Public Theater's New Musical A SECOND CHANCE with Brian & Diane Sutherland Begins Previews 3/18

The Public Theater will begin previews for the New York premiere of A SECOND CHANCE on Tuesday, March 18. Directed by Jonathan Butterell with book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen, this new musical will run through Sunday, April 13 in the Shiva Theater, with an official press opening on Sunday, March 30.

Single tickets, priced at $45, can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street. The Library at The Public is open nightly for food and drinks, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with brunch on select weekends, and Joe's Pub at The Public continues to offer some of the best music in the city.

A SECOND CHANCE features real-life husband and wife Brian Sutherland (Dan) and Diane Sutherland (Jenna).

A stirring musical journey, A SECOND CHANCE tells the New York story of a recent widower and a divorcée who meet in mid-life and mid-crisis. Presented with the overwhelming challenge of freeing themselves from their painful pasts, neither feels deserving of happiness. Yet, the awakening of unanticipated feelings leads them to a possibility they both least expected to find.

A SECOND CHANCE features scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by Jonathan Deans, projections by Rocco DiSanti, and music direction by Zak Sandler.

TED SHEN (Book, Music, and Lyrics). A Second Chance marks Mr. Shen's debut as a musical theater writer. Mr. Shen retired from a 30-year business career in 1999 to return to his music roots developed as a jazz musician in high school and college. He studied songwriting with Ricky Ian Gordon from 2001 to 2003 and redirected The Shen Family Foundation, which he oversees with his wife, Mary Jo, to foster the work of exceptionally gifted and original musical theater composers as well as to establish the Shen Musical Theater Curriculum at Yale University. In 2008, he began writing A Second Chance, which was presented in concert version at Joe's Pub in 2010 and given its world premiere at Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA, in 2011.

JONATHAN BUTTERELL (Director) directed the world premiere of A Second Chance at Signature Theatre. For The Public he directed the 50th Anniversary Public Sings! and his recent credits include Whida Peru; Ressurection Tangle; Tres Niñas featuring Victoria Clark; musical staging for the Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza and the Tony Award-winning Assassins. He also choreographed the Tony Award-winning Nine revival, starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera. His additional Broadway credits include the new musical staging for the revival of Fiddler On The Roof; musical staging for the original workshop of Sondheim's Wise Guys at NYTW; and choreography for A Man Of No Importance at LCT. His credits in the UK include directing Stiles & Drewe's Soho Cinders; Company (dir. Sam Mendes, West End transfer); Habeas Corpus; and Into The Woods, co-directed with John Crowley at the Donmar Warehouse, He devised and directed Michael Ball in Alone Together, and Divas at the Donmar, also at the Royal Haymarket Theatre; co-directed Sweeney Todd with David McVicker for the Opera North/Sadlers Wells; co-directed Peter Pan with Julia McKenzie at the Royal Festival Hall; musical staging Sondheim's Passion. His additional International credits include The Sound Of Music (Opera Theatre, Buenos Aires); Orpheus Descending, Strindberg's Creditors (Theatre Project Tokyo).

BRIAN SUTHERLAND (Dan) has been seen on Broadway in The Sound of Music, 1776, Victor/Victoria, Steel Pier, Cats, Dance a Little Closer; A Change in the Heir; and 110 in the Shade (NYC Opera). His tours include The Light in the Piazza, Disney's On the Record, Guys and Dolls (with Maurice Hines), Cabaret (with Joel Grey), 42nd Street (European tour); and he has been seen regionally in Sondheim on Sondheim, Kiss Me, Kate, Shenandoah, Man of La Mancha, The Pirates of Penzance, and She Loves Me. His film and television credits include Burning Blue, "Taxi Brooklyn."

DIANE SUTHERLAND (Jenna) has been seen on Broadway in The Light in the Piazza, She Loves Me, 1776, Three Sisters, Song and Dance, Cats, and A Chorus Line. Her Off-Broadway credits include First Ladies Suite, Requiem for William, and The Waves. She has toured with The Light in the Piazza, Guys & Dolls, Cabaret, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Cats (Helen Hayes Award). Her regional world premiere appearances include A Second Chance, Sycamore Trees, and A Civil War Christmas. Her recordings include She Loves Me, Guys & Dolls, Tell Me More, and Man with a Load of Mischief.

Photo by Tammy Shell