Finian's Rainbow: Encores! production to play at Broadway St James Theatre in the fall

Finian's Rainbow, which just ended a critically acclaimed five-performance run at New York City Center�s Encores! series last weekend, will move to Broadway�s St. James Theatre in the fall.

Producers David Richenthal and Jack Viertel announced that the show, which hasn�t been seen on Broadway since 1960 (it premiered in 1947), will be adapted from the Encores! concert presentation into a full production. Warren Carlyle will again direct and choreograph, and Rob Berman continues as musical director.

�What Encores! gave us was a joyous evening put together in just over a week,� Richenthal said. �We have the ability to fill out that template, keeping the essence of the performance front and center, but giving it a treatment that will be appropriate for Broadway,� Viertel added.

Richenthal said it is their intention to keep together as much of the cast and the creative team from the Encores! production as practicable, but that schedules have not yet been worked out. �The show at City Center wove a spell and played to cheering audiences, and our intention is to hold on to that magic,� Richenthal said. Viertel added, �Broadway seems ready to embrace a show that radiates hope and humor, especially one with as many great songs at Finian's Rainbow.�

Finian's Rainbow has music by Burton Lane, book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.

Cast, creative and design teams will be announced shortly as well as the dates for the first preview and opening night.