Ray Bradbury's Musical 2116 Makes Debut After 50-Year Wait

Ray Bradbury, author of classic novels such as Farenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, will get the first full production of his musical, 2116, after having sat on the back-burner for more than 50 years. The musical will made its debut at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena under the title "Ray Bradbury's Merry Christmas 2116" for its initial run. Following that, the musical will premiere under the shortened title 2116 along with a companion piece Wisdom (1916) under the title "Ray Bradbury's Wisdom."

In the mid 1950's, the show was supposed to receive its first run. James Whale was set to direct Elsa Lanchester and her husband Charles Laughton in the musical, then titled "Happy Anniversary, 2116." Music was to be written by Ray Henderson. However, when Whale committed suicide, the musical was sidetracked indefinitely.

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Last year, Bradbury revisited the script as potential for his Pandemonium Theatre Company, currently running a straight play of "Farenheit 451," and when Steve Josephson signed on to write the music, the musical became a realization.

"It was a perfect match," Josephson said. "He saw the story in the context of Ray's entire works. I knew he would capture it perfectly, and that's how it's been through the entire process."

Ray Bradbury's Merry Christmas 2116 follows Mr. & Mrs. Wycherly as they celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. It seems they are both disillusioned with their reflections in the mirror and wish they could do something to help their spouses as they age. Enter Mr. Marionette, who arrives just in time to help the aging Wycherlys find the perfect Christmas gift for each other. What follows is pure Bradbury charm, wit and mystique. Told entirely through song and dance, this new musical is perfect for both Halloween and Christmas. Each performance includes an appearance and introduction by Ray Bradbury.

Ray Bradbury is best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury is widely considered one of the greatest and most popular American writers of speculative fiction of the twentieth century. The 1998 film The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, released by Touchstone Pictures, was written by Ray Bradbury. It was based on his story "The Magic White Suit" originally published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1957. The story had also previously been adapted as a play, a musical, and a 1958 television version.

 

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