Tim Rice to Bring FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Musical Adaptation to Shaftesbury Theatre, Fall 2013

It was confirmed today that the new musical version of classic novel From Here to Eternity will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre in autumn 2013 after the run of Burn The Floor.  It will preview from September 30th and press night will be 23rd October 2013.

The production brings together the writing talents of Stuart Brayson (music), Tim Rice (lyrics) and Bill Oakes (book). It tells an extraordinary story of passion and honour, which takes place on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, in 1941, shortly before and during the Pearl Harbor attack of 7 December. From Here ToEternity marks Stuart's West End début and is Tim's first new stage musical for ten years. 

The production will be directed by Tamara Harvey whose recent work includesEducating Rita by Willy Russell for a national tour starting at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where she has previously directed Smash by Jack Rosenthal. Tamara spent 2011 as Associate Director at the Bush Theatre, during which time she directed Where’s My Seat; five of the Sixty-Six Books (the opening production in the new theatre) and The Kitchen Sink. Recent productions include Blue Heart Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre); Tell Me on a Sunday (UK National Tour); Dancing at Lughnasa (Birmingham Rep); Timing (King’s Head Theatre); Resilience (Bush Theatre); Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse); and Plague Over England (Finborough Theatre and Duchess Theatre).

Published in 1951, From Here To Eternity was James Jones’ début novel. It won him the National Book Award for fiction in 1952. It is loosely based on Jones’s experiences in the pre-World War II Hawaiian Division’s 27th Infantry and the unit in which he served. The 1953 film and subsequent TV mini-series were adapted from the novel. It has recently been announced that the novel will be re-released with previously unpublished material included.

In 1953 the novel was adapted into a film directed by Fred Zinnemann and produced by Buddy Adler, starring Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift, Ernest Borgnine, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed.  The film won 8 Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.

A website to which people wishing to receive further information can sign up has also been created: www.fromheretoeternitythemusical.com