Legenday lyricist Tim Rice has brought James Jones' classic novel From Here to Eternity to life for the stage with the help of a world class creative team.  Adapted from one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, this gripping tale of illicit love and army life unites the writing talents of Tim Rice (lyrics), Stuart Brayson (music) and Bill Oakes (book).   It marks Tim's first new stage musical for over ten years and Stuart's West End debut.

From Here to Eternity will be directed by Tamara Harvey (Educating Rita, Menier Chocolate Factory; The Kitchen Sink, Bush Theatre), designed by Soutra Gilmour (Macbeth, Trafalgar Studios; Antigone, National Theatre) and choreographed by Javier De Frutos (London Road, National Theatre; The Most Incredible Thing, Sadler’s Wells).   The stellar creative team also includes lighting designer Bruno Poet (Frankenstein, National Theatre), sound designer Mick Potter (Phantom of the Opera, West End/ worldwide) and orchestrator & musical supervisor David White (Les Misérables, West End/ worldwide).   Casting is yet to be announced.

Tim Rice and Lee Menzies for Eternity Productions Limited present Pearl Harbor,1941, where the girls sing “don’cha like Hawaii”, the men of G Company sing the blues, and where even on an army base, love and desire are never very far away.  When the troubled Private Prewitt falls for the kind hearted escort club girl Lorene, and when his platoon sergeant, Warden, embarks on a dangerous affair with his commanding officer’s wife, Karen, the lives of both men are set on a course they cannot control.  As war approaches, the worlds of the four lovers and the soldiers of G Company are dramatically ripped apart.

Published in 1951, From Here to Eternity was James Jones’ début novel.  It won him the National Book Award for fiction in 1952.   It is loosely based on Jones’ experiences in the pre-World War II Hawaiian Division’s 27th Infantry and the unit in which he served.  In 1953 the novel was adapted into a film directed by Fred Zinnemann and produced by Buddy Adler, starring Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift, Ernest Borgnine, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed.  The film won 8 Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.

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