The Last Ship (musical) explained

The Last Ship
Music:Sting
Lyrics:Sting
Productions:2014 Chicago
2014 Broadway
2016 Salt Lake City
2016 UK national tour
2019 Toronto
2020 US national tour

The Last Ship is an original musical with music and lyrics by Sting and a book by Lorne Campbell.

Following a UK national tour and subsequent six-week run at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, it embarked on a US national tour with the official opening at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles on 22 January 2020. Inspired by Sting's own childhood experiences and the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, an earlier version of the musical with book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey played at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago, before moving to the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway in 2014. The musical received two Tony Award nominations in 2015, for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations.[1]

Premise

The Last Ship was initially inspired by Sting's 1991 album The Soul Cages[2] and Sting's own childhood experiences, particularly his relationship with his father who had been an engineer in a family of shipwrights.[3] [4] It tells the story about community and the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, with the closure of the town's Swan Hunter shipyard.[5] [6] "I did everything in my power to escape Wallsend... I became successful, but I owe a debt to that community. This play is me trying to honour that community, trying to pay back what they gave me -- a sense of self but also the engine that allowed me to escape. That's the strange paradox. I love where I come from, I'm glad I escaped, at the same time I need to tell that story as a sort of 'soul debt'."

Production history

In September 2011, it was confirmed that British musician Sting was working on a musical,[7] following rumours the previous year.[8] A first reading took place in Manhattan in October that year,[9] with a further reading in Newcastle in February 2012[10] and ultimately a full staged reading[11] for the musical was held in 2013.[12] In September 2013, the show was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would premiere in Chicago in 2014.[13]

The show has a book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey[14] and is directed by Joe Mantello,[15] with choreography by Steven Hoggett,[16] set and costume design by David Zinn,[17] lighting design by Christopher Akerlind[18] and sound design by Brian Ronan.[19]

The show features a score by Sting[20] that includes mostly original material, as well as four previously written songs: "Island of Souls" and "All This Time" from The Soul Cages, "When We Dance" from the 1994 album , and "Ghost Story" from the 1999 album Brand New Day. Speaking in 2011, Brian Yorkey said: "He's writing great theater music... It's very, very distinctly Sting but it also is theatre music. It's not just pop music transposed into the theatre."[21]

The Last Ship is Sting's first stage musical. He had previously co-written the score for the 2000 animated Disney musical film The Emperor's New Groove, although only two of his songs ended up in the film after heavy studio retooling.[22] Sting's eleventh studio album, titled The Last Ship, featuring music from, or originally intended for the musical,[23] was released on 24 September 2013.[24] The album marked his first release of original material since his 2003 album Sacred Love[23] and his first foray into musical theatre.[25] Sting had suffered from writer's block and credited the show with giving him a reason to write songs again.[26] Sting held a series of concerts at The Public Theater in October 2013,[27] featuring music from the show and told stories of the making of the musical.[28] The concert was later broadcast on PBS[29] as part of its Great Performances series.[30]

After the "unsurprising" closure of the Broadway run of the show, many observers commented that Newcastle or another venue in the UK would have been "a more natural home" for the show, which was "a tough sell" for the US. "Tyneside accents and the decline of Britain’s industrial heartland aren’t naturally in the wheelhouse of Manhattan’s jewellery-rattling theatregoers." Sting has been dismissive of the argument.

The musical was produced later in the UK, with a new book. One of the major changes in the new production was the removal of the significant figure of a priest, as well as many religious references.

Roles and principal casts

CharacterChicago
(2014)[31] 		Original Broadway cast
(2014)[32] 		UK/Ireland tour cast
(2018)[33] 		Toronto cast
(2019)[34] 		National tour cast
(2020)[35]
Gideon FletcherMichael EsperRichard FleeshmanOliver Savile
Jackie WhiteJimmy NailJoe McGannSting
Peggy WhiteSally Ann TriplettCharlie HardwickJackie Morrison
Meg DawsonRachel TuckerFrances McNamee
Joe FletcherJamie JacksonSean Kearns
Tom Dawson & Young GideonCollin Kelly-SordeletMatt CornerBarney WilkinsonJoseph Peacock
Young MegDawn CantwellParisa ShahmirJade Sophia Vertannes
Billy ThompsonCraig BennettJoe Caffrey
Davey HarrisonMatthew StockeKevin WathenMatt Corner
Freddy NewlandsEric AndersonSean Kearns
Adrian SandersonRich HebertCharlie RichmondMarc Akinfolarin
Beatrice DeesShawna M. HamicAnnie GraceOrla Gormley
Ellen DawsonKatie Moore Sophie Reid
Baroness TynedalePenelope Woodman Annie Grace
Father James O'BrienFred Applegatecolspan='3' "text-align: center;"
Arthur MillburnAaron Lazarcolspan='3' "text-align: center;"
Jessie FlynnLeah Hockingcolspan='3' "text-align: center;"
SailorDrew McVetycolspan='3' "text-align: center;"

