Faith Prince Joins Michael Ball, Etc. for 'Kismet' at ENO

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, Bells are Ringing, TV's "Spin City" and "House") will make her London stage debut as 'Lalume' in the new English National Opera (ENO) production of Kismet at the London Coliseum. The production, also starring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Sarah Tynan and directed by Gary Griffin (Broadway's The Color Purple, The Apple Tree) will play 19 performances only, June 25-July 14 2007.
 
This new version of Kismet, with music & lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, from the themes of Alexander Borodin, and an original book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davies adapted from the 1911 stage play by Edward Knoblock, features revisions by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Luther Davies. The show is choreographed by 2007 Olivier Award-winner Javier De Frutos and designed by Ultz. The conductors are Richard Hickox and Simon Lee. Kismet stars Michael Ball ('Hajj'), Faith Prince ('Lalume'), Donald Maxwell ('Imam'), Sarah Tynan ('Marsinah'), Alfie Boe ('The Caliph'), Julian Curry ('Jawan'), Graeme Danby ('Wazir') and Rodney Clark ('Chief of Police'). Full casting will be announced shortly.

Kismet, which translates as 'fate', won three Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical,' when it premiered at Broadway's Ziegfeld Theatre in 1953. This new production is the first full-scale London revival since the original production opened at the Stoll Theatre in 1955, starring Alfred Drake. Kismet features the songs 'Stranger In Paradise;' 'Baubles, Bangles and Beads;' 'This Is My Beloved' and 'Sands of Time,' and was made into a 1955 movie starring Howard Keel. 
 
The English National Opera is at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES For tickets, call 0870 145 0900 or visit www.eno.org/kismet. Showdates are June 25-30m July 3-7, and July 10-14 at 7:30PM, with matinees June 30, July 7, and July 14 at 2:30pm

Photo by Mark Rupp