Once: new musical announces complete cast

The complete cast has been announced for the world premiere of Once, based on the Academy Award-winning film of the same name, opening at New York Theatre Workshop on 6 Dec 2011, following previews from 15 Nov 2011, and running through to 1 Jan 2012.

Directed by the Scottish director of 'Black Watch,' John Tiffany, with choreography by Steven Hogget, the musical will star Steve Kazee ('110 in the Shade') as 'the Guy' and Cristin Milioti ('The Little Foxes') as 'the Girl.'

The cast will also feature David Abeles, Claire Candela, Will Connolly, Elizabeth A. Davis, David Patrick Kelly, Anne L. Nathan, Lucas Papaelias, Andy Taylor, Erikka Walsh, Paul Whitty and J. Michael Zygo.

Once is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin about a street musician (Guy) and a Czech immigrant (Girl). During an eventful week the two meet, begin writing songs together, rehearse and record their songs to take to London in hopes of landing a music contract. Through the music they write, the duo works through their past loves, and are confronted with their new feelings for each other.

The musical features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with book by Irish playwright & screenwriter Enda Walsh.

The set and costume design are by Bob Crowley, lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

A pre-Broadway workshop presentation of the musical took place in late Apr and early May 2011 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. The lead roles were played by Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Once, was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with original music and lyrics by Hansard and Irglová.

Once writer/director John Carney asked Glen Hansard, his bandmate from the popular Irish Rock band The Frames, to share his busker anecdotes as well as compose songs for a film he was working on about street musicians. When the lead actor withdrew from the project, Glen stepped into the role opposite first time actress Markéta Irglová. The independent Irish film was made for under $150,000, was shot in 17 days, and went on to gross over $10,000,000, becoming a critically acclaimed international smash.

Glen and Markéta won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for "Falling Slowly," the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music, and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards. The duo has been on a highly successful worldwide tour performing music from the platinum selling film soundtrack.