NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTS THE
NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE OF
‘THE THREE MUSKETEERS’
A swashbuckling, lustful and intriguing new musical!
August 21 – September 9, 2007.

Tickets on Sale Now!

BEVERLY, MA: En guarde! The new musical adaptation of Alexadre Dumas’ classic novel THE THREE MUSKETEERS is making its New England premiere at North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT). From fast and furious duels to the dangerous streets of Paris by night, THE THREE MUSKETEERS celebrates honor, romance, friendship and a lust for life. This thrilling musical journey runs August 21 through September 9, with Press Night scheduled for Thursday, August 23 at 7:30 pm. THE THREE MUSKETEERS is a co-production with Chicago Shakespeare Theater by arrangement with consulting commercial producers Greg Schaffert and Bud Martin.

The story focuses on the handsome young D’Artagnan, a country boy determined to be a hero, and his adventures in Paris with Athos, Porthos and Aramis, the hardiest, wittiest and most reckless of the King’s Musketeers. Quickly embroiled in romantic affairs, intrigue, devilish plots and ferocious duels, he learns that being a hero is more complicated than he thought. This dazzling story of love, friendship, and gallantry finds breathtaking expression in an exhilarating and passionate score by the composer of Mary Poppins, Olivier Award winner George Stiles.

“This is North Shore Music Theatre’s fourth musical with composer George Stiles who wrote the music for our productions of Tom Jones, HONK! and Just So,” said NSMT Artistic Director and Executive Producer Jon Kimbell. “Since Chicago’s production of The Three Musketeers in December we’ve worked closely with George and the creative team to revise and refocus the script and score to further clarify D’Artagnan’s journey. With the majority of the new creative team from across the pond, including George, lyricist Paul Leigh, writer Paul Raby, director Francis Matthews, Tony nominated lighting director Hugh Vanstone and Tony Award-winning set and costume designer Lez Brotherston, our production will have a decidedly British bent. It is a thrill to partner with such a vastly talented team of creative artists and actors on this exciting journey.”

According to director Francis Matthews, whose extensive credits include directing for the Royal National Theatre, the Greenwich Theatre in England, London’s West End and Opera Northern Ireland, NSMT’s production of The Three Musketeers will be as nimble and quick on its feet as the actors themselves. “The fencing scenes will be fast and furious under the direction of fight director Bryce Bermingham,” said Matthews. “And Lez Brotherston’s set depicts a strong, rough-hewn place, a perfect background for his stylish, expressive costumes. Lez designs costumes that reveal and release character to a 21st century audience rather than hiding it in layers of suffocating fancy dress. These details, among many others, will take the musical to places it has never gone before.”

The cast of THE THREE MUSKETEERS features Broadway veterans Kevyn Morrow as Aramis, John Schiappa as Athos, Jimmy Smagula as Porthos, Aaron Tveit as D’Artagnan, and Kate Baldwin as Milady.

The cast also includes Chad Ackerman, Mark Aldrich, Adam Alexander, Becky Barta, Bryce Bermingham, Allison Blackwell, Mick Bleyer, Steven Booth, Heather Koren, Nick Dalton, Holly Davis, Jeff Edgerton, Jenny Fellner, Constantine Germanacos, Emily Harvey, Kingsley Leggs, Jonathan Sanford, Matt Stokes, and Anne Tolpegin.

In addition to director Francis Matthews, the artistic team for THE THREE MUSKETEERS includes Dennis Callahan (Choreographer), Dale Reiling (Music Director), Lez Brotherston (Scenic and Costume Designer), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Designer), John A. Stone (Sound Design), Gerard Kelly (Wig Construction), Bryce Bermingham (Fight Director), David Shrubsole (Orchestrations), Joanna Strange (Assistant Director), Brian Taylor (Assistant Musical Director), Alison Franck (Casting Director), Bethany Ford (Production Stage Manager), and Alicia Reese (Assistant Stage Manager). THE THREE MUSKETEERS features a book Peter Raby; lyrics by Paul Leigh; score by George Stiles; and based on an original concept by William Hobbs.

Tickets for THE THREE MUSKETEERS are priced from $70 to $35. Senior and youth discounts and rush tickets are available. Performances are August 21 – September 9, 2007, Tue – Thurs at 7:30pm, Fri & Sat at 8pm, matinees Wed at 1:30pm, Sat and Sun at 2pm. For tickets: www.nsmt.org, (978) 232-7200, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly, MA 01915. THE THREE MUSKETEERS is sponsored by WBUR and is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Comcast is the presenting sponsor of 2007 Musical Theater season.

Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre: post show audience discussion with the artists on 8/28 and 8/29 after the 7:30 pm performance and 9/8 after the 2 pm performance; Spotlight on History, a free pre-show discussion focusing on historical issues related to the performance on 9/2; Out at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post show reception on 9/6.

Operating since 1955, NSMT has evolved into the largest non-profit producing theater in New England, with approximately 300,000 patrons annually. NSMT has gained a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, specifically in the areas of developing new works and providing outstanding theater arts and education programs. NSMT has received numerous industry awards including IRNE Awards, the Elliot Norton Award, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors’ Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT annually produces a six musical subscription series, a production of A Christmas Carol and an acclaimed concert series. With its celebrated Theater for Young Audiences program, a school touring program, and year-round classes for children, NSMT has become one of the regi