Music

Musical numbers

The following is the list of musical numbers in the Broadway production. The musical uses a twelve-member orchestra consisting of keyboard, piano, guitar, bass, drums, Northumbrian smallpipe, flute, whistle, melodeon, fiddle, cello and percussion.[36]

Act l
Act ll

Toronto (2019)

Act l
Act ll

Original Broadway cast album

The Last Ship (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Type:soundtrack
Longtype:cast recording
Artist:Various
Studio:Avatar Studios
Producer:Rob Mathes

The original Broadway cast recording was released on 16 December 2014.[37]

Productions

Chicago and Broadway

On 19 September 2013, it was announced that the show would begin its world premiere with a pre-Broadway Chicago tryout.[38] Tickets for the tryout went on sale on 14 February 2014.[39] Previews for the Chicago run of the show began on 10 June 2014 at the Bank of America Theatre, the show opened on 25 June 2014, and played for 33 days total until 13 July 2014.[40] [41]

Following completion of the tryout in Chicago, The Last Ship transferred to the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway in New York.[42] Previews started playing at the Neil Simon Theater on 29 September 2014,[43] and the official opening night was 26 October 2014.[44] [45] Sting joined the cast on stage during the curtain call on opening night. Celebrities including Billy Joel, Robert De Niro and Liam Neeson were in attendance.[46] In a bid to help falling ticket sales, creator and musician Sting joined the cast for a limited run from 9 December 2014 to 24 January 2015,[47] replacing Jimmy Nail.[48]

Despite sales increasing with Sting in the cast and producers stating he had had a "galvanising effect", the decision was made to close the show on 24 January 2015.[49]

Salt Lake City

The Last Ship was produced in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre at the University of Utah campus from 16 September 2016 through 1 October 2016, making its regional premiere in Salt Lake City in the first production after its Broadway run.

On 22 September, Sting joined the cast at the curtain call of that evening's performance, After a standing ovation, Sting thanked the "amazing cast" and said it was "surreal" to see the story of his English shipbuilding home transported to the middle of Utah.

"I loved the reaction," he said. "I loved sitting among you all and hearing you laugh and hearing you cry."[50]

Turku, Finland

A new (non-replica) production of The Last Ship (fin. Viimeinen Laiva) opened in Turku, Finland, on 15 September 2017 at Turku City Theatre. The full show was performed in the Finnish language.[51] Turku is a very famous shipbuilding city in Finland. One of the world's biggest cruise ships, the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, was built at the Turku shipyard.

United Kingdom and Ireland

In October 2017, it was announced The Last Ship would be embark on a UK and Ireland tour,[52] beginning at Northern Stage in Newcastle upon Tyne 12 March 2018,[53] closing 7 July 2018 at Lyric Theatre, part of The Lowry in Salford.[54] The production features a new book by director Lorne Campbell.[55] Notable casting included Joe McGann as Jackie White, Richard Fleeshman as Gideon Fletcher, Charlie Hardwick as Peggy White and Francess McNamee as Meg Dawson.[56] Jimmy Nail had been due to reprise the role he created on Broadway of Jackie White, however negotiations stalled and his offer to perform on the tour was withdrawn.[57]

Toronto

The show ran in Toronto, Ontario, at the Princess of Wales Theatre between 9 February and 24 March 2019. The production featured a new cast, including Sting as Jackie White.[58]

US tour

The US tour of The Last Ship debuted on January 22 at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.[59] The musical then moved to San Francisco, opening on February 25 at the Golden Gate Theatre.[60] The US tour, however, was then suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was scheduled to stop in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and Detroit through April 2020.

Germany

The Theatre of West Pomerania and Theater Koblenz rescheduled their productions of The Last Ship in 2021 after the 2020 versions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[61] The Theatre Lübeck had Premiere of their production, fully in German on 11 February 2022.[62]

Awards

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2015Drama Desk Awards[63] Outstanding ChoreographySteven Hoggett
Outstanding MusicSting
Outstanding OrchestrationsRob Mathes
Outstanding Sound Design in a MusicalBrian Ronan
Outer Critics Circle Awards[64] Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Outstanding Book of a MusicalJohn Logan
Brian Yorkey
Outstanding New ScoreSting
Tony Awards[65] Best Original Score
Best OrchestrationsRob Mathes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 69th Annual Tony Awards Nominations Announced! Fun Home and American in Paris Lead - Playbill.com . 2015-04-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150430194929/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/69th-annual-tony-awards-nominations-announced-fun-home-and-american-in-paris-lead-347781 . 30 April 2015 . dmy-all .
  2. News: 6 May 2013 . Writing The Last Ship . Huffington Post . 21 February 2014.
  3. News: Morgan . Scott C . 11 October 2013 . Sting sails into Chicago to promote 'Last Ship' . . Chicago . 8 November 2013.
  4. Web site: 2020-02-03 . Sting Sets Sail On 'The Last Ship' . 2020-05-29 . Southern California Public Radio.
  5. News: 13 February 2014 . Sting musical The Last Ship finds Broadway home . bbc.co.uk/news . BBC News . 22 February 2014.
  6. News