Finding Neverland (musical)

Finding Neverland
Broadway Playbill cover
Music	Gary Barlow
Lyrics	Gary Barlow, Eliot Kennedy
Book	James Graham
Productions	2012 Leicester 2014 Cambridge 2015 Broadway 2017 West End

Finding Neverland is an original musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham. Inspired by the 2004 film Finding Neverland, the musical made its world premiere at the Curve Theatre in Leicester in 2012, with the reworked version making its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following completion of its Cambridge run, the production transferred to Broadway in March 2015.

After 17 months on Broadway, the production of Finding Neverland is expected to close on August 21, 2016.

Background

On 6 February 2011, La Jolla Playhouse, California, announced that they would produce a new stage musical based on the film with the book by Allan Knee, score by Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics), and directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. A planned production at La Jolla Playhouse was not held. A developmental reading was held in New York on 31 March 2011, with Julian Ovenden, Kelli O'Hara, Tony Roberts, Mary Beth Peil, Michael Cumpsty, and Meredith Patterson, directed by Ashford. The adaptation had its world premiere on 22 September 2012 at Curve in Leicester. Directed by Rob Ashford, it starred Julian Ovenden as J.M Barrie and West End actress Rosalie Craig as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

On 4 September 2013, it was announced that producer Harvey Weinstein has hired Barry Weissler as executive producer. They planned on opening a revised version of the musical at the American Repertory Theater (ART), Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2014. The revised musical has a new creative team, with Diane Paulus as director, a new book by James Graham and 22 songs by Gary Barlow, with a few songs from the original composers. A private reading was held in September 2013 with Brian d’Arcy James as Barrie and Jason Alexander as the "nagging theater producer".

Productions

The revised production ran at the ART from 23 July 2014 to 28 September 2014, with songs by six-time Ivor Novello winner Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, the book by James Graham and choreography by Mia Michaels; ART artistic director Diane Paulus is the director. The full cast and creative team was announced on 2 June 2014, with Jeremy Jordan as Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies featured. The cast also includes Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. Roger Bart who was originally announced for the character of Charles Frohman has been replaced by Michael McGrath.

Jennifer Hudson debuted the song "Neverland" from the musical at the 68th Tony Awards on 8 June 2014.

The ART production directed by Diane Paulus moved to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in March 2015. On 10 November 2014, it was announced that Matthew Morrison, is taking Jordan's place in the portrayal of J. M. Barrie in the Broadway production. Kelsey Grammer stars as Charles Frohman and Laura Michelle Kelly reprises the role of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. Previews began 15 March 2015, with the official opening on 15 April. The production did not receive any Tony Award nominations. The Broadway production is expected to close on August 21, 2016 after 565 performances.

In early 2016 it was announced that Finding Neverland would be have a production opening in London in 2017. In unofficial circles it was said that Alfie Boe will be starring in the production as J.M. Barrie. It has later been confirmed. The rest of the cast has not been announcedOn the 15th May 2016, Gary Barlow performed Something about this night, from the musical, on the Queen's 90th birthday celebration, hosted by Ant & Dec and also guest starring was Catherine Jenkins and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Casts

Note: Below are the principal casts of all professional major productions.

Role	Original Leicester Cast 2012	Original A.R.T. Cast 2014	Original Broadway Cast 2015	Current Broadway Cast 2016
J. M. Barrie	Julian Ovenden	Jeremy Jordan	Matthew Morrison	Alfie Boe
Sylvia Llewelyn Davies	Rosalie Craig	Laura Michelle Kelly
Charles Frohman† / James Hook	Oliver Boot	Michael McGrath	Kelsey Grammer	Marc Kudisch
Mary Barrie	Clare Foster	Jeanna de Waal	Teal Wicks
Michael Llewelyn Davies	Worrall Courtney Jon Joe Flynn Morgan Heath Jamieson Hughes	Alex Dreier	Alex Dreier Hayden Signoretti Noah Hinsdale	Christian Michael Camporin Alex Dreier Eli Tokash Jack McCarthy
Jack Llewelyn Davies	Connor Fitzgerald Harrisson Slater Garrett Tennant	Hayden Signoretti	Hayden Signoretti Christopher Paul Richards Alex Dreier	Alex Dreier Christopher Paul Richards Eli Tokash Christian Michael Camporin
George Llewelyn Davies	Connor Phillips Josh Swinney Corey Wickenden	Sawyer Nunes	Sawyer Nunes Christopher Paul Richards Jackson Demott Hill	Jackson Demott Hill Christopher Paul Richards Eli Tokash
Peter Llewelyn Davies	Theo Fewell Luke James Harry Folden	Aidan Gemme	Aidan Gemme Christopher Paul Richards Jackson Demott Hill	Christopher Paul Richards Eli Tokash Alex Drier Jackson Demott Hill
Mrs. du Maurier	Liz Robertson	Carolee Carmello		Sally Ann Triplett
Miss Jones	does not appear	Courtney Balan
Miss Potter	does not appear	Dana Costello
Mr. Turpin / Sir Edward	Matt Wilman	Rory Donovan
Miss Bassett	does not appear	Gaelen Gilliland	Jessica Vosk	Kristy Cates-Frankfort
Porthos	Champion Poolsway	Thayne Jasperson	Jack and Jill
Mr. Cromer	does not appear	Josh Lamon		Robert Anthony Jones
Peter Pan	Michelle Francis	Melanie Moore		Amy Yakima
Servant	does not appear	Mary Page Nance Jonathan Ritter Ron Todorowski
Elliot	does not appear	Stuart Neal	Chris Dwan
Wendy	does not appear	Emma Pfaeffle
Lord Cannan†	Edward Lewisd French	Tyley Ross
Mr. Henshaw	does not appear	Paul Slade Smith

Notes:

• In the Leicester production, Lord Cannan was called Lord Griffin and Charles Blount was called Maximilian Blunt. Cut characters include PG Wodehouse (Norman Bowman), Mermaid (Ashley Hale), Scheherazade (Frankie Jenna), Mother (Julia Jupp), Arthur Conan Doyle (Martin Ledwith), Sally (Zoe Rainey), GK Chesteron (Gary Watson), Jerome K. Jerome (Stephen Webb), and David (James Scudamore).

