Ghost the Musical to open at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre

The London production of Ghost the Musical, based on the 1990 Academy winning film "Ghost," adapted by Bruce Joel Rubin from his original screen play, will open on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre on 23 Apr 2012. Preview performances will begin in Mar 2012 on a date to be announced.

Ghost the Musical, is directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus ('God of Carnage,' 'The Norman Conquests,' 'Boeing-Boeing'), and has a new, original score by Grammy Award winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. The score includes the song 'Unchained Melody,' performed in the film by The 'Righteous Brothers.'

Broadway casting will be announced at a later date.

Ghost the Musical: Walking back to their apartment one night, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.

Producer Colin Ingram, "Ghost is a welcome antidote in our age of cynicism. The story continues to resonate on a very personal level with each person who experiences it, whether laughing or remembering how it feels to truly be in love. It's such a joy to see this timeless story as a musical that deeply affects both those who cherish it and those who are seeing it for the first time."

Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, choreography is by Ashley Wallen with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone and projection design by Jon Driscoll.

Ghost the Musical will be produced on Broadway by Colin Ingram Productions Limited and David Garfinkle with Adam Silberman; Land Line Productions, Donovan Mannato, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter in association with Paramount Pictures Corporation and ATG/Robert G. Bartner.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, "Ghost" became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide. The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker.

Bruce Joel Rubin's script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.

Bios:

Bruce Joel Rubin (Book & Lyrics) won an Academy Award for his original screenplay, Ghost. He has written numerous other screenplays including Jacob's Ladder, Deep Impact, Stuart Little 2, The Last Mimzy and The Time Traveler's Wife. He also wrote and directed My Life. Rubin graduated New York University in 1965 where he majored in motion picture production and direction. He was an assistant film editor at NBC news in the mid-sixties and hitch-hiked around the world in 1966-67. He was also Curator of Film at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York where he helped establish a program called The New American Filmmakers Series. In addition to his film career, Rubin has been a student and teacher of meditation for the past forty years. Dave Stewart (Music & Lyrics). In 1999, Stewart, along with his Eurythmics partner, Annie Lennox, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brit Awards after having sold over 75 million albums with hits like 'Here Comes The Rain Again,' 'Who's That Girl,' 'Would I Lie To You,' 'Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves' (with Aretha Franklin) and 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).'

Glen Ballard (Music & Lyrics) is a six-time Grammy award winning producer/songwriter and arranger. He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and has worked with a finest singers and artists from Aretha Franklin to Van Halen, and Aerosmith to Michael Jackson.

Matthew Warchus (Director). International theatre director Matthew Warchus' many theatre credits include Alan Ayckbourn's 'The Norman Conquests' for the Old Vic - which he also directed on Broadway, 'God of Carnage' (Tony Award), 'Boeing-Boeing' in the West End, on tour in the UK and on Broadway (where it won a Tony for Best Revival), 'Endgame' at the Albery Theatre, the multi award-winning 'Art' in London, on Broadway and in Los Angeles, 'True West' for the Donmar Warehouse. He has directed the following musicals - 'Tell Me on a Sunday,' 'Our House' (which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical), 'The Lord of the Rings' in the West End and 'Follies' on Broadway.

Ashley Wallen (Choreographer) credits as a choreographer include 'Dance X' for BBC1 where he also appeared as a judge and mentor alongside Arlene Phillips, 'The X Factor' and 'It's Now or Never' both for ITV and 'Rent Remixed' at the Duke of York's Theatre. His on screen dance credits include 'Moulin Rouge' and 'The Phantom of the Opera' and on stage he performed with Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue. Wallen is currently working as Associate Choreographer on Madonna's film 'W.E' due to be released in 2011.