Based on Natalie Babbitt's popular 1975 children's novel, Tuck Everlasting has a score by Burnt Part Boys songwriters Chris Miller (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and a book by Tony Award-nominated playwright Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde). The songwriters are the recipients of the 2014 Fred Ebb Award.
Miller and Tysen's work was highlighted as part of Playbill.com's Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know Series.
Tuck Everlasting officially opens Feb. 4.
Tony Award-winning Book of Mormon director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, The Drowsy Chaperone) directs and choreographs. Atlanta-based actress Sarah Charles Lewis stars as Winnie Foster, the young girl who befriends a unique family that has gained eternal life by drinking from a spring that flows from a tree in the woods. Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies, "Looking") stars in the central role of immortal boy Jesse Tuck.
The cast also features Robert Lenzi (South Pacific) as Miles Tuck, Tony nominee Carolee Carmello as Ma Tuck (through Feb. 5; Tony winner Beth Leavel performs the role Feb. 6-22), Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann (Pippin, Beauty and the Beast) as the Man in the Yellow Suit, Michael Park (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Pa Tuck, Patrick Wetzel as Constable Joe (through Jan. 25; Fred Applegate performs the role Jan. 27-Feb. 22), Michael Wartella (Wicked) as Hugo, Shannon Eubanks (The Savannah Disputation) as Nana and Liza Jaine (Mary Poppins) as Betsy Foster.
The cast is completed by Brad Anderson, Julie Barnes, Brad Bradley, Josh Brook, Deanna Doyle, K.C. Fredericks, Lisa Gajda, Jessica Goldyn, Neil Haskell, Jane Labanz, Marco Schittone, Curtis Schroeger, Ben Silver and Mabel Tyler.
The creative team includes set designer Walt Spangler (A Christmas Story The Musical), Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots, Follies), Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots, Pippin) and Tony Award-winning sound designer Brian Ronan (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Book of Mormon).
According to the Alliance, "A young girl dreaming of adventure meets a family with a fabulous secret. Their chance encounter will change them all forever. Take an exhilarating journey you'll never forget in this new musical about everlasting love, never-ending life, and discovering what it means to truly feel alive. Based on the beloved, best-selling, award-winning novel by Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting comes to life on stage in a wholly original production."
Chris Miller (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) have written The Burnt Part Boys (2010 Lucille Lortel Nomination, Best Musical) and Fugitive Songs (2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination, Outstanding Revue), both of which have cast albums on Yellow Sound Label. Their current projects include an adaptation of the popular novel Tuck Everlasting (direction by Casey Nicholaw, book by Claudia Shear), which will receive its world premiere in January 2015 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, as well as commissions from Lincoln Center Theater and Playwrights Horizons/Theatreworks Silicon Valley.
They have also written two circuses for Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, contributed to the revue Stars of David, and penned an adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s picture book, "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick." Their television work includes songs for "Sesame Street" (2012 Daytime Emmy Award) and "The Electric Company." They began their collaboration at NYU where they received their MFA's in musical theatre writing.
For tickets, visit alliancetheatre.org.
