NewsPHOTO CALL: Sting Musical The Last Ship, With Michael Esper and Rachel Tucker, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet Arrivals, Curtain Call and Cast PartyThe Last Ship, the new folk-rock musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy winner Sting — inspired by the songwriter's own childhood — officially opened on Broadway Oct. 26 at the Neil Simon Theatre.
By
Matthew Blank
October 27, 2014
Directed by Tony winner Joe Mantello (Casa Valentina, Wicked), The Last Ship began Broadway previews Sept. 29. The musical arrives on Broadway following a Chicago world-premiere engagement earlier this summer.
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Sting Musical The Last Ship, With Michael Esper and Rachel Tucker, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet Arrivals, Curtain Call and Cast Party
"It's an out-of-body experience," Sting said of his Broadway debut as a composer-lyricist. "You relinquish a lot of control, but all of these people bring something to the process I can't."
The Last Ship, according to producers, "is set in the English seaside town of Wallsend, a close-knit community where life has always revolved around the local shipyard and the hardworking men construct magnificent vessels with tremendous pride. But Gideon Fletcher dreams of a different future. He sets out to travel the world, leaving his life and his love behind. When Gideon returns home many years later, he finds the shipyard's future in grave danger and his childhood sweetheart engaged to someone else. This love triangle ignites just as the men and women of Wallsend take their future into their own hands and build a towering representation of the shared dream that defines their existence. And in the end Gideon comes to understand that he had indeed left behind more than he could have ever imagined."
The production has set and costume design by Tony nominee David Zinn, lighting design by Tony winner Christopher Akerlind and sound design by Tony winner Brian Ronan. Musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements are by Rob Mathes. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Craig Burns, CSA.