Trujillo Choreographs 'Saved;' More Creative Team Set

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional creative team members for the World Premiere of the new musical Saved, which will be the sixth and final production of its upcoming 2007/2008 Season.   

Saved has music & lyrics by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman (The Civilians, Romeo & Juliet for Shakespeare in the Park) and book & lyrics by 2-time Olivier Award nominee John Dempsey (The Witches of Eastwick) & Obie Award winner Rinne Groff (The Ruby Sunrise, "Weeds"), based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written by Brian Dannelly & Michael Urban.  Directed by Gary Griffin (The Color Purple) and featuring Tony Award nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Misérables), it will begin previews in May 2008 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).   

Joining the creative team are acclaimed choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and three Tony Award-winning designers: scenic designer Scott Pask (The Coast of Utopia, The Pillowman), costume designer Jess Goldstein (The Rivals) and lighting designer Donald Holder (The Lion King).   

Sergio Trujillo was nominated for both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for choreographing the Tony-winning Best Musical Jersey Boys.  His additional choreography credits include All Shook Up on Broadway; the world premieres of Zhivago (La Jolla), The Mambo Kings (San Francisco), Peggy Sue Got Married (London) and the recent pre-Broadway tryout of the revival of The Wiz (La Jolla); Disney's re-imagined European production of Tarzan; and the Off-Broadway productions The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bare: A Pop Opera and Shakespeare in the Park's recent Romeo and Juliet.  For his work in Canada, he's earned an Ovation Award and three Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations.  He also has extensive ballet and opera credits.  Sergio began his career as a Broadway performer, appearing in three Tony-winning musicals: Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Guys & Dolls and Fosse. 

Scott Pask has won two Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design of a Play, for The Coast of Utopia and The Pillowman.  His additional Broadway credits include The Vertical Hour, Urinetown, Take Me Out, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and the revivals of Nine, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity and La Cage aux Folles.  SAVED will be his Playwrights Horizons debut. 

Jess Goldstein won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play for The Rivals and was also nominated for Henry IV.  His additional Broadway credits include Jersey Boys, Proof, Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion! and the revivals of The Apple Tree, The Most Happy Fella and A Streetcar Named Desire.  His many credits at Playwrights Horizons include Miss Witherspoon, The Uneasy Chair, Gun-shy, Baby Anger, An Imaginary Life, The End of the Day, The Substance of Fire and When She Danced. 

Donald Holder won the Tony Award for Best Lighting for The Lion King and was also nominated for Juan Darien, Movin' Out, Gem of the Ocean and the most recent revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.  His additional Broadway credits include Radio Golf, The Little Dog Laughed, All Shook Up, The Boy from Oz, The Violet Hour and Thoroughly Modern Millie.  His previous credits at Playwrights Horizons include The Pain and the Itch, Chinese Friends, From Above, Plunge, Fit to Be Tied and Avenue X. 

With Saved, Playwrights Horizons continues its commitment to developing unique and ground-breaking new musicals such as Grey Gardens, James Joyce's The Dead, Floyd Collins, Assassins and Sunday in the Park with George. 

"Are you down with G-O-D?"  Good girl Mary (Celia Keenan-Bolger) and her domineering best friend Hilary Faye are starting their senior year at the top of the social food chain at American Eagle Christian High School – that is, until Mary's boyfriend tells her he thinks he's gay.  When Jesus appears in a vision, and Mary heeds his message "to do everything she can to help him," her good deeds are met with dire consequences, and Mary is forced to question everything she's ever believed.  Through it all, she finds faith in unexpected places and learns what it truly means to be saved. 

All casting and dates will be announced in the coming months. 

Photo of Sergio Trujillo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.