Finding Neverland, the pop-infused Broadway musical that explores the life of J.M. Barrie and the origin of how he came to write Peter Pan, ends its Broadway run August 21 at 3 PM at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
In a statement announcing the show’s closing, producer Harvey Weinstein revealed that the musical is expected to return to Broadway following its U.S. tour and that plans are underway for a film adaptation. A London transfer of the musical will open in spring 2017, with a U.S. national tour launching October 11 in Buffalo, NY.
The musical opened on Broadway April 15, 2015. Upon closing, Finding Neverland will have played 33 previews and 565 performances.
“It has been a personal joy for me to work with Diane, Gary, Eliot, James and Mia and the creative and production team on Finding Neverland,” Weinstein said in a previous statement. “Night after night the audiences’ love for the show has been so inspiring. Neverland will be beginning its around the world tour starting in the U.S. in October, then London in Spring of 2017 and Asia in 2018. Nederlander have offered us a Broadway house to return after the U.S. tour and we have accepted, like other shows have done. And on top of that, I’m excited to announce that we will be producing Finding Neverland the musical as a film.”
Finding Neverland features direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Hair) with a book by Olivier Award nominee James Graham, music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Grammy Award winner Eliot Kennedy, and choreography by Emmy Award winner Mia Michaels (So You Think You Can Dance).
The stage production is based on the Miramax motion picture of the same title by David Magee, and the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee,
“Our Broadway company is one of the best I have ever worked with -- enormously talented and full of heart,” the show’s director, Diane Paulus added in a statement. “I have been profoundly touched by everyone's dedication to our show. I cannot wait to begin work on our national tour and am very much looking forward to bringing Finding Neverland to London next year.”
Matthew Morrison and Kelsey Grammer opened the production. The final cast includes Tony Yazbeck, Laura Michelle Kelly, Paul Slade Smith, Carolee Carmello and Dana Costello.
(Updated August 21, 2016)
