STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes of MSMT and Fulton's Reimagined GHOST THE MUSICAL

The "nationally regarded" Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of GHOST THE MUSICAL, beginning tonight, June 8 through June 25. BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peek at highlights and behind the scenes below!

The romantic and heart-wrenching story features a cast of 10, focusing on the central characters of the original story, with a 10-piece orchestra. New acoustic versions of the songs from the original Broadway production will include, "Unchained Melody," "Here Right Now," "Suspend My Disbelief - I Had a Life," and more.

Adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Bruce Joel Rubin, GHOST THE MUSICAL follows Sam and Molly, a tech wizard and a gifted potter, whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam's murder. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. He enlists storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, whose reluctance clashes hilariously and touchingly with his desperation. With original music and lyrics from multi-Grammy winning pop music icons Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, GHOST THE MUSICAL will reach into your heart and help you believe in the endless power of love.

GHOST was the highest grossing film of 1990, starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze andWhoopi Goldberg. Creator Bruce Joel Rubin received the Academy Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. It was so beloved by audiences that it also won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture that same year. However, when the stage adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2012, it did not become the runaway hit that the movie was. After the show closed and went on a national tour, the creative team decided to rework the musical to make it more intimate, so it could once again touch the heart of audiences, the way it did in 1990. Maine State Music Theatre was proud to come on board to help create and, ultimately, produce this new version.

The first draft was presented in a premiere reading at the Fulton in 2014, and has since had numerous revisions before it is now ready to present on the MSMT Pickard Theater stage. Rehearsals began in March, and included Academy Award-winner Bruce Joel Rubin and multi-Grammy Award-winning writer Glen Ballard, who worked with artistic and production teams to recreate the piece. This production will become a licensed version of the show through Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and will be available to be performed by theatres across the country and internationally. A tour of the United Kingdom has just been announced and will use this version created for Maine State Music Theatre.

The production stars Gregg Goodbrod as Sam Wheat and Liz Shivener as Molly Jensen. Goodbrod returns to MSMT where he has previously played Jean ValJean in LES MISERABLES, Radames, Aida, and Jesus, Jesus Christ Superstar. He was an original cast member in the Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other credits include the 1st National Tour Dolly Parton's 9 to 5, and he has appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Fulton Theatre and many regional theatre's across the country. Shivener makes her MSMT debut in GHOST THE MUSICAL. She most recently starred as Dorothy Gale in the Fulton Theatre's The Wizard of Oz. She has appeared Off-Broadway in the productions of Hell's Belles and The Underclassman. Other credits include the National Tours of Disney's Beauty and the Beast as Belle and Shrek the Musical as Fiona.

Joining Goodbrod and Shivener is co-star E. Faye Butler as Oda Mae Brown. Butler is the recent recipient of the 2016 Rosetta LeNoire Award and has been awarded six Joseph JeffersonAwards, two Helen Hayes Awards along with many other awards and accolades. She has appeared at theatres across the country including the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Arena Stage and La Jolla Playhouse.

Rounding out the cast in alphabetical order are; Mike Backes (Carl Bruner), Kyle E. Baird (Subway Ghost/Orlando), Ceasar F. Barajas (Willie Lopez) Jessica Lorion, Janelle McDermoth,Linnaia McKenzie, and Billy Clark Taylor (Hospital Ghost).

The creative team for the production includes Marc Robin (Ghost Director and Choreographer and Fulton Theatre's Artistic Director), David Abbinanti (Orchestrations), Jason Wetzel (Music Director/Conductor), Robert Kovach (Scenic Designer), Beth Dunkelberger (Costume Designer), Paul Black (Lighting Designer), Jacob Mishler (Sound Designer), Katelin Walsko (Props Designer), Mark Johnson (Stage Manager), Amy M. Bertacini (Assistant Stage Manager), Stephanie Dupal (MSMt Managing Director), and Curt Dale Clark (MSMT Artistic Director).

GHOST THE MUSICAL will begin with previews on Wednesday, June 8, with the official opening on Thursday, June 9. Single ticket prices range from $46 - $77, with Student Rush available. Maine State Music Theatre performs at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus located at 1 Bath Road, Brunswick, Maine. For more information or to purchase tickets call 207-725-8769 or visit www.msmt.org.

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