'Lestat' to be presented on Broadway by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures

In its inaugural production for the Broadway stage, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures presents Lestat, inspired by Anne Rice�s Vampire Chronicles.

Lestat, Anne Rice�s literary character, is being brought to life on the stage with a score by Grammy and Academy Award winning composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin in their first theatrical collaboration.

The musical is the story of the extraordinary journey of one man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him. Thrust into the seductive and sensual world of an immortal vampire, Lestat sets out on a road of adventures in a quest for everlasting love and companionship but is forced to reconcile his innate sense of good with his primal need to exist.

Lestat is scheduled to arrive on Broadway in the spring of 2006, following a pre-Broadway world premiere at San Francisco�s Curran Theatre from the 17 Dec 2005 through to the 29 Jan 2006.

Broadway theater, first Broadway preview, Broadway opening night and Broadway ticket information to be announced soon.

Directed by Robert Jess Roth with musical staging by Matt West, Lestat stars Hugh Panaro in the title role, Carolee Carmello as Gabrielle, Jack Noseworthy as Armand, Jim Stanek as Louis, Roderick Hill as Nicolas, Michael Genet as Marius and Allison Fischer as Claudia.

The cast also features: Rachel Coloff, Nikki Renee Daniels, Joseph Dellger, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Megan Reinking, Drew Sarich, Will Swenson, Steve Wilson and Tommar Wilson.

�This musical is the fulfillment of my deepest dreams,� said author Anne Rice. �Elton's music and Bernie's lyrics have captured the pain and the passion of the characters perfectly, and the entire adaptation has re-created the very essence of the books.� Working with the whole team -- Rob Roth, Linda Woolverton, and of course Elton and Bernie -- has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire career. The talent, the brilliance, and the generosity of these folks is beyond belief.� I'm humbled; I'm grateful; and I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it.� Lestat, Louis and Claudia are about to be reborn.�

� �Interview with the Vampire is one of my favorite books and Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors,� commented composer Elton John. �Lestat is the first stage musical that I�ve written with Bernie which makes it even more special for me.�

�Anne had always loved the idea of seeing her Vampire Chronicles set in some sort of serious and seductive musical setting and for all of the parties involved this is the opportunity of a lifetime,� said lyricist Bernie Taupin. �Elton and I have threatened for years to work together on something for Broadway but until now had never found anything that appealed to both of us collectively or suited my own personal writing style. We have unified these books into a linear storyline and our intention is to make a stylish, sexy, intelligent and richly hypnotic show that is stripped of gothic clich�s and that shows the vampire dealing with his damnation on a more realistic and human level. Please let me make this clear this is NOT a rock opera.�

Lestat has a scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Jonathan Deans, visual concept design by David McKean, and hair design by Tom Watson. LESTAT has orchestrations by Steve Margoshes and Guy Babylon, with musical supervision by Guy Babylon, musical direction by Brad Haak, and vocal arrangements by Todd Ellison.

Biogaphies:

Elton John (Music) Lestat marks Elton John�s third musical for Broadway, following the tremendous success of the smash hits The Lion King and Aida. In the early 1990s, John embarked on songwriting collaborations with lyricist Tim Rice, resulting in the soundtrack to the Walt Disney Pictures blockbuster The Lion King, for which he won an Academy Award. The album produced two top selling, award winning singles for John: Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Circle of Life. In 1997, The Lion King debuted on Broadway, receiving six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and in 1998, a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. In March 2000, the Tony Award-winning Aida opened on Broadway and John was honored with another Grammy for the Best Musical Show Album. The smash-hit stage production of Billy Elliot, for which John wrote the music with Lee Hall, is currently running in London.

Bernie Taupin (Lyrics) in collaboration with Elton John he has recorded �Honky Chateau,� �Goodbye Yellow Brick Road� and �Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.� He revised the lyrics of the hit song �Candle in the Wind� to reflect the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997, the single, which benefited the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, sold an unprecedented 35 million copies in 38 days and currently ranks as the biggest selling single of all time. Taupin has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Songwriter�s Hall of Fame, and is only the second lyricist in history to receive the ASCAP Golden Word award, the other being the legendary Sammy Cahn.

Linda Wolverton (Book) Writing credits include the screenplay for the Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated animated feature film Beauty And The Beast and the book for the stage production of Beauty and the Beast, which was nominated for a Tony and won an Olivier Award. She has also shared screenwriting duties on Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and The Lion King and shared writing duties for the book of Elton John and Tim Rice�s Aida.

Robert Jess Roth (Director) received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut, Beauty and the Beast, which is now in its twelfth year on Broadway and the six-longest-running Broadway show in history. He has also received numerous nominations and awards from around the world for his direction, including the Jeff Award, the Ovation Award, the Dora Award and the Dramalogue Award. He has directed productions of Beauty the world over, including in London, where the show won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. He recently co-wrote the book, along with Douglas J. Cohen, and directed the world premiere of The Opposite of Sex at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco.

Hugn Panaro (Lestat) Broadway debut in Les Mis�rables as Marius, the role he originated in the first national company. Hugh created the roles of Buddy in Side Show, Julian in Jules Styne's The Red Shoes, and the title role in the American premiere of Martin Guerre. He made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince's Show Boat as Ravenal, the role he played on Broadway and in Toronto. Hugh has performed with symphony orchestras across the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Panaro is one of the few actors to play both Raoul (1991) and the Phantom (currently) in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera.

Carolee Carmello (Gabrielle) Broadway: Lucille Frank in Parade (Drama Desk Award, Tony nom.); Kate in Kiss Me, Kate; Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel; Abigail in 1776; Oolie in City of Angels; Cordelia in Falsettos; Ms. Pennywise in Urinetown, and Donna in Mamma Mia. Off-Broadway: Elegies; A Class Act; john and jen; Das Barbec�; I Can Get It for You Wholesale; Vagina Monologues; Hello Again (Obie Award). National tours: Chess, Big River, Les Mis�rables, Falsettos.

Jack Noseworthy (Armand) Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, Jerome Robbins� Broadway (original company), A Chorus Line (final company). National: Cats. Regional: Take Flight (O�Neill), Pippin (Paper Mill), Equus (LA Drama Critics Award � Best Actor), Hearts Desire (Cleveland).

Jim Stanek (Louis) Broadway: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Hero), Little Women, The Rivals, Indiscretions. Off-Broadway: Slut the Musical; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; and more. Roderick Hill (Nicolas) Credits: Singing Forest (Long Wharf), Cymbeline (Royal Shakespeare Company/TFNA), Nerds: The Musical (NY Stage and Film), The Irish Curse (Fringe Festival), What The Butler Saw (Huntington), Diosa (Hartford Stage), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis), Master Harold�and the Boys (Playmakers Rep.).

Michael Genet (Marius) Broadway: A Few Good�Men, Hamlet, Northeast Local.� Writing credits: She Hate Me (w/Spike Lee), Pork Pie (Kennedy Center Award), �Hallelujah� (American Playhouse).

Allison Fischer (Claudia) Broadway: A Christmas Carol (MSG). Off-Broadway: Violet, The Prince and The Pauper, Children�s Letters To God, King Island Christmas.