THE BODYGUARD National Tour Plots 2016-17 Stops: Chicago, Los Angeles & More!

Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. have announced the 2016-17 U.S. National Tour route of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour will commence at Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ on November 25, 2016, prior to the official tour opening at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on January 10, 2017.

As previously announced, Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress Deborah Cox will star as Rachel Marron. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film and adapted by Academy Award-winner (Birdman) Alexander Dinelaris, THE BODYGUARD had its world premiere on December 5, 2012 at London's Adelphi Theatre. THE BODYGUARD was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Best Set Design and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards. The musical is currently touring the UK and returns to London's West End at the Dominion Theatre on July 15, 2016.

Set & costume design is by Tim Hatley, lighting design by Mark Henderson and sound design by Richard Brooker. Choreography is by Karen Bruce and orchestrations and additional music by Chris Egan. The U.S. National Tour of THE BODYGUARD is produced by Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don't expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest selling songs of all time - I Will Always Love You.

Cities announced for the 2016-17 season are as follows:

Nov 25, 2016 - Jan 1, 2017 Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ

Jan 10 - 15, 2017 Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

Jan 17 - 22, 2017 Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton, WI

Jan 24 - 29, 2017 Orpheum Theatre, Memphis, TN

Jan 31 - Feb 12, 2017 Oriental Theatre, Chicago, IL

Feb 14 - 19, 2017 Ohio Theatre, Columbus, OH

Feb 21 - 26, 2017 Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA

Feb 28 - Mar 5, 2017 Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD

Mar 7 - 12, 2017 Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Charlotte, NC

Mar 14 - 19, 2017 Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC

Mar 21 - 26, 2017 Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville, TN

Mar 28 - Apr 2, 2017 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA

Apr 4 - 9, 2017 Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA

Apr 12 - 16, 2017 Centennial Hall, Tucson, AZ

Apr 18 - 23, 2017 Community Center Theatre, Sacramento, CA

Apr 25 - 30, 2017 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose

May 2 - 21, 2017 Hollywood Pantages, Los Angeles, CA

May 30 - Jun 11, 2017 Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA

Jun 13 - 18, 2017 Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Aug 15 - 20, 2017 Hobby Center, Houston, TX

Additional cities will be announced at a later date.