The tour will begin previews Nov. 28 with an official opening set for Dec. 1 at the Des Moines Civic Center. Iowa's scenic heartland serves as the setting where the Robert James Waller romance unfolds.
Stanley, currently on Broadway in On the Town, will inherit the role of Francesca, created on Broadway by Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara. Samonsky, recently seen in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Paper Mill, takes on the role of National Geographic photographer Robert. The role was originated on Broadway by Steven Pasquale.
The Bridges of Madison County has a score by Tony winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Honeymoon in Vegas) and a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden, 'Night Mother).
The romantic musical centers on a brief, four-day love affair between a National Geographic photographer and an Italian-American housewife in 1965 Iowa. Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep starred in the 1995 film adaptation. The stage production and film were based on the best-selling Robert James Waller novel.
Bridges, which opened on Broadway Feb. 20, 2014, ended its Broadway run May 18, 2014, after 137 performances. Despite its brief run, The Bridges of Madison County earned two 2014 Tony Awards, for Best Score and Best Orchestrations.
Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (The King and I, South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza) helmed the musical and will also direct the national tour.
The tour will reflect the work of the original Broadway design team including Michael Yeargan (scenic design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Catherine Zuber (costume design) and Jon Weston (sound design). Movement is by Danny Mefford.
Current tour dates follow:
Des Moines, IA Nov. 28–Dec. 5 Des Moines Civic Center
Los Angeles, CA Dec. 8, 2015–Jan. 17, 2016 Ahmanson Theatre
Houston, TX January 19–31, The Hobby Center
Dallas TX February 2-14, 2016 at Dallas Summer Musicals
Tempe, AZ February 16-21, ASU Gammage
Las Vegas, NV February 23–28, The Smith Center
Pittsburgh, PA March 8–13, Benedum Center
Dayton, OH March 15–20, Schuster Center
St. Louis, MO April 5-17, The Fabulous Fox
Fayetteville, AR April 19–24, Walton Arts Center
West Palm Beach, FL April 26–May 1, Kravis Center
Charlotte, NC May 3-8, Knight Theater
Nashville, TN May 10-15, TPAC - Jackson Hall
East Lansing, MI May 19-22, Wharton Center
Minneapolis, MN June 21–26, Orpheum Theatre
Washington, DC June 28–July 17, The Kennedy Center
Greenville, SC July 19-24, The Peace Center
A Ghostlight Records cast album preserves the score.
View highlights from the Broadway production below:
