Once National Tour Comes to Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center presents the musical Once from tonight, July 7 - August 16, 2015, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. The winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Once is based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The production stars Stuart Ward as Guy and Dani de Waal as Girl. Once is recommended for ages 10 and older. The press opening night is Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Once is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, Once is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty, and unforgettable in every way.
Once features a book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter, Edna Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by acclaimed Scottish director John Tiffany (Black Watch), movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot), and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!).
The cast also features Sarah McKinley Austin, Matt DeAngelis, John Steven Gardner, Evan Harrington, Ryan Link, Benjamin Magnuson, Alex Nee, Erica Spyres, Tina Stafford, Erica Swindell, and Scott Waara.
Set and costume designs are by six-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley, lighting design is by four-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, and sound design is by Tony Award winner Clive Goodwin.
The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Once, was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, with original music and lyrics by Mr. Hansard and Ms. Irglova. The independent Irish film was made for $150,000. Shot in 17 days, it went on to gross $20M worldwide becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. It stars Glen Hansard, from the popular Irish Rock band The Frames, and Marketa Irglova. Glen and Marketa won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for "Falling Slowly," the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music, and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
Once is produced by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf, and Executive Producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop.
Once runs tonight, July 7 - August 16, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. Tickets starting at $65. For more information, visit the Kennedy Center website, in-person at the Kennedy Center box office, or call (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324.