THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS to Have West Coast Premiere at Old Globe; April 22-June 3, 2012

BroadwayWorld.com has excitedly learned that fresh from it's 12 Tony nominations this morning, The Scottsboro Boys will make its west coast premiere from April 22-June 3, 2012 at The Old Globe in San Diego. 

Direct from Broadway, and nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Scottsboro Boys is the thrilling final collaboration by musical theater giants John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers) and featuring a book by David Thompson (who adapted the script for Chicago's record-breaking revival), this daring and wildly entertaining musical explores a fascinating chapter in American history with arresting originality. The show is based on the notorious Scottsboro case in the 1930s in which nine African American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime. An inspiring story told through a mix of innovative staging and a breathtaking score, The Scottsboro Boys was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "The Best New Musical of the Year." A co-production with American Conservatory Theater.

John Kander and Fred Ebb (Music and Lyrics) have collaborated for the theater on Flora, the Red Menace, Cabaret (Tony Award, Best Composer and Lyricist), The Happy Time, Zorba, 70, Girls, 70, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The World Goes Round, Steel Pier, Curtains, All About Us, The Visit and The Scottsboro Boys. Their film work includes Funny Lady, Lucky Lady, Cabaret, New York, New York, Steppin' Out, Chicago, Kramer vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart, Still of the Night, Blue Skies Again. Their television credits include "Liza with a Z," "Steppin' Out" (Emmy Award), "My Coloring Book," the Academy Awards, "Baryshnikov on Broadway," "Goldie and Liza Together," "Breathing Lessons," "The Boys Next Door" and "An Early Frost." In 1985, "New York, New York" became the official anthem of New York City.

David Thompson's (Book) Broadway productions include the libretto for The Scottsboro Boys with music by John Kander and Fred Ebb and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. The show originated at Off Broadway's Vineyard Theatre and was presented at Guthrie Theater for a sold-out 10-week run. His work was recognized with a Drama Desk Award nomination as well as the Outer Circle Critics and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Musical. Thompson teamed with Kander and Ebb, Susan Stroman and Scott Ellis on Steel Pier (Tony Award nomination, Best Book of a Musical). He created the new script adaptation for the current revival of Chicago, which is now in its 14th year on Broadway. He collaborated with Harry Connick, Jr. and Susan Stroman on Lincoln Center Theater's Thou Shalt Not. Off Broadway, Thompson's work includes And the World Goes ‘Round (Drama Desk and Outer Circle Critics Awards) and the revival of Flora, the Red Menace (Drama Desk nomination). Additional regional projects include new librettos for Jerry Herman's Dear World and Kander and Ebb's 70, Girls, 70. Thompson's adaptation of A Christmas Carol is now in its 20th year at McCarter Theatre. This spring, Thompson produced James Taylor's critically acclaimed Perspective series for Carnegie Hall. The four-concert series celebrated Carnegie Hall's 120th anniversary and included guest artists Sting, Tony Bennett, Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Barbara Cook, Alison Krauss, Robert Cray and President Bill Clinton. Thompson's television work includes the PBS specials "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall" (Emmy Award nomination), "Razzle Dazzle," "Bernstein on Broadway," "The Music of Richard Rodgers" and "My Favorite Broadway."

Susan Stroman (Director) won critical acclaim for her direction and choreography of the Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. She directed and choreographed The Producers, winner of a record-making 12 Tony Awards including Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography. She co-created, directed and choreographed the groundbreaking musical Contact for Lincoln Center Theater, winning the 2000 Tony Award for Best Choreography, as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards and a 2003 Emmy Award for "Live from Lincoln Center." Her other Broadway credits include Oklahoma! (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards), Young Frankenstein, Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man (Outer Critics Circle Award), The Frogs, Steel Pier, Big, Show Boat (Tony, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Picnic and Crazy for You (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards). Her Off Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys (Lucille Lortel Award), And the World Goes 'Round (Outer Critics Circle Award), Flora, the Red Menace and Happiness. At London's Menier Chocolate Factory she choreographed and co-directed Paradise Found with Harold Prince. For 10 years she choreographed Madison Square Garden's annual spectacular event A Christmas Carol (Outer Critics Circle Award) directed by Mike Ockrent. For New York City Opera she choreographed A Little Night Music, 110 in the Shade and Don Giovanni. For New York City Ballet, Stroman created Double Feature, a full-length ballet featuring the music of Irving Berlin and Walter Donaldson, and For the Love of Duke featuring the music of Duke Ellington. She has created the ballets But Not for Me for the Martha Graham Dance Company and Take Five...More or Less for Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her choreography received an Emmy Award nomination for the HBO presentation Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall. Her other television credits include co-conceiver/choreographer for PBS's Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and An Evening with the Boston Pops - a Tribute to Leonard Bernstein. She received the American Choreography Award for her work on the Columbia Pictures feature film Center Stage. Stroman directed and choreographed the film adaptation of The Producers, which was nominated for four Golden Globes. She is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre and the winner of a record four Fred and Adele Astaire Awards.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos