On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the lights will go up on a world premiere musical at the Old Globe in Balboa Park.
Audiences will get their first look at “Some Lovers” written by Tony-Award winner Steven Sater and Academy and Grammy-Award winning composer Burt Bacharach.
Set in New York City on Christmas Eve, Ben and Molly read O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” In the classic story, a husband sells his watch to buy a comb for his wife’s long hair. The wife cuts her hair to buy a chain for her husband’s prized watch.
At the end of the reading, Ben and Molly discuss what may have happened to the fictional couple.
And there, Steven Sater and Burt Bacharach take the audience along on a “timeless love story that takes place over 20 years. “
Jason Danieley, who plays Ben, starred in “Next to Normal” on Broadway but may be most recognized for his performance as Lt. Joe Cable in the Emmy-nominated PBS Great Performance airing of “South Pacific” at Carnegie Hall.
Michelle Duffy,who plays Molly, may be familiar to “Desperate Housewives” fans as Orson’s ex-girlfriend Judy. To Old Globe fans, she’ll be familiar as Vet in the world premiere of “The Boswell Sisters” in 2001.
The young Molly is played by Jenni Barber who you may recognize from “The Electric Company” on PBS . The young Ben is played by Andrew Mueller making his Globe debut.
Thirteen years ago, The Old Globe produced the world premiere of the musical “What the World Needs Now” featuring Bacharach’s music, but the new production represents his first original composition for the stage since the Grammy-award winning “Promises, Promises” in 1968.
Previews run Nov. 26-Dec. 6 at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. Opening night is scheduled for December 7.
For show schedule and ticket information, go to the Old Globe. Tickets begin at $35.
