On a Clear Day You Can See Forever to star Harry Connick, Jr.

Grammy and Emmy Award winner, Tony Award nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Harry Connick, Jr. will star in a reimagined production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever opening fall 2011 on Broadway at a theatre to be announced.

The Tony Award nominated score by Burton Lane (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) is enhanced by classics from their film scores for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) and 'Royal Wedding' (1951). With a new book by Peter Parnell based on the original book by Alan Jay Lerner, the musical is reconceived and directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer.

Further casting and creative team to be announced shortly.

Love blooms in unexpected places in the reimagined world of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Still in love with his deceased wife, 'Dr. Mark Bruckner' (Harry Connick, Jr.), a dashing psychiatrist and professor, unknowingly takes on the case of his life with 'David Gamble' a quirky young florists' assistant. While putting David under hypnosis to help him quit smoking so he can move in with his perfect boyfriend' Warren,' Dr. Bruckner stumbles upon what he believes to be David's former self - a dazzling and self-possessed 1940's jazz singer Melinda Wells. Instantly intrigued by Melinda, Dr. Bruckner finds himself swept up in the pursuit of an irresistible (and impossible) love affair with this woman from another time and place, who may or may not have ever existed.

In the original book the character who seeks out psycharatrist 'Dr. Mark Bruckner' for treatment is a girl named 'Daisy Gamble.' In Peter Parnell's new book 'Daisy' is now a gay man named 'David Gamble'

Michael Mayer and Peter Parnell's new version keeps much of the score from the 1965 musical including the songs, "Come Back To Me," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have Now?," "She Isn't You," and the titular "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," while adding songs from the film score such as 'Love With All The Trimmings' and 'Go To Sleep.' Songs from the Lerner and Lane score for the film "Royal Wedding" such as 'Ev'ry Night At Seven,' 'You're All The World To Me,' 'Open Your Eyes' and 'Too Late Now' complete the landscape for this romantic musical comedy.

Following a developmental workshop at The Vineyard Theatre in the fall of 2009, the new production received a series of concert readings as part of New York Stage and Film and Vassar's Powerhouse Theater season in the summer of 2010. The full production, originally scheduled to debut at The Vineyard Theatre in February 2011, will now debut on Broadway in the fall of 2011. This summer, The Vineyard Theatre will produce a developmental process for the show that will culminate in a developmental lab production.

On a Clear Day originally opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on 17 Oct 1965 and starred Barbara Harris as 'Daisy Gamble' and John Cullum as 'Dr. Mark Bruckner,' who both received Tony Award Nominations for their performances, as did the score. In 1970 it was adapted into a film directed by Vincente Minnelli, which starred Barbra Streisand as 'Daisy Gamble' and Yves Montand as 'Dr. Mark Bruckner.'

Bios:

Harry Connick, Jr. (Dr. Mark Bruckner): First reached a mass audience as a pianist, singer and bandleader, his subsequent success in film, television and theatre his place in the public eye as a versatile entertainer, garnering him three Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award, as well as two Tony Award nominations.

Harry Connick, Jr. made his Broadway debut with bis sold-out concert series at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1990. He won Tony nominations for his performance in 'The Pajama Game' and his music and lyrics in 'Thou Shalt Not.' He last appeared on Broadway in 'Harry Connick, Jr. In Concert On Broadway,' which played at the Neil Simon Theatre from 15 - 31 Jul 2010.

Harry Connick, Jr has recorded over 24 albums which have garnered sales of over 25 million, and is ranked among the top best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America. His most recent album, "Your Songs," was released on Columbia Records in 2009, featuring Harry Connick, Jr's versions of 14 classic popular songs. Film credits include "Memphis Belle," "Little Man Tate," "Copycat," "Independence Day," "Hope Floats," "My Dog Skip," "The Iron Giant," "The Simian Line," "P.S., I Love You," "New in Town," "Mickey," "Bug," and "Living Proof." Connick has contributed music to several films including "When Harry Met Sally" (leading to his first multiplatinum album), "The Godfather III" and "Sleepless in Seattle."

Alan Jay Lerner (Lyrics): In addition to writing On a Clear Day with Burton Lane, lyricist/librettist Alan Jay Lerner and Lane wrote the movie musical, "Royal Wedding" and the musical 'Carmelina.' With his frequent collaborator Frederick Loewe, his works of musical theatre for both the stage and on film, including 'Brigadoon,' 'Paint Your Wagon,' 'My Fair Lady,' 'Camelot' and 'Gigi.' Lerner also wrote the libretto for "An American In Paris," the first musical film to win an Academy Award. He won three Tony Awards and three Academy Awards, among other honors.

Burton Lane (Composer): is best known for his score for the musical 'Finian's Rainbow.' In addition to On a Clear Day with Lerner, they also collaborated on the Broadway score for 'Carmelina' and the film "Royal Wedding." His other Broadway scores include 'Hold on to Your Hats,' 'Three's a Crowd,' Earl Carroll's 'Vanities' and 'Laffing Room Only.' During his career, Lane composed songs for over 45 films.

Peter Parnell (Book): Plays include 'QED,' which starred Alan Alda both at the Mark Taper Forum and on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre (Lincoln Center Theater Company). His two-part stage adaptation of John Irving's 'The Cider House Rules' won the American Theatre Critics Association Award. His other plays have been produced by the Atlantic, the Public Theater, and Playwrights Horizons. For television, Parnell was a co-producer for "The West Wing" (two EMMY citations), and a producer for "The Guardian," "Inconceivable" and "Six Degrees." Parnell serves as Vice President of the Dramatists Guild.

Michael Mayer (Director): Won a Tony Award for his direction of 'Spring Awakening' and most recently won the Drama Desk Award for directing 'American Idiot, 'which he also co-wrote with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. His many Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning musical 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' the Tony Award-winning revival of 'A View from the Bridge,' the Tony Award-winning play 'Side Man,' 'Triumph of Love,' 'You're A Good Man Charlie Brown,' 'The Lion In Winter,' 'Uncle Vanya,' 'Night Mother,' 'After The Fall' and last season's 'Everyday Rapture.'