Kelsey Grammer to join Alfie Boe & Sally Ann Triplett in Finding Neverland on Broadway

Updated 5th March:  Kelsey Grammer, who originated the role of Charles Frohman in Finding Neverland is to remain with the show to join Alfie Boe who is  playing J M Barrie in Finding Neverland on Broadway.

He is currently playing Jean Valjean in the US version of Les Miserables which he leaves on February 28th (when John Owen-Jones takes over until the show closes).  He will begin performances as Barrie on March 29th  at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, taking over the role from Tony Yazbeck who took over from Glee star Matthew Morrison in January. After Sandy Duncan's brief stint  as Madame du Maurier, Sally Ann Triplett will assume the role from  March 1st to  May 1st.

Directed by Diane Paulus and featuring a score by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham, Finding Neverland follows the story of J.M. Barrie and his relationship with the family of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. Llewelyn Davies' children eventually became Barrie's inspiration to write Peter Pan.

The cast also currently includes Kelsey Grammer as Charles Frohman, Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and as Mary Barrie. Kristy Cates and Courtney Balan will alternate playing the role of Madame du Maurier until Triplett's run begins.

Boe made his Broadway debut as Rodolfo in Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme, for which he and his co-stars received a special Tony Award in 2003. He played Valjean in the 25th Anniversary Concert at London’s O2 Arena in October, 2010 and went on to lead the original West End production of LesMis.  His live opera appearances include The Pearl Fishers at the English National Opera and Romeo ET Juliette at the Royal Opera House.

Triplett was most recently seen  in Sting's  The Last Ship.  West End theatre credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Follies, Chess, Grease, Jolson The Musical, Cats, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, Acorn Antiques:The Musical!, Chicago, Mamma Mia! and Viva Forever.

No information yet on the speculation that Boe will lead the London transfer scheduled for the end of this year.

Alfie Boe to lead in Finding Neverland on Broadway and West End opening?

Alfie Boe will end his run on Broadway as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” this month with John Owen/Jones taking over the role.  According to the New York Post,  he will be stepping into the starring role of Finding Neverland, playing  Peter Pan creator J M Barrie, replacing Tony Yazbeck. Glee star Matthew Morrison played  Barrie until  January, when Yazbeck took over. Kelsey Grammer is in the show to March 26th  playing  Captain Hook. Boe would also open the show in London’s West End in January next year. This has yet to be officially confirmed.

Boe, made his Broadway debut in Baz Luhrmann's “La Bohème” in 2002, and has played Valjean at London’s O2 Arena and in the West End production.

Latest news on Finding Neverland West End transfer

Updated 3rd March 2017: according to Baz in today's Mail, the  musical Finding Neverland is to be overhauled before it can be moved into the West End.

The show has been through at least three iterations since it was launched five years ago in Leicester, where it received terrible reviews. It then ran on Broadway, and is now in Los Angeles as part of a US tour.

It was due to have opened in London this summer, but for a variety of reasons has been postponed. It is now  hoped it will be ready for 2018, or early 2019.

After Leicester, Gary Barlow and playwright James Graham were contracted to revamp the show,  and to a certain degree  have succeeded. But they are going to be asked to  come up with some new numbers, and to rewrite and sharpen the show’s book, paying particular attention to removing any Americanisms that would no appeal British audiences.

The elaborate staging by director Diane Paulus and  choreography by Mia Michaels are likely to be ditched. It is  not yet known whether the pair would remain with a London production, or be replaced.

One suggestion would be to bring in a British ‘show doctor’ to work alongside Ms Paulus. Frasier star Kelsey Grammer, who had the joint role of Barrie’s producer, Charles Frohman, and Captain Hook in the Broadway show said  ‘The plan had been to open in London this year, but they’re going to work on some changes and I’m hoping I’ll be in London with Finding Neverland next year.’

Harvey Weinstein, Neverland’s producer, could not be reached for comment.

Updated 16th December:  the opening of this show has now been postponed until Autumn 2017.

Take That front man Gary Barlow has announced that Finding Neverland - the Broadway hit musical for which he co-wrote the music and lyrics - will transfer to the West End next year.

He said:It has to come to London, they're ready for it. Specifics we can't say but it's coming to London next year, 2016.

Finding Neverland is currently playing on Broadway starring Glee's Matthew Morrison as J.M. Barrie.It is based on the Academy Award-winning film of the same name and follows playwright  Barrie as he summons the courage to become the writer – and the man – he yearns to be.

Barlow is also working on two more musicals, The Girls (Barlow and Tim Firth's take on the smash hit Calendar Girls which will receive its world premiere at the U.K.'s Grand Theatre Leeds in November)  and Around the World in Eighty Days - has also hinted at another Take That musical. A 2008 musical based on the band's songs, Never Forget, was widely considered a flop and never actually endorsed by the band.  Barlow said:Actually, that's my ultimate. I would love to do a Take That musical. I really would. It's for London though.

Laura Michelle Kelly and Jeremy Jordan lead the cast of new production of Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland, the new musical inspired by the 2004 film of the same name  will open on Broadway next March at a theatre owned by the Nederlander Organization, spokespeople for producer Harvey Weinstein have announced.

The new production, directed by Diane Paulus, opens tonight at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a cast led by Laura Michelle Kelly and Jeremy Jordan.

An earlier production of Finding Neverland starring Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Vraig   premiered at the Curve  in Leicester just over a year ago,  with a score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie and a book by Allan Knee, who wrote the film's screenplay. After mixed reviews, an expected West End transfer was cancelled , and the creative team (which included director Rob Ashford) was overhauled.

The musical now  features a score by British composer-lyricists Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham. Also in he creative  team are Mia Michaels (choreography), Scott Pask (scenic design), Suttirat Larlarb (costume design), Philip Rosenberg (lighting design), Jonathan Deans (sound design), Gilles Papain (projection design), Daniel Wurtzel (fan design), David Chase (musical supervisor), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (musical director), and Simon Hale (orchestrations).

Inspired by the film of the same title starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, Finding Neverland explores the friendship between faltering playwright J.M. Barrie (Jeremy Jordan) and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Laura Michelle Kelly), a widowed mother of four boys, and how that relationship inspired Barrie to write his beloved Peter Pan stories.

Jordan and Kelly are joined  by Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George, and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. The ensemble is made up of Courtney Balan, Dana Costello, Rory Donovan, Gaelen Gilliland, Thayne Jasperson, Josh Lamon, Melanie Moore, Mary Page Nance, Stuart Neal, Emma Pfaeffle, Jonathan Ritter, Tyley Ross, Julius Rubio, J.C. Schuster, Paul Slade Smith, and Ron Todorowski. Casting for the Broadway run has not been confirmed.

Laura Michelle Kelly in musical Peter Pan Musical Finding Neverland

The full cast for the musical Finding Neverland has now been announced with Jeremy Jordan (Smash) playing J M Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins) as Sylvia Llewellyn leading the cast.

It will open at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge Massachusetts and run from July 23rd-September 28th. It will be directed by Diane Paulus featuring a score by Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy and book by James Graham.

The production is a completed revamped version of the musical which was presented at the Curve Theatre in Leicester starring Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Craig which received mixed reviews and an expected West End transfer was postponed.

Inspired by the film of the same title starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet the musical explores the friendship between faltering playwright J M Barrie and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (a widowed mother of four boys) and how that relationship inspired him to write his  Peter Pan stories.

The principal cast will also include Roger Bart/Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmello/Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal/Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme/Peter, Alex Dreier/Michael, Sawyer Nunes/George and Hayden Signoretti as Jack.

They will be joined by Courtney Balan, Dana Costello, Rory Donovan, Gaelen Gilliland, Thayne Jasperson, Josh Lamon, Melanie Moore, Mary Page Nance, Stuart Neal, Emma Pfaeffle, Jonathan Ritter, Tyley Ross, Julius Rubio, J.C. Schuster, Paul Slade Smith, and Ron Todorowski.

Finding Neverland Resurrected?

Finding Neverland starring Julian Ovenden as J M Barrie as Rosalie Craig was tried out at the Leicester Curve a year ago with the hope that it would transfer into the West End but it needed to much tweaking to make this feasible.

But it seems to be rising from the ashes as 12 months later songwriter Gary Barlow, writer James Graham and director Diane Paulus have re-written the show.

It is a musical version of  the film Finding Neverland, which starred Kate Winslet, Johnny Depp and Dustin Hoffman, telling the story of  how J M  Barrie was inspired to write Peter Pan after meeting the widowed Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons.

Gary Barlow told Baz Bamigboye during the interval of a staged workshop in New York (when Laura Michelle Kelly, Jason Alexander and Brian d’Arcy James played the leading roles): They said write a couple of new songs, but I've written nearly 20. Three of the songs by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie remain including  He Makes Me Smile and Neverland.

The creative team are continuing to work on the book and songs, with producer Harvey Weinstein  hoping for a try out next Spring at Boston’s American Repertory Theatre, followed by London's West End and Broadway if all goes well.

Gary Barlow Writing New Songs for Finding Neverland

The musical Finding Neverland is based on a movie of the same name that starred Johnny Depp as Barrie and Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, whose four sons befriended the author.

It ran at the Curve Theatre in Leicester last September .with a West End run mooted  starring Julian Ovenden as Peter Pan author J M Barrie and Rosalie Craig as  Sylvia Llewellyn Davies (mother of the boys).

It had pretty mixed reviews with producer Harvey Weinstein saying at the time: “The show needs to get better. Everyone pretty much concurred that it’s Act I that needs fixing, the first 20 minutes especially, as we figure out the best ways to introduce the characters, set up their relationships".

He also blamed himself for cutting a character played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie who provided bursts of humour saying “That character gave the production levity, so restoring him is one of the first things we’ll try."

Well it now looks as though Mr Weinstein is ready for the resurrection with Gary Barlow now on board writing new songs.  According to Baz in today's Mail he has already written five songs to add to the the score of existing composer and musical arranger Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie. Several of the numbers they originally wrote have been dropped with Weinstein saying:  "We love what Gary’s written. There’s one number he’s written for Act 2 that’s hummable right away — it’s really melodic."

James Graham, who wrote the National Theatre’s hit This House, has been hired to re-write the book in the hope that it will be ready to open in London's West in the Spring.

The creative team meet up in the next few days to review the new songs and book and prepare for a concept album that will be recorded for release over Christmas or in January. Weinstein is hoping that  Johnny Depp and  Dustin Hoffman will narrate the album.

Weinstein also revealed that  Julian Ovenden, Rosalie Craig and other Leicester cast members will be considered for the West End.

Finding Neverland Heading for West End and Broadway?

According to yesterday's New York Times Harvey Weinstein is in talks with Broadway theatre owners for a 2013-14 season slot for the new show Finding Neverland based on the 2004 movie about Peter Pan author J M Barrie.

A try-out of Finding Neverland opened to mixed notices last month at the  Leicester Curve starring Julian Ovdenden, but Weinstein is confident that the show will be a hit when it transfers to London in spring 2013 before going on to Broadway.

But  Mr Weinstein said in an interview: “The show needs to get better. Everyone pretty much concurred that it’s Act I that needs fixing, the first 20 minutes especially, as we figure out the best ways to introduce the characters, set up their relationships".  He also blamed himself for cutting a character played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie who provided bursts of humour saying “That character gave the production levity, so restoring him is one of the first things we’ll try."

Full Cast for Finding Neverland Peter Pan Musical starring Julian Ovenden

Updated 4th August: Additional casting has just been announced for the world premiere of the new musical Finding Neverland which will star Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Craig. Ovenden  is starring as Peter Pan author J M Barrie opposite Craig as Sylvia Llewellyn Davies.

Finding Neverland will also include Oliver Boot as Blunt/Hook, Norman Bowman as P G Wodehouse, Clare Foster as Mary Barrie, Vince Leigh as Arthur Conan Doyle, Stuart Neal as Elliot, Liz Robertson as Mrs Emma Du Maurier and Matt Wilman as Edward Elgar.

Completing the cast are Michelle Rancis, Frankie Jenna, Julie Jupp, Gary Watson, Stephen Webb, Zoe Rainey, Harry Polden, Corey Wickendon, Connor Fitzgerald, Worrall Courtney, Edward Bracey, Connor Phillips, Garrett Tennant, Jamieson Hughes, Theo Fewell, Josh Swinney, Harrison Slater and Morgan Heath.


Rehearsals start in August and Finding Neverland runs at the Curve in Leicester from 21st September- 18th October.

Tony and Olivier Award winner Rob Ashford (Evita, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anna Christie) will direct and choreograph the musical. It has a book by Allan Knee with a score by Tony Award-nominated Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven writers Scott Frankel and Michael Korie.
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As blogged last July  Julian Ovenden is to star in the musical Finding Neverland which is based on the real-life story that inspired J M Barrie to write Peter Pan. 

It will open at the Curve Theatre in Leicester in September with a 4-5 week run, hopefully followed by a West End run next year.

Finding Neverland is based on a movie of the same name that starred Johnny Depp as Barrie and Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, whose four sons befriended the author.

Julian Ovenden has already done two workshops on the musical and will portray Barrie with rehearsals starting on July 30th. The book is being re-worked and there are some enchanting numbers but there is a lot of work to be done …

Latest on Finding Neverland Musical

As already reported, musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet is heading for London’s West End.

Two workshops with a full cast are currently being held in London with Julian Ovenden playing J M Barrie and Jenna Russell as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (whose sons inspired Barrie to write Peter Pan).

Songs include He Makes Me Smile which has Sylvia reflecting on what a difference Barrie has made to her family’s life and Ovenden’s duet You Don’t Know Me with Theo Stevenson who is playing Peter.

The workshop has a very distinguished cast  including Linda Thorson (of The Avengers fame), Allan Corduner, Scarlett Strallen, Beverley Klein and Alexander Hanson. The other Llewelyn Davies boys are played by Elliot Alinson, Connor Fitzgerald and Ilan Galkhoff.

Rob Ashford is directing and choreographing the show. The composer is Scott Frankel who wrote Grey Gardens. Lyrics are by Michael Korie and the book is by Allan Knee whose novel was adapted into the film.

The current plan is to open Neverland at a regional theatre and then bring it to the West End next autumn or early in 2013.

New Musical Finding Neverland Heading for the West End

A musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet is heading for London’s West End.

Two workshops with a full cast will be held in London on December 12th with experienced performers Julian Ovenden playing J M Barrie and Jenna Russell as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (whose sons inspired Barrie to write Peter Pan).

Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph the show. The composer is Scott Frankel who wrote Grey Gardens. Lyrics are by Michael Korie and the book is by Allan Knee whose novel was adapted into the film.

The current plan is to open Neverland at a regional theatre and then bring it to the West End next autumn or early in 2013.

Julian Ovenden in Finding Neverland musical?

Finding Neverland was a 2004 film about J M Barrie who wrote Peter Pan. It starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. 

The Weinstein Company in New York are now producing a musical stage version with a four-week workshop taking place in the autumn with Julian Ovenden and Kelli O’Hara  playing J M Barrie and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

If they are happy with the workshop the Weinsteins plan to take it to Broadway with Ovenden and O’Hara.