WAR HORSE to Launch National Tour and Toronto Production in 2012!

The National Theatre's epic War Horse, now a five-time Tony® Award nominee currently playing at Lincoln Center Theater and in the West End in London, will embark on a national tour in June 2012, bringing the hit play to 20 U.S. cities during the 2012-2013 season. A new production will also be mounted at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre in February 2012 for an open-ended run.

The tour will rehearse and preview at Boise State University's Morrison Center in Idaho before beginning performances at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, June 13 - July 22, 2012. Tour stops are being planned in the following markets for the 2012-2013 season: San Francisco, Dallas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, East Lansing and several others to be announced at a later date.

"War Horse has become the greatest success in our history by telling an impactful and resonant story with extraordinary creativity," said Nicholas Hytner, Director of the National Theatre. "We're looking forward to continuing our journey with War Horse by bringing it to audiences across North America."

"When I first wrote War Horse, I was proud of the story but I could never imagine that it would have a second life like the one it's received in recent years," said author Michael Morpurgo. "I am so delighted with the way this tale has come to life and that Joey's story continues to move people of all ages."

Hailed by The New York Times as "theatrical magic," War Horse is the powerful story of young Albert's beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. In a tale the New York Daily News calls "spellbinding, by turns epic and intimate," Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man's land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.

Along with War Horse's five Tony nominations (for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Set Design for a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play), Handspring Puppet Company received a Special Tony® Award for their integral puppet design for the production.

War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford, directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company, is filled with stirring music and songs. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

War Horse received its World Premiere in a limited engagement at the National's Olivier Theatre in 2007. The play returned to the National Theatre for a second run playing from in 2008-2009 before transferring to the West End's New London Theatre in Spring 2009 where it continues to play an open-ended run. War Horse has been seen over 1 million people in the UK alone and is the winner of two Olivier Awards (for Set Design and Choreography).

Lincoln Center Theater and the National Theatre of Great Britain in association with Bob Boyett, are the producers of the American premiere of War Horse, which opened April 14 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater where it is currently playing an open-ended run.

The lead producers of the National tour and Toronto productions of War Horse are Bob Boyett and the National Theatre of Great Britain.