Road to Broadway: GHOST Opens Tonight!
By: BWW Apr. 23, 2012
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Ghost the Musical, adapted from the Academy Award winning film, began previews on March 15 and opens on Broadway on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. It's been a long road to the Broadway stage, and we highlight key parts of the musical's journey below!
Ghost got its start as the beloved 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg- written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker. In the movie, Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze), a banker, and Molly Jensen (Demi Moore), are a loving couple who move into a New York City apartment. At work, Sam discovers a major discrepancy in one bank account, and confides in his good friend and colleague, Carl Bruner (Tony Goldwyn). Soon afterward, Sam and Molly are attacked by armed thug and Sam is killed by a gunshot during a struggle. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.
The film was a box-office success, grossing $505,702,588 on a budget of $21,000,000. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Score and Best Film Editing. It won the awards for Best Supporting Actress for Goldberg and Best Original Screenplay. Goldberg was particularly praised: she also won the BAFTA,Golden Globe, and Saturn Awards in addition to the Oscar.
Ghost: The Musical opened in London's West End at the Piccadilly Theatre on July 19, 2011, starring Broadway favorite Caissie Levy and UK star Richard Fleeshman. Prior to its West End run, Ghost The Musical played a seven-week, critically-acclaimed engagement at the Opera House in Manchester, England from March 28 through May 14, 2011.
Ghost The Musical was created by a team of Grammy and Academy Award winners, with a brand-new original score by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, with a book by Bruce Joel Rubin, who adapted his Academy Award winning original screenplay for the stage. The brand new score also includes the iconic song "Unchained Melody," famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers. The musical was directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus and choreographed by Ashley Wallen.
On September 19, 2011 it was announced that GHOST would transfer to Broadway in Spring 2012. Earlier this year, the show hosted the Ghost Light Sessions, a special sneak peek presentation to welcome the new musical to Broadway and introduce the cast and creative team to the US.
Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy reprise their starring roles as Sam and Molly, which they originated in London's hit West End production. They are joined by newcomer Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Oda Mae Brown and Bryce Pinkham as Carl Bruner. The cast also features Tyler McGee,Lance Roberts, Moya Angela, Jason Babinsky, Michael Balderrama, JAmes Brown III, Stephen Carrasco, Jeremy Davis, Sharona D'Ornellas, Josh Franklin, Albert Guerzon, Afra Hines, Carly Hughes, Karen Hyland, Alison Luff, Vasthy Mompoint, Jennifer Noble, Joe Aaron Reid, Constantine Rousouli, Jennifer Sanchez, Daniel J. Watts, and Jesse Wildman.
Tickets to Ghost The Musical are currently on sale and may be purchased at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Box Office (205 West 46th Street), via www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. Ticket prices range from $57 to $137 (including a $2 facility fee). Premium tickets are also available. The performance schedule during previews will be as follows: Monday – Saturday evenings at 8pm and Saturdays at 2pm. Beginning, Tuesday, April 24th, the performance schedule will be as follows: Mondays at 8pm, Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm.
For additional information, visit www.GhostOnBroadway.com.
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