Dates have been set for Trevor Nunn’s production of Gone With The Wind. The musical stage adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel opens at the New London on 22 April 2008 after previews from 5 April, and is booking until 27 September 2008.
Mitchell’s classic 1936 novel was made into a film starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, which made box office history as the highest grossing film of all time when it was released in 1939. This new musical, with book and lyrics by Margaret Martin, adapted by Nunn, and music by Martin, puts the famous story on stage.
Set in 1860s Atlanta, Georgia, Gone With The Wind follows the story of 17-year-old Scarlett O’Hara as the American Civil War takes her from a life of luxury on her father’s plantation to hardship and tragedy. Over a period of 10 years her struggle is intermingled with her turbulent relationship with the unpredictable Rhett Butler.
While no casting has yet been confirmed, the creative team has been named and features many long-time collaborators of director Nunn. Design is by John Napier, who has previously worked with Nunn on his productions of Nicholas Nickleby, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Misérables and Sunset Boulevard. Andreane Neofitou (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Grease) will design costumes; lighting design is by Neil Austin (The Emperor Jones); sound is by Paul Groothius (Bad Girls The Musical, Nunn’s South Pacific, My Fair Lady and Anything Goes); Gareth Valentine (Sinatra, Wicked, Nunn’s Anything Goes, Cats and Acorn Antiques) is musical supervisor and David Bolger, of dance company Cois Céim, is movement director.
Tickets for Gone With The Wind go on sale on 30 September.
CB