Pure Country: Warren Carlyle to choreograph

Warren Carlyle, the director/choreographer of the current acclaimed Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow, has joined the creative team of the Broadway-bound musical Pure Country.

Carlyle will handle Musical Staging and Choreography. Sean Curran, who was originally announced to choreograph the musical is no longer working on the show.

Based on the hit movie of the same name, Pure Country, which originally announced it would begin performances in Spring 2009, will now have its Broadway premiere as part of the 2010/2011 Season.

"On behalf of the producing team and our director Peter Masterson, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome Warren Carlyle to the Pure Country family," producer Wreghitt said. "For this dance-heavy, down-home show, we all know that he's the perfect person to have us kicking up our cowboy boots!"

As previously announced, Country music star, CMA Winner, ACM Winner and four-time Grammy Nominee Joe Nichols will take on the role of 'Rusty' ('Dusty' in the movie), which was made famous in the film by George Strait. Multi-platinum Country music star Lorrie Morgan will play the role of 'Lula,' Rusty's ruthless manager, which was created on film by Lesley Anne Warren.

In addition to Finian's Rainbow, Carlyle most recently choreographed the Encores! production of 'Girl Crazy' at City Center. Additional New York credits include directing and choreographing 'A Tale of Two Cities' (Broadway); and choreographing 'On the Town,' 'Juno 'and 'Stairway to Paradise' (all Encores!). In his native England, his work has included 'Me and My Girl,' 'The Goodbye Girl' (First UK National Tour), 'Pageant' (Vaudeville Theater), 'Sondheim's Moving On' (Bridewell Theater) and 'Scrooge' (European Tour).

Pure Country is a book musical based on the 1992 film of the same name. It features an eclectic, original score drawing on the sounds of New and Classic Country, as well as Broadway and Adult Contemporary. The musical will be directed by Peter Masterson.

Sometimes fame and fortune aren't enough. In the new Broadway musical Pure Country, Rusty is a country music superstar at the height of his career with all the high stakes pressures that come with it. When they start to take their toll and he walks out of an overblown concert tour, his search begins to find himself - and the love he left behind. Pure Country is about the price of fame and one man's journey home.

The musical boasts a creative team from the worlds of theater, film and country and pop Music.

3-time Grammy nominee and 6-time Emmy nominee Steve Dorff, who has written nine #1 songs and 15 Top Ten hits (including such classics as Kenny Rogers' 'Through the Years,' Celine Dion's 'Miracle' and the 'Country staple' and hit movie theme 'Every Which Way But Loose' by Eddie Rabbit) will compose the Music.

2-time Emmy nominee, 3-time Grammy nominee and Golden Globe and Oscar nominee John Bettis, whose songs have sold over 250 million records worldwide (writing everything from George Strait's 'Heartland' to Madonna's 'Crazy for You') is writing the Lyrics.

Rex McGee, a protégé of the legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder, wrote the original Warner Brothers film Pure Country, on which the new musical is based, and co-wrote the musical's Book with Masterson.

The show's creative team includes Derek McLane (sets), Ann Roth (costumes), Kevin Adams (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners (Sound).