Floyd Collins To Open at The Vault, Southwark Playhouse For Six Week Run

Peter Huntley Productions in association with Southwark Playhouse is set to present Floyd Collins, featuring a book by Tina Landau.

The play features music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and additional lyrics by Tina Landau.

Directed by Derek Bond.

22nd February to 31st March 2012

Kentucky, 1925. Floyd Collins, soon to be acclaimed as the ‘greatest caver ever known', dreams of finding fame and fortune underground. When a cave-in leaves him trapped 55 feet below the earth's surface, the media circus above ground makes a very personal tragedy a national sensation.

Tina Landau and Adam Guettel's award-winning musical has been described as ‘dazzling' (Stephen Sondheim) and ‘a giant leap forward for musical theatre' (The Independent). A blistering account of the events that occur when a personal disaster becomes public news, this ground-breaking musical is an examination of the media's reaction to the events in the cave, the various attempts to rescue Floyd and a moving insight into his family's suffering.

Floyd Collins was commissioned by the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia, which produced its world premiere in 1994 and first produced in New York by Playwrights Horizons in 1996. It was the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical (1996), an Obie for Best Score and seven Drama Desk nominations including Best Direction, Best Book and Best Musical. This production, specially conceived for the cavernous depths of Southwark Playhouse's Vault space, marks its first London revival in over ten years.

Tina Landau is a writer and director whose original work includes the play Space, which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre and Dream True. She also wrote and directed States of Independence (American Musical Theatre Festival, Philadelphia), 1969 (or Howie Takes a Trip) (Actors Theatre, Louisville), American Vaudeville (Alley Theatre, Houston) and In Twilite (American Repertory Theatre, Boston). Tina recently became a member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She made her Broadway directing debut in 2001 with the revival of Bells are Ringing. (Plymouth Theatre, Broadway).

Adam Guettel's newest musical, The Light in the Piazza, premiered on Broadway in 2005. It went on to receive six Tony Awards including two for Best Original Score, and Best Orchestrations as well as 5 Drama Desk Awards, including Best Music, and Best Orchestrations. Other credits include Saturn Returns which was recorded under the title Myths and Hymns. Adam was the recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award (1990), the ASCAP New Horizons Award (1997), and the American Composers Orchestra Award (2005).

Director Derek Bond's theatre credits include Saraband (Jermyn Street Theatre), Trying (Finborough), The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret (White Bear, BAC). Credits as Associate Director include Enron (Noel Coward Theatre and UK Tour), Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello Theatre), Cabaret (Lyric Theatre), The Alchemist (National Theatre) and The History Boys (National Theatre, UK and International Tours and Broadway). He has been Artistic Associate at Theatre503 where credits include Playlist and Many Moons.

Peter Huntley Productions return to Southwark Playhouse after the critically-acclaimed The Belle's Stratagem. Previous productions include The Kissing-Dance (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Austentatious (Landor Theatre).

Listings Information

Producer
Peter Huntley Productions

Production
FLOYD COLLINS
Book by Tina Landau.
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel.
Directed by Derek Bond.
Venue
The Vault, Southwark Playhouse
Shipwright Yard
Corner of Bermondsey St. and Tooley St.
London SE1 2TF

Nearest Tube: London Bridge
Performances
22 February - 31 March 2012
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Saturday matinees at 3.00pm
Box Office
Online
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
24 HOURS/NO BOOKING FEES
By Telephone
020 7407 0234/NO BOOKING FEES
Ticket Prices
£10, £16.50, £22.50
‘Airline Style' pricing. The earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets!
Concessions
Disabled people can bring one companion free of charge.
There are no other concessions

Access
Please inform Southwark Playhouse of your access requirements at least 48 hours before you attend the performance by phoning 020 7407 0234.