Photo Flash: WAR HORSE Gallops Into Broward Center Tonight

The National Theatre of Great Britain's epic War Horse, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, will make its premiere in Fort Lauderdale beginning tonight, May 7th. Get a sneak peek at the show in the production photos below!

Michael Morpurgo's beloved novel, War Horse, is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's feature film of the same name, which earned six Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

War Horse is the powerful story of young Albert's beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man's land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.

The tour of War Horse, which was adapted from the book by Morpurgo by Nick Stafford, is directed by Bijan Sheibani based on the original Tony Award-winning direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

In addition to Best Play, War Horse received Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Rae Smith), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Paule Constable), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Christopher Shutt). A Special Ton Award was given to Handspring Puppet Company for their integral work on the production.

War Horse received its World Premiere in a limited engagement at the National's Olivier Theatre in 2007. The play returned to The National Theatre for a second run playing from 2008-2009 before transferring to the West End's New London Theatre in Spring 2009 where it continues to play an open-ended run.

War Horse has been seen by over 2 million people worldwide and is currently playing at New York's Lincoln Center Theater, in London's West End, and at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre. Future productions of War Horse are planned for Australia, Berlin and South Africa, as well as a UK Tour. For more information, visit www.WarHorseOnStage.com.

The lead producers of the National Tour of War Horse are Bob Boyett and The National Theatre of Great Britain. Lincoln Center Theater and The National Theatre of Great Britain in association with Bob Boyett and War Horse LP, are the producers of the American premiere of War Horse, which opened in Spring 2011 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater where it is currently playing an open-ended run.

War Horse will play tonight, May 7th through Sunday, May 19th at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday May 12th at 7:30pm. Matinee performances are all Saturdays and Sundays and Wednesday, May 15th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $39.50 - $79.50 and are now on sale at the Broward Center Box Office Monday through Friday 10AM - 5PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon - 5PM and 1 1⁄2 hours prior to show times; or on-line at www.browardcenter.org; by phone 954-462-0222. Groups of 10+ are invited to call 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of America's premier performing arts venues, consistently ranked among the top ten in the country. Presenting more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, the Center showcases a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events, and offers one of the largest arts-in- education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. In 2007, the Broward Center was named the Cultural Embassy of Broward County in recognition of its success in linking cultural activity with the region's economic development. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop, and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.BrowardCenter.org.

Photo Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg