The Broad Stage's Production of DADDY LONG LEGS Closes 6/27

The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center opens its first summer season with the Los Angeles premiere of the musical Daddy Long Legs. From John Caird, the Tony and Olivier Award-Winning director of Les Misérables and Nicholas Nickleby, and the creators of Jane Eyre.

Set at the turn of the last century, DADDY LONG LEGS is a coming-of-age story about Jerusha Abbott, an orphan who is given an opportunity to develop her mind and spirit by an anonymous benefactor. A trustee of the John Grier Hall reads an essay by the young Jerusha and offers to send her to college. His only requirements are that Jerusha never know his identity, and that she write him monthly (though he will not respond). She sees him once in shadows and invents a nickname for her mysterious patron-Daddy Long Legs.

DADDY LONG LEGS received its world premiere at The Rubicon Theater October 7th, 2009. Music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, who has written chart-topping pop and country hits in addition to his works for the stage (Jane Eyre/Emma), and an imaginative book by John Caird based on the 1912 novel by Jean Webster (great-niece of Mark Twain). Caird, whose credits include Les Miserables, Nicholas Nickleby, and work as both writer and director for The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, also helms the production.

A six-piece offstage band under Musical Director Laura Berquist (Conductor for National and International Tours of The King and I, Titanic and Miss Saigon) will perform the superb score, which ranges in style from classical musical theatre, to folk, to pop.

The role of Jerusha is played by Broadway ingénue Megan McGinnis, a Columbia University graduate whose New York credits include originating the role of Beth in the musical of Little Women. Other Broadway roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Lucille in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Eponine in the recent revival of Les Miserables (directed by John Caird), Parade and The Diary of Anne Frank.

ROBERT ADELMAN HANCOCK assays the role of the long-legged Jervis Pendleton, continuing to develop the role he created during Rubicon's Fashion Forms Plays-in-Progress program. Other credits include Sky in the National Tour of Mamma Mia!, and regional productions of James Joyce's The Dead (Court Theatre, Chicago), The Fantasticks (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Hair (Hangar Theatre), the original cast of Route 66 (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Forever Plaid (Barrymore Nomination - Delaware Theatre Company), Muscle(World Premiere by Lapine/Finn at Pegasus Players Chicago) and A Christmas Carol (Westport Country Playhouse). As a soloist, Rob has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

The period sets and costumes for Daddy Long Legs are by Olivier Award-winner David Farley, who recently received rave reviews for his inventive West End and Broadway designs for Sunday in the Park with George and who will design the upcoming Broadway revival of A Little Night Music with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He is assisted by Coordinators Teresa Scarano (Props) and David "Spanky" Reynoso (Hair and Make-up). Lighting design is by Paul Toben, who recently designed The Story of My Life on Broadway. Sound design is by Jonathan Burke (Rubicon's Fiddler and Man of La Mancha and works with The Geffen Playhouse, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Center Theatre Group).

MORE ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
DADDY LONG LEGS' Director and Bookwriter John Caird is best known for his London and Broadway creations of Les Misérables and Nicholas Nickleby, both with Trevor Nunn, which won Tony and Olivier Awards and which have played throughout the world.

Many of his productions have been for The National Theatre in London, including Hamlet with Simon Russell Beale, Bulwer-Lytton's Money, Caird's own new versions of Bernstein's Candide and Barrie's Peter Pan, Trelawny of the Wells, The Seagull, Stanley by Pam Gems and Humbleboy by Charlotte Jones.

Mr. Caird is an Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), where he has directed over twenty plays. Other work includes Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance at the Palace Theatre, Mozart's Zaide at the Battignano Opera Festival in Tuscany and the Siegfried and Roy Spectacular in Las Vegas.

Television work includes Nicholas Nickleby, As You Like It and his own adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV for the BBC.

Mr. Caird's most recent stage work includes productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night, both for the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, Michael Weller's new play What the Night is For at the Comedy Theatre with Gillian Anderson and Roger Allam, and the transfer of Les Misérables to its new home at the Queen's Theatre. Published work as a book writer, adapter and lyricist includes a new version of John Gay's Beggar's Opera with composer Ilona Sekacz first performed at the RSC, a new adaptation of J.M.Barrie's Peter Pan with Trevor Nunn which played at the RSC and the National, Children of Eden with composer Stephen Schwartz, and Bernstein's Candide with new lyrics by Richard Wilbur and Stephen Sondheim. His new opera Brief Encounter with music by André Previn, based on the Noël Coward screenplay, recently opened to acclaim at the Houston Grand Opera. With Holly Kendrick, Mr. Caird founded the Caird Company to encourage and promote the work of young playwrights and theatre directors. Current Productions include Theatre Café at the Arcola Theatre and The Arab-Israeli Cookbook at the Gate Theatre.

Paul Gordon, who wrote the music and lyrics for DADDY LONG LEGS, was nominated for a 2000 Tony Award for his score to Jane Eyre which was first presented by the Mirvish organization in Toronto. The production subsequently ran at the La Jolla Playhouse and then moved to Broadway. Paul's adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Emma was co-produced by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, TheatreWorks and St. Louis Rep to tremendous acclaim.

Paul wrote and co-directed the independent film Dirk and Betty, which premiered at the 1999 Hamptons' Film Festival and stars Marisa Tomei, Eric Roberts and Jonathan Silverman.

Paul has written two #1 songs: Next Time I Fall recorded by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant, and Friends and Lovers, which was #1 on both pop and country charts. Paul has also written for or collaborated with Bette Midler, Quincy Jones, Alanis Morissette, Vonda Shepard, David Foster, Patti LaBelle, Eddie Rabbit, Juice Newton, James Ingram, The Pointer Sisters, Dionne Warwick, Olivia Newton-John, Eddie Money, Kenny Rogers, Smokey Robinson and Kenny G among many others.

Paul has written songs for several films including Stella, Ghostbusters II, Spacecamp, Twilight Zone, The Movie, Soul Man and The Principle. Paul is the recipient of nine ASCAP Awards. His most recent award was received for the theme to "Ally McBeal," co-written with Vonda Shepard.

CO-PRODUCING PARTNERS
DADDY LONG LEGS is a co-production of Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura, California; THEATREWORKS in Palo Alto, California; Cincinnati Playhouse IN THE-PARK in Cincinnati, Ohio; Executive Producer Michael Jackowitz; and David Elzer.

ABOUT THE BROAD STAGE:
Under the leadership of Director Dale Franzen and Artistic Chair Dustin Hoffman, The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center opened its doors in Santa Monica in October 2008. Inspired by Italian "horseshoe" theaters, yet conceived in an absolutely contemporary vernacular, The Broad Stage is an artist's dream and an audience's delight. Unlike any performance space in the country, it is sublimely intimate with 499-seats and strikingly grand at the same time - allowing eye contact with artists from the boxes to the back row -forging a new kind of artist and audience experience in Los Angeles. Theater, dance, film, operas, musicals, symphony and chamber orchestras will be presented on one of the city's largest proscenium stages. Designed without compromise to embrace the artistic process from inspiration to opening night, and conceived as a global theater and community hub. In addition to The Broad Stage, The Edye Second Space, a smaller black box theater, presents new, developing and innovative work in theater, music and dance as part of the 21st Century Cabaret Series. Under the Radar Series (UTR) features younger, innovative artists and chamber pieces and plays. Programming at The Edye is intentionally spontaneous, reflecting the dynamic nature of the space and allowing the latest, most exciting artists to be booked on short notice. The Under the Radar Series is only $20.

DATES, SHOW TIMES AND TICKET INFORMATION
Opening Night for DADDY LONG LEGS is Thursday, June 17th at 7:30 p.m. at The Broad Stage, 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, 90401. The after-party is hosted Venice Magazine. Tickets for the Opening Night are $85 and include the show, the party with the cast. The production continues for a limited run, 15 performances through Sunday, June 27th. Prices range from $36 to $85, depending on the day of the week. Tickets may be purchased in person through the box office, located at 1301 11th Street. To charge by phone, call 310-434-3200. To select dates and seats online, go to www.TheBroadStage.com

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