ONCE National Tour Coming to Orpheum Theatre, 4/1-6

Once, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, makes its Minneapolis premiere at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, April 1-6, 2014. Tickets for Once are on sale now. Once is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as part of its Broadway Season. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787.

Once, which was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics' Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards, is currently running on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Once features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia) and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

Once is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film telling the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, Once is a musical celebration of life and love that is thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty and unforgettable in every way.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Once, was written and directed by John Carney and starred Hansard and Irglová, who also wrote the original music and lyrics. This acclaimed independent Irish film was made for $150,000. Shot in 17 days, it went on to gross $20 million worldwide, becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. Hansard and Irglová won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for "Falling Slowly," the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in April 2011 with Diane Paulus (Artistic Director) and Diane Borger (Producer). A developmental run of Once at New York Theatre Workshop (James C. Nicola and William Russo) began performances on November 15, 2011 and opened December 6. The production broke box office records and concluded a sold out engagement including a two week extension through January 15, 2012.

The Once tour cast features Stuart Ward* (Guy), Dani De Waal (Girl), Ray Bokhour (Da), Matt DeAngelis (Švec), John Gardner (Eamon), Donna Garner (Baruška), Evan Harrington (Billy), Ryan Link (Emcee), Benjamin Magnuson (Bank Manager), Alex Nee (Andrej), Erica Swindell (Ex-Girlfriend), Kolette Tetlow (Ivanka), Claire Wellin (Réza), Estelle Bajou, Stephen McIntyre, Zander Meisner, Tina Stafford, Tiffany Topol and Matt Wolpe. Once is produced by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Executive Producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop. For more information, visit www.oncemusical.com. *Stuart Ward is appearing with the support of Actors' Equity Association. The producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance.

Tickets for Once are on sale now and start at $59 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave.), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or by visiting a Ticketmaster Outlet Center. For patron protection and standard prices, Hennepin Theatre Trust strongly recommends purchasing only from authorized ticket outlets. All prices include applicable facility restoration fees. Additional charges may apply. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.373.5665 or contact MinneapolisGroups@broadwayacrossamerica for information and reservations. Performance times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

To post a comment, you must register and login.