Kathleen Marshall to Direct New Version of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN at Denver Center in 2014-15

A new adaptation of Meredith Willson's classic musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN will kick off the Denver Center Theatre Company's 2014/15 season, according to Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson. Three-time Tony Award nominee Dick Scanlan combines his spirited new book with never before heard songs from the catalogue of Willson, who is also creator of the beloved The Music Man. The production will be helmed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall as director and choreographer.

Co-creator of Tony winning Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dick Scanlan tells Colorado's most treasured rags-to-riches romance in a refresh of the musical based on the book by Richard Morris. "Early on in the process of adapting THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN for a new generation of musical comedy lovers and unearthing treasures in Meredith Willson's previously unopened trunk of songs, I knew that the Denver Center Theatre Company was the perfect place for our maiden voyage," says Scanlan. "DCTC's long history of doing great productions of new shows, coupled with the special place the real life Molly Brown holds in Colorado's heart, adds up to a match made in heaven. Kind of like Molly and J.J. Brown, the fiery and fun couple whose story we're celebrating."

Rooted in extensive research of Colorado's turbulent Gold Rush era, the story traces Molly's rise from a small-town tomboy to a member of Denver's high society. Lead by Kathleen Marshall, one of Broadway's most successful director/choreographers (Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game, Anything Goes), and buoyed by classic and new songs by Meredith Willson, the heart of this musical comedy is the tempestuous can't-live-with him/can't live without him love story that survives the Silver Boom, the Gold Rush, and the R.M.S. Titanic. First immortalized in the 1960 Broadway musical, Molly Brown was also at the heart of the very successful movie musical adaptation starring Debbie Reynolds and among the dramatic highlights of James Cameron's box office movie hit, Titanic.

"We are thrilled to produce this new adaptation of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN," said Thompson in the announcement. "With a first class Broadway creative team and featuring the story of one of Colorado's most famous and successful women, I couldn't imagine the show premiering elsewhere. Please know - this isn't the classic musical you think you know! It's even better. It is fresh, romantic and entertaining."

THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN will open the 2014/15 DCTC season, running September 12 - October 26, 2014 (opening September 19) in the Stage Theatre. The play was a huge hit with audiences at the 2009 Colorado New Play Summit where it was workshopped under Kathleen Marshall's direction. "I am absolutely delighted that our first production of this newly imagined version of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN will be happening in Denver," said Marshall. "The Denver Center is a great company with an amazing facility and it is the perfect place to rediscover the incredible story of the adventures and romance of Molly and J.J. Brown."

Additional events surrounding the production will be announced in conjunction with Denver's Molly Brown House.

THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN with lyrics and music by Meredith Willson. Additional lyrics and book by Dick Scanlan. Based on the original book by Richard Morris. Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.

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