iSondheim: aMusical Revue Cancelled at Alliance Theatre; Replaced by Jacques Brel

The ALLIANCE THEATRE regretfully announces the cancellation of its planned world premiere of iSondheim: aMusical Revue. iSondheim, with music by Stephen Sondheim and book and direction by James Lapine, was to begin performances Apr. 15.

The production was cancelled because of difficulties encountered by the commercial producers attached to the project, the Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh group, in raising the necessary funds for the multi-media musical revue of Sondheim's life and career.

A representative of the group said, "The show's extensive technical requirements for film and multi-media projection required raising, what proved to be, an extraordinarily large amount of additional money; millions, actually, which was simply unavailable for a non-commercial production in the current economic climate. We regret the situation as the ALLIANCE THEATRE was ready, willing and able to fulfill their commitments for financing and infrastructure to stage this production. We intend to produce the show at another date."

ALLIANCE THEATRE Artistic Director Susan V. Booth said, "This came as heartbreaking news to us. We were very much looking forward to working with James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim on such an exceptional theatrical project, but we recognize the extraordinary challenges our partners were facing in their efforts to capitalize this production."

To deliver on its commitment to bring the Atlanta community a world class musical to close out the 40th Season, the Alliance will replace iSondheim with the restaging of a wildly popular and very successful musical from the fall of 2007. Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris will return to the Alliance in an impressive way, moving from the intimate Hertz Stage to the majestic Alliance Stage. Performances will begin Apr. 15. Other details regarding casting and staging will be announced soon.

Patrons who have purchased subscriptions or single tickets to iSondheim are asked to contact the Box Office at 404.733.5000 for ticketing information.

Now in its 40th season, Atlanta's nationally acclaimed ALLIANCE THEATRE, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, is the leading professional resident theatre of the Southeast, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Managing Director Thomas Pechar, the ALLIANCE THEATRE is a national theatre with a local address, reaching out annually to almost 200,000 patrons and members of the community. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance launched three Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo. And, in a rare event for a regional theatre, it originated the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The theatre has premiered 60 works including adaptations of Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky. Further evidence of the Alliance's commitment to new work is found in its nationally recognized Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, a cutting-edge program introducing student playwrights to professional networks while producing the world premiere of the winning student's work. The ALLIANCE THEATRE also offers extensive education and outreach programs such as the Institute for Educators and the Collision Project for high school students. The Alliance continuously brings Atlanta the finest talent and finest art-proving once again that the Alliance is where great theatre lives. 404.733.4650 or www.alliancetheatre.org

The ALLIANCE THEATRE is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which also includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse.