Sam Cieri and Mackenzie Lesser-Roy star in "Once"
“Once,” the story of an Irish musician and Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music, comes to Butte Nov. 9 and Billings Nov. 10.
Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, “Once” is a musical celebration of life and love – thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty, and unforgettable in every way.
Awarded eight 2012 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the story begins in a Dublin bar, brought to life on stage with audience members invited up to buy a drink. Because of this unusual staging, there will be no late seating during the first 20 minutes of the performance. Patrons are encouraged to come early and enjoy the ambiance.
The musical claimed the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and was named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards. The production ran for more than 1,100 performances on Broadway with international productions staged from London and Melbourne to Japan and South Korea.
“Once” features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, and is based a book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom). The show is under direction by the acclaimed Scottish director John Tiffany, with movement by Steven Hoggett and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. The set and costume design are by five-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.
The Butte production begins at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Mother Lode Theatre; for tickets, call 406-723-3602 or visit buttearts.org.
The Billings show starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10; call 406-256-6052 (box office hours are Monday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m.) or order tickets online at www.albertabairtheater.org.