Scott Shpeley of Catalyst Theatre in Nevermore.Sean McLennan
Nevermore, Edmonton-based Catalyst Theatre's musical fantasia about the life of Edgar Allan Poe, will begin an open-ended run off-Broadway starting in January.
Tony-winning producers Radio Mouse Entertainment announced Wednesday that they are backing a commercial production of the show at the 499-seat New World Stages in Manhattan.
Writer, director and composer Jonathan Christenson's creepy creation – with a memorably macabre design by Bretta Gerecke – was originally commissioned by the Magnetic North Theatre Festival and Toronto's Luminato Festival. Since premiering in 2009, the Catalyst production has toured across the country and abroad, including a short off-Broadway run to the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street in 2010.
It was on that previous journey to Manhattan that Nevermore came to the attention of Radio Mouse Entertainment – the producers behind recent Broadway hits Peter and the Starcatcher and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The show has since been expanded, with new songs added and structural revisions made to the original script.
Edmonton-based cast members Shannon Blanchet, Beth Graham, Ryan Parker, Garett Ross and Scott Shpeley and Vancouver-based actor Gaelan Beatty will all travel with Nevermore to New York. The creative team headed up by Catalyst artistic director Christenson remains intact. Previews begin Jan. 15, with opening night set for Jan. 25.
J. Kelly Nestruck