Curtains' Paice to Star in 'Gone With The Wind' The Musical

Jill Paice, currently appearing on Broadway in CURTAINS has been announced to star as Scarlett O'Hara in the upcoming musical adaption of the classic novel Gone with the Wind, to be directed by Trevor Nunn. The show is due to begin previews in London's West End on April 2, 2008 and open on April 22, 2008. 

Paice and Nunn last worked together in The Woman in White, in which she created the role of Laura Fairlie in London and on Broadway. Her previous major credits include Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas, and the National Tour of Les Miserables.

 Tickets for Trevor Nunn's production of Margaret Mitchell's classic novel, Gone with the Wind go on-sale September 30.  In a new musical adaptation of the classic love story with book and lyrics by Margaret Martin adapted by Trevor Nunn and Music by Margaret Martin, Gone with the Wind will have its first performance at the New London Theatre on Saturday April 5, 2008, with press night on Tuesday April 22 and is initially booking until September 27, 2008.

Multi award-winning designer John Napier - who has previously collaborated with Nunn on the internationally celebrated productions of Nicholas Nickleby, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Miserables and Sunset Boulevard – joins Gone with the Wind as set designer.  Andreane Neofitou, also long time collaborator of Nunn, will design costumes.  Lighting design is by Neil Austin and sound by Paul Groothius.  Musical supervisor and arranger is Gareth Valentine and Movement Director is David Bolger.  Gone with the Wind is produced by Aldo Scrofani for Columbia Artists Theatricals of New York and London producer Colin Ingram.

"Set in 1860's Atlanta, Georgia, Gone with the Wind follows the story of the seventeen-year-old Scarlett O'Hara, the eldest of three daughters living a life of luxury on their father's plantation until the onset of the Civil War threatens their idyllic existence.  Scarlett's incredible journey through both the war and the peace is mirrored in her turbulent relationship with Rhett Butler, whose actions always defy prediction.  Their story spans ten years and mingles romantic ecstasy with tragic grief, as the life these people once knew disappears, for better or worse: gone with the wind," explain press notes.

Gone with the Wind, published in 1936, is one of the best selling novels of the 20th century and won Margaret Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize.  Three year's later in 1939, the film adaptation made box office history as the highest grossing film of all time and is still regarded as one of the greatest American classics.

Most recently Trevor Nunn has directed King Lear in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works Festival, Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre and Tom Stoppard's multi award-winning Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Court and the Duke of York's.  From 1968 to 1986 he was Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Shakespeare Company, directing over thirty productions, including most of the Shakespeare canon.  From 1997 to 2003, he was Director of the National Theatre, directing twenty-one shows including Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia and award-winning revivals of Oklahoma! and My Fair Lady.

Gone with the Wind will play the New London Theatre (Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW), beginning previews April 3, 2008; opening April 22, 2008 with performances booked through September 27, 2007.

Show times: From April 5, Monday evenings at 7:30PM; from April 23, Monday evenings at 7PM.  Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 7:30PM; Wednesday – Saturday matinees at 2:30PM.  There are no matinees on April 5 or 9; opening is at 7PM.

Ticket prices: £27.50 - £60.00 (£10 off all previews prices April 5-21). Box Office: 0870 890 0141 or visit www.gwtwthemusical.com