August 1, 2002

Amour, A New Broadway Musical Music By Michel Legrand, Directed By James Lapine Starring Malcolm Gets And Melissa Errico
Performances Begin September 20, Opening Night is October 20 at the Music Box Theatre

NEW YORK, N.Y. —Amour, an intimate new musical with an original score by Michel Legrand, will begin Broadway performances on September 20 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street.) Starring Malcolm Gets and Melissa Errico, Amour is directed by James Lapine, with choreography by Jane Comfort. The official opening night is October 20.

Set in Paris in the 1950's, Amour is the story of a minor civil servant who finds his life transformed by a magical ability to walk through walls. His liberating discovery provides a new outlook on life and ultimately leads him into the loving arms of a beautiful young woman.

Amour, first produced in Paris under the title “Le Passe-Muraille,” won the 1997 Prix Moliere for Best Musical, the French equivalent of the Tony Award. Based on the beloved French short story by Marcel Aymé (Les Editions Gallimard,) Amour features book and lyrics by Didier van Cauwelaert, with an English adaptation by Jeremy Sams.

Amour marks the Broadway debut of three-time Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand, whose hit songs include “I Will Wait For You” from the film “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” “The Windmills of Your Mind” from “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “The Summer Knows” from “Summer of ‘42,” “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” from “The Happy Ending,” “Papa Can You Hear Me?” from “Yentl” and “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” from “Best Friends.” He is the winner of five Grammy Awards.

Director James Lapine is currently represented on Broadway by the new production of “Into the Woods,” for which he also wrote the book, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Also in collaboration with Sondheim, James Lapine was both librettist and director of “Passion,” which won the Tony Award, and “Sunday in the Park With George,” which won the Pulitzer Prize. A three-time Tony Award winner, his additional directing credits include “Falsettos,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and “Dirty Blonde,” which he co-conceived.

Recent translations by Jeremy Sams include “Becket,” “The Rehearsal,” “The Miser,” “Mary Stuart,” and “Indiscretions.” He wrote the adaptation for the current London hit musical, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” As a director he is represented by the current Broadway comedy, “Noises Off.” Additional directing credits include “Wild Oats,” “Marat/Sade,” “Two Pianos, Four Hands,” and the London production of “Passion.”

Malcolm Gets and Melissa Errico head the cast of Amour. Malcolm Gets has appeared in “A New Brain,” “Hello Again,” “The Moliere Comedies,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” and as a regular on the NBC series “Caroline in the City.” Additional credits include the recent Playwrights Horizons production, “Boys and Girls.”

Melissa Errico was seen in “My Fair Lady”and “High Society” on Broadway and in “One Touch of Venus” for the Encores series. She has appeared at the Café Carlyle and has a soon-to-be released CD on Capitol Records. She appeared in the recent film “Life or Something Like It” and starred in the Kennedy Center production of “Sunday in the Park With George.”

Also featured in the cast of Amour are Lewis Cleale, John Cunningham, Christopher Fitzgerald, Norm Lewis, Sarah Litzsinger, Nora Mae Lyng and Bill Nolte.

Scenic design for Amour is by Scott Pask, who is currently represented on Broadway by “Urinetown.” Costume design is by Dona Granata, who won an Emmy Award for the mini-series “Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.” Lighting design is by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, who won the Tony Award for their work on “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk.” Sound designer Dan Moses Schreier is currently represented on Broadway by “Into the Woods.”

Amour is presented on Broadway by The Shubert Organization, Jean Doumanian Productions, Inc. and USA Ostar Theatricals.

Amour will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are available by telephone through TeleCharge (212) 239-6200 and will be available at the box office beginning August 19 at the Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.