World premier musical commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare
Sense and Sensibility
Announced in The Old Globe's 2016 Season
Barbara Gaines directs West Coast premiere July 6—August 14
Chicago—October 23, 2015—Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today that Sense and Sensibility, the award-winning new musical commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare from Tony Award®-nominated composer Paul Gordon. will make its West Coast debut at The Old Globe, July 6–August 14, 2016. Presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare, Sense and Sensibility is directed Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and in continuing development with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. This musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel made its world premiere at CST with a sold-out, extended run in the Courtyard Theater, April 18–June 14, 2015.
Recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award®, The Old Globe is one of the nation’s most venerated theater companies, recognized as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for 80 years. Numerous Broadway-bound premieres and revivals developed at The Old Globe have enjoyed successful runs in New York and across the country, including Into the Woods, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty and current Broadway productions A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Allegiance and the upcoming Bright Star.
Multi-talented composer, lyricist and book writer Paul Gordon brings fresh voice to Austen’s intimate story of love and sisterhood in this thrillingly romantic musical—recently honored with the highly coveted Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding New Work - Musical. Gordon is best known as co-writer of the Broadway musical Jane Eyre, which was nominated for five Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Musical and Best Score, and his musical adaptation of Austen’s Emma won the 2007 Bay Area Critics Circle Award. Sense and Sensibility also features orchestrations by Tony Award®-winners Larry Hochman (Book of Mormon, 2011) and Bruce Coughlin (The Light in the Piazza, 2005), with additional arrangements by Curtis Moore.
“I wanted to do Sense and Sensibility because, in part, Paul was passionate about it,” says Gaines. “I can’t even imagine the story anymore without the music. For me, the story and Paul’s songs have become one. We’re deeply honored to be a part of the next step in the life of this musical, continuing Chicago Shakespeare's commitment to the development of new work.”
For more information on the Old Globe production, visit www.theoldglobe.org.
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a leading international theater company and the recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award®. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to creating extraordinary production of classics, new works and family programming; to unlocking Shakespeare’s work for educators and students; and to serving as Chicago’s cultural ambassador through its World’s Stage Series. Through a year-round season encompassing more than 650 performances, CST attracts 225,000 audience members annually. One in four of its audience members is under eighteen years old, and today its education programs have impacted the learning of over one million students. CST is proud to take an active role in empowering the next generation of literate, engaged cultural champions and creative minds.
# # #