Tickets on Sale Friday for THE BODYGUARD's National Tour Launch in Minneapolis

Hennepin Theatre Trust has announced that the U.S. National tour of the hit musical, THE BODYGUARD, launches in Minneapolis as part of the 2016-2017 Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin Season Jan. 10-15, 2017 at the historic Orpheum Theatre. Deborah Cox, the Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress, will star as Rachel Marron.

Tickets for the general public go on sale on Friday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis), by calling (800) 982-2787 or by clicking to HennepinTheatreTrust.org. For information and reservations for groups of 10 or more, call (612) 373-5665 or email MinneapolisGroups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Performance dates are Tuesday, Jan. 10 through Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at the Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. 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.

Ticket prices start at $39.00. All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $4.00.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Oscar nominatEd Warner Bros. film, and adapted by Academy Award-winner ("Birdman") Alexander Dinelaris, THE BODYGUARD had its world premiere on Dec. 5, 2012 at London's Adelphi Theatre. THE BODYGUARD was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Best Set Design and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards. The UK production of the musical recently completed a sell-out 16-month UK and Ireland tour and made its triumphant return to London's West End at the Dominion Theatre on July 15, 2016.

Direction is by Thea Sharrock. Set & costume design is by Tim Hatley, lighting design by Mark Henderson, sound design by Richard Brooker and video design by Duncan McLean. Choreography is by Karen Bruce, orchestrations by Chris Egan, musical supervision by Richard Beadle and production musical supervision by Mike Dixon. The U.S. National tour of THE BODYGUARD is produced by Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don't expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including "So Emotional," "One Moment in Time," "Saving All My Love," "Run to You," "I Have Nothing," "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and one of the biggest selling songs of all time - "I Will Always Love You."

Connect with THE BODYGUARD online at www.thebodyguardmusical.com or follow the musical on Facebook: thebodyguardmusical, Twitter: @TheBodyguardUS and Instagram: thebodyguardus.

Deborah Cox (Rachel Marron) - Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress Deborah Cox made her Broadway debut in the lead role in Elton John and Tim Rice's musical, Aida. She most recently starred on Broadway in 2013 as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, and starred as legendary Josephine Baker in Josephine at Asolo Repertory Theatre in the spring of 2016.

Cox began her recording career as a background singer with Celine Dion, before securing her first recording contract with Clive Davis at Arista Records. She has recorded six award-winning and critically-acclaimed albums, and has written and recorded on numerous celebrated soundtracks. Her platinum selling debut album "Deborah Cox" earned her an American Music Award nomination. She won her first of three Juno Awards including a Female Vocalist of the Year nomination.

From her second CD, "One Wish," came the double platinum "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" which held the record for being the longest running #1 R&B Single for 14 consecutive weeks and earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination, a Soul Train Award, A Lady Of Soul Award, Best Female vocalist Juno nomination and a Billboard Music Award Nomination for R&B Single Of The Year.

Cox has collaborated with such artists as Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Josh Groban, The Isley Brothers, Cyndi Lauper, Sarah McLachlan and numerous others. The Canadian born star has an impressive list of #1 Billboard hit records, including 12 #1 songs on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2000, Cox collaborated with Whitney Houston to record the duet "Same Script Different Cast" for Houston's Greatest Hits CD.

Cox has been recognized for her longstanding commitment to various social issues in the LGBTQ community. In January 2015, she received the Out Music Pillar Award. In 2014, she received the California State Senate Award and in 2007, she received The Civil Rights Award from the New York Senate for her efforts in the fight for Human Rights and Equality. She was recently honored by The Harvey Milk Foundation at the 2015 Diversity Honors for all of her efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the LGBTQ community. On June 12, 2016, she was given the Liberty Bell and Proclamation in Philadelphia by Mayor James Kenney to proclaim June 12 as LGBTQ Philadelphia Pride Parade and Festival Day.

Connect with Deborah Cox ONLINE at www.deborahcox.com or follow her on Facebook: DeborahCoxDRG and Twitter: @Deborah_Cox.

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST is a nonprofit organization that creates positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations in WeDo, the West Downtown MPLS Cultural District. We serve the community through our four theatres - the Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century - and our unique arts, culture and education programs. Learn more at HennepinTheatreTrust.org and wedompls.org.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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