London Hit Coram Boy to Open at Broadway's Imperial Theatre 5/2

Official opening dates have been announced for Coram Boy, the latest drama to transfer from London's National Theatre to Broadway. The epic play, adapted by Helen Edmundson from the award-winning novel by Jamila Gavin, will begin previews at the Imperial Theatre on April 16, with opening night set for May 2. Melly Still is the director and co-designer with Ti Green; casting is currently underway.

An epic adventure featuring more than 40 performers and seven musicians, Coram Boy has played two sold-out engagements at the National Theatre, winning the 2006 Time Out Live Best Play Award. Based on Jamila Gavin's best-selling novel—which author Philip Pullman describes as "a rich and almost gothic drama, full of dastardly villains, cold-hearted aristocrats, devoted friends and passionate lovers"—Coram Boy tells the tale of two orphans at the Coram Hospital for Deserted Children: Toby, saved from an African slave ship, and Aaron, the abandoned son of the heir to a great estate. A story of fathers and sons, set in the heart of 18th-century England, Coram Boy is recommended for audiences ages 12 and older, according to a production release.

In addition to Still and Green, the design team for Coram Boy includes Paule Constable lighting, Adrian Sutton music and Christopher Shutt sound. The music director is Constantine Kitsopoulos and the fight director is Thomas Schall.

Edmundson's plays include Flying, The Clearing, Mother Teresa is Dead and adaptations of Anna Karenina, The Mill on the Floss, War and Peace and Gone to Earth. Her latest work, Orestes—Blood and Light, toured nationally last fall.

Coram Boy is the latest National Theatre production to be produced on Broadway by Boyett Ostar Productions. Previous plays include Alan Bennett's Tony Award-winning Best Play The History Boys, as well as the recent productions of Jumpers, Democracy and The Pillowman.