Notable Broadway replacements

• Anthony Warlow replaced Kelsey Grammer as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook on July 10 until September 27, 2015.
• Terrence Mann replaced Anthony Warlow as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook on September 29, 2015.
• Kelsey Grammer replaced Terence Mann as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook from January 15 until April 03, 2016.
• Tony Yazbeck replaced Matthew Morrison as J.M. Barrie from January 26 until March 27, 2016.
• Sandy Duncan replaced Carolee Carmello as Mrs. du Maurier starting February 12, 2016, initially performing through to March 27, 2016, but made a premature exit from the production on February 14 due to family obligations.
• Sally Ann Triplett replaced Sandy Duncan as Mrs. du Maurier from March 1 until May 1, 2016. Ensemble members Kristy Cates and Courtney Balan alternated in playing the role until Triplett's run began.
• Alfie Boe replaced Tony Yazbeck as J.M. Barrie starting March 29, 2016.
• Ensemble member Paul Slade Smith replaced Kelsey Grammer as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook on April 05, 2016.

Musical numbers

Developmental Workshop

Act I

• "Prologue"
• "Better"
• "Believe"
• "Rearranging the Furniture"
• "Big Adventure"
• "Feels Like Summer"
• "We Own the Night"
• "Dream the Dream (Lullaby)"
• "Never Never Land"
• "Circus of Your Mind"
• "Stronger" / "Live By the Hook"

Act II

• "The World is Upside Down"
• "Play"
• "What You Mean to Me"
• "Stars"
• "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground"
• "Something About This Night"
• "Never Never Land" (Reprise)
• "Dream the Dream"

Cambridge

Act I

• "Anywhere But Here" – J. M. Barrie
• "Better" – Charles Frohman, J. M. Barrie and the Acting Troupe
• "Rearranging the Furniture" – Mary Barrie and Servants
• "Believe" – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Boys and Ensemble
• "All That Matters" – Sylvia and Mrs. du Maurier
• "We Own the Night (The Dinner Party)" – Mary, Mrs. du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Sylvia, J. M. Barrie, Boys and Servants
• "Sylvia's Lullaby" – Sylvia
• "Neverland" – J. M. Barrie
• "Circus of Your Mind" – Frohman, Mary, Mrs. du Maurier and Ensemble
• "Hook" – James Hook and Ensemble
• "Stronger" – J. M. Barrie, James Hook and Ensemble

Act II

• "The World is Upside Down" – J. M. Barrie, Frohman and the Acting Troupe
• "Play" – Frohman, Sylvia and the Acting Troupe
• "What You Mean to Me" – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia
• "We're All Made of Stars" – the Llewelyn Davies Boys
• "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground" – J. M. Barrie and Peter
• "Something About This Night" – Frohman, the Acting Troupe, J. M. Barrie and Peter
• "Neverland" (Reprise) – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia, Mrs. du Maurier, Boys and the Acting Troupe
• "Finale (All That Matters)" – Mrs. du Maurier, J. M. Barrie and Ensemble

Broadway

Act I

• "If the World Turned Upside Down" – J. M. Barrie
• "All of London is Here Tonight" – Frohman, J. M. Barrie, Mary and Company
• "The Pirates of Kensington" – George, Jack, Michael and Jack
• "Believe" – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Boys and Ensemble
• "The Dinner Party" – Mary, Mrs. Du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Barrie, Sylvia, Boys and Servants
• "We Own the Night" – Mary, Mrs. du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Sylvia, Barrie, Boys and Servants
• "All That Matters" – Sylvia and Mrs. du Maurier
• "The Pirates of Kensington" (Reprise) – George, Peter, Jack and Michael
• "Sylvia's Lullaby" – Sylvia Llewelyn Davies
• "Neverland" – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia
• "Circus of Your Mind" – Frohman, Mary, Mrs. du Maurier and Ensemble
• "Live by the Hook" – James Hook and Ensemble
• "Stronger" – J. M. Barrie, James Hook and Ensemble

Act II

• "The World is Upside Down" – J. M. Barrie, Frohman and the Acting Troupe
• "What You Mean to Me" – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia
• "Play" – Frohman, Sylvia and the Acting Troupe
• "We're All Made of Stars" – the Llewelyn Davies Boys
• "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground" – J. M. Barrie and Peter
• "Something About This Night" – Frohman, the Acting Troupe, J. M. Barrie and Peter
• "Neverland" (Reprise) – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia, Mrs. du Maurier, Boys and the Acting Troupe
• "Finale (When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground)" – Mrs. du Maurier, J. M. Barrie and Ensemble

Awards and nominations

The production was nominated for two 2015 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Morrison) and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Carmello).

External links

• Finding Neverland at the Internet Broadway Database