Preview by David Roberts
Theatre Reviews Limited
Rehearsal begin on March 21, 2016 for “Barbara Cook: Then and Now,” a candid and intimate evening conceived by 3-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and directed by 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune. The production will begin preview performances Tuesday, April 12, officially open Wednesday, May 4 and play a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, June 26 Off Broadway at New World Stages Stage One (304 West 50 Street).
Hers is a voice that’s become a constant in musical theatre for over 50 years. From the striking ingénue of Broadway’s Golden Age, to the legendary performer of the 21st century, Barbara Cook has sold out theaters and concert halls around the world with her masterful interpretations of music’s most memorable songs. This spring, she shares the best story of all – her own – in what promises to be a unique and intimate evening filled with music and memories to last a lifetime.
Together with a little help from her multiple Tony Award-winning friends, director Tommy Tune and playwright James Lapine, she returns to the stage in “Barbara Cook: Then and Now,” a poignant one-woman performance that takes you on a vibrant and candid journey through her remarkable life. Discover the people and the moments, the challenges and the triumphs that shaped her life – in a one-of-a-kind musical memoir you will never forget.
“Barbara Cook: Then and Now’s” celebrated Tony Award winning design team will feature scenic design by Robin Wagner and lighting design by Ken Billington and music direction by Emmy Award winner Lee Musiker. Additional creative team to be announced.
Barbara Cook’s anticipated autobiography bearing the same title, Barbara Cook: Then and Now, will be released by HarperCollins Publishers in June.
“As I began to write my upcoming memoir, I was surprised by how moved I was in revisiting my early years and later my alcoholic years,” Barbara Cook said, “I’ve always felt that the narrative of my life came through many of the songs I sing, both tunes I’ve introduced and favorites that have spoken to me through different chapters of my life. I’m hoping this evening will be a live companion piece to the book that taught me more about my own life than I ever would have expected.”