New York City
Susan Stroman directs this world premiere from John Kander and David Thompson at the Vineyard Theatre.
The company of the Vineyard Theatre's upcoming world premiere of The Beast in the Jungle, an original work fusing dance, drama, and music by John Kander (Chicago), Tony-nominated playwright David Thompson (Steel Pier), and five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers), met the press on Tuesday, April 3. Performances begin May 4 ahead of a May 23 opening night.
The show's company will be led by Irina Dvorovenko (The Americans), a former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer; Tony nominees Tony Yazbeck (On the Town) and Peter Friedman (Ragtime); and Teagle F. Bougere (The Crucible).
They will be joined by Maira Barriga (Miami City Ballet), Elizabeth Dugas (The Merry Widow), Leah Hofmann (Something Rotten!), Naomi Kakuk (The Producers), Brittany Marcin Maschmeyer (Bullets Over Broadway), and Erin Moore (Shuffle Along).
The production will feature scenic and costume design by Michael Curry, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Peter Hylenski, and music supervision by David Loud.
Adapted from Henry James's classic 1903 novella, The Beast in the Jungle is the story of John Marcher, a man haunted by personal demons, whose great yet unfulfilled love affair with an unforgettable woman spans decades and continents. With a waltz-inspired instrumental score, and dazzling choreography that traverses the worlds of ballet and contemporary dance, this tale of love and loss reunites the remarkable creative team behind the Vineyard's acclaimed musical The Scottsboro Boys.