THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Tour Officially Opens Tonight in Des Moines

The national tour of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, launches in Des Moines, IA at the Des Moines Performing Arts Civic Center, officially opening tonight, December 1st.

Based on one of the most romantic stories ever written, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY will travel to more than 15 cities in its first season, including Los Angeles, CA (Ahmanson Theatre); Washington, D.C. (The Kennedy Center); Dallas, TX (Music Hall at Fair Park); Pittsburgh, PA (Benedum Center); Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theatre); Las Vegas, NV (The Smith Center); Houston, TX (The Hobby Center); West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center); Fayetteville, AR (Walton Arts Center); Dayton, OH (Schuster Center) and more.

Joining Elizabeth Stanley (On the Town, Million Dollar Quartet) as Francesca and Andrew Samonsky (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, South Pacific) as Robert areCullen R. Titmas (The Last Ship, Avenue Q) as Bud, Mary Callanan (Mamma Mia!, Annie) as Marge, David Hess(Sweeney Todd, Annie Get Your Gun) as Charlie, DaveThomas Brown (The Legend of Georgia McBride, Heathers) as Michael, Caitlin Houlahan (Parade at Lincoln Center) as Carolyn and Katie Klaus (THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Original Broadway Cast Member, Bonnie & Clyde) as Marian/Chiara/State Fair Singer. The ensemble is comprised of Cole Burden (LES MISERABLES), Caitlyn Caughell (Newsies), Brad Greer (I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center), Lucy Horton (Cats),Amy Linden (Cheer Wars), Trista Moldovan (The Phantom of the Opera), Jessica Sheridan (Sister Act), Matt Stokes (Jesus Christ Superstar), Tom Treadwell (Annie) and Bryan Welnicki (Peter and the Starcatcher).

The critically acclaimed musical of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY features one of Broadway's most accomplished creative teams with music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award-winning composer JASON ROBERT BROWN (Parade, The Last Five Years), book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writerMARSHA NORMAN (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple, 'night, Mother), and led by the Tony Award-winning director BARTLETT SHER (South Pacific, The King and I, The Light in the Piazza).

The team also includes scenic design by two-time Tony Award-winner MICHAEL YEARGAN (The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific), costume design by five-time Tony Award-winner CATHERINE ZUBER (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, The Coast of Utopia), lighting design by two-time Tony Award-winner DONALD HOLDER (South Pacific, The Lion King), sound design by JON WESTON, orchestrations by JASON ROBERT BROWN, and movement by DANNY MEFFORD.

Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It's an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, now available on Ghostlight Records, was released on April 15, 2014, and debuted as the #1 Cast Recording on the Billboard charts. For more information or to purchase the Cast Recording, visit www.sh-k-boom.com/bridgesofmadisoncounty.

For more information, visit www.BridgesMusical.com.