Silence!: Stephen Hanna to return to show

Ballet dancer Stephen Hanna will return to the role of 'Dream Hannibal,' when Silence! The Musical presumes performances at the Elektra Theatre on 19 Jan 2013.

Hanna starred as 'Dream Hannibal' in the original cast of the Off-Broadway production of Silence! The Musical. He has played 'Older Billy' in the original Broadway cast of 'Billy Elliot' and starred as 'Sid' in the national tour of'Come Fly Away.' Stephen joined New York City Ballet in 1997, and in 2005 was promoted to the rank of principal dancer.

The show recently announced it would will end its 18-month Off-Broadway run on 30 Dec 2012, but due to an unexpectedly soar at the box office, its producers decided to continue its run.

The musical is currently on a short break following its 30 Dec 2012 performance, and will resume its run at the Elektra Theatre on 19 Jan 2013. When the show resumes it will play only three performances per week.

Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement at Theatre 80 from from 24 Jun through to 13 Aug 2011, Silence! The Musical was extended numerous times and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in Times Square.

Silence! The Musical is the unauthorized parody of Oscar-winning film "The Silence of the Lambs," with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli.

In the Academy Award-winning film "The Silence of the Lambs," rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling matches wits with the brilliant but insane cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to catch the serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill. Clarice faces her own demons while racing the clock to unlock Lecter's clues before another innocent girl is killed and skinned by Buffalo Bill.

The satire, Silence! The Musical, features a singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrating the action as Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin. Even Dr. Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he'd like to lead someday outside the prison walls.

The cast also features the recently announced Sean McDermott as 'Hannibal Lecter,' David Ayers, Pamela Bob, Ashlee Dupré, Natalie Joy Johnson, Howard Kaye, Topher Nuccio, Ronica V. Reddick, Kimberly Stern and Doug Trapp.

Created by Jon and Al Kaplan in 2002, Silence! The Musical began as a collection of songs on the internet which immediately attracted fans. The Kaplans' subsequent screenplay was adapted by Hunter Bell into a live stage show, which also featured newly composed songs by the brothers.

The creative team features set design Scott Pask, costume design by David Kaley, lighting design by Jeff Croiter and sound design by Carl Casella.