Finian's Rainbow plays final performance

The Broadway revival of New York City Center Encores! Broadway production of Finian's Rainbow plays its final performance on 17 Jan 2010. The show played 22 previews and 92 regular performances.

In an earlier statement the producers said, "Despite the rave reviews and extraordinarily positive audience reception, the economic realities of Broadway today do not allow us to play at the St. James as long as we would have hoped. We are thrilled, however, that our gorgeous musical score—performed by our incredible cast and brilliant orchestra—lives on in our soon to be released cast album."

Finian's Rainbow opened at St James Theatre on 29 Oct 2009, following previews from 8 Oct.

The musical opened to excellent reviews: Thoroughly winning production (NY Times); Hits the mark (NY Post); I hope it runs forever (Backstage).

Finian's Rainbow has a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy; lyrics by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane; with book adaptation by Arthur Perlman and original adaptation for New York City Center Encores! by David Ives. It is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle; musical direction is by Rob Berman.

The company stars Jim Norton (Finian), Kate Baldwin (Sharon), Cheyenne Jackson (Woody), Christopher Fitzgerald (Og) and Chuck Cooper (Bill). The creative team features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design is by Scott Lehrer.

Finian's Rainbow tells the story of the Irishman Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon who travel to a small Southern town in the mythical state of Missitucky with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply. They have been followed from Ireland by the owner of the gold, a leprechaun, who shows up determined to recover his treasure.

The musical's score boasts such classic songs as "Old Devil Moon," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love (I Love the Girl I'm Near)," Look to the Rainbow," and "If This Isn't Love."

Finian's Rainbow cast and orchestra recorded the show on 7 Dec 2010 for PS Classics. The aibum will be released on 2 Feb 2010.

One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian's Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance.

The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre.