'Ha'Penny Bridge' Irish Musical Debuts in SF July 2008

Ha'Penny Bridge, a new Irish musical makes its U.S. Premiere in San Francisco this summer, on its way to Broadway.  This brand new show portrays a rich, moving, but troubled love story, set against a backdrop of political unrest and divided loyalties.

Ha'Penny Bridge plays the Golden Gate Theatre (1 Taylor Street) beginning Sunday, July 6 through Sunday, August 10 as a part of the 2007-2008 Citibank Best of Broadway season, under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. The U.S. Premiere of Ha'Penny Bridge replaces the previously announced pre-Broadway engagement of The Wiz, which has been postponed due to schedule conflicts.

"Ha'Penny Bridge is a story of a love torn apart by a country divided. Set in Dublin during the Irish civil war in the early 1920s, a time of heightened nationalistic tension, greed and deceit, jealousy and love are mixed with dramatic consequences," explain press notes.

Ha'Penny Bridge, written and composed by Alastair McGuckian and produced by Garrett McGuckian, will have its North American premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto May 16th through June 29th. Leading the international creative team will be Canadian director and choreographer Donna Feore (Oklahoma! and Oliver!), who is renowned for her experience and success in staging innovative productions with high-energy choreography most recently in Stratford.  Donna has won numerous accolades including a Dora Mavor Moore Award for the Canadian Opera Company's production of Oedipus Rex.

Members of the Ha'Penny Bridge creative team include Broadway veterans.  The production will feature orchestration by Tony Award nominee Larry Blank (The Drowsy Chaperone and White Christmas) and Peter Myers, (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me), vocal arrangements by Gordon Harrell (Fosse) and musical direction by Grant Sturiale (Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular).  Broadway scenic designer, Allen Moyer (The Little Dog Laughed and Grey Gardens) will create the sets, with costume design by Michael Gianfrancesco (The Comedy of Errors and An Ideal Husband), who brings seven years' experience costume designing for Canada's Stratford Festival.  Canadians Jock Munro, lighting designer, and Peter McBoyle, sound designer, (Hello Dolly! and The Lark) round out the production team.  

The cast for this Broadway-bound production of Ha'Penny Bridge as well as ticketing information and performance schedule will be announced at later date.

SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres—San Francisco's premier theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theater series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway. For information on all SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com.