'Empire: The Musical' to premiere off Broadway this summer

The new show inspired by the history of the Empire State Building will play at New World Stages for a limited 12-week engagement beginning in July.

Get in an Empire State of mind! The new show Empire: The Musical will premiere off Broadway in July. Performances begin July 1 ahead of a July 11 opening night at New World Stages, where the production is set to run for 12 weeks only.

Empire: The Musical is created by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull and directed by Tony Award winner Cady Huffman. Inspired by the history of the Empire State Building, the show centers on the people who saw the skyscraper's construction through in desperate times and when it seemed impossible. The story jumps between three time periods: the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the Bicentennial Year of 1976.

The Empire: The Musical cast includes Danny Iktomi Bevins, Monique Candelaria, Devin Cortez, Morgan Cowling, Kaitlyn Davidson, Joel Douglas, Joseph Fierberg, Alexandra Frohlinger, Matt Gibson, Albert Guerzon, Julia Louise Hosack, Kiana Kabeary, Howard Kaye, TJ Newton, April Ortiz, Kennedy Perez, Paul Salvatoriello, J Savage, Robbie Serrano, and Ethan Saviet.

The show also features choreography by Lorna Ventura, scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Tina McCartney, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, sound design by Shannon Slaton, music supervision and orchestrations by Lena Gabrielle, arrangements by Hull and Gabrielle, music direction by Gillian Berkowitz, and props design by Brendan McCann.

Check back for information on Empire: The Musical tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: A model of the Empire: The Musical set. (Photo courtesy of production; model by Walt Spangler)