslin
Abigail Breslin
David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
Becki Newton
Becki Newton and Chris Diamantopoulos
Chris Diamantopoulos
Becki Newton
Alison Pill
Alison Pill
That 'Old Devil Moon' will shine at the ST. James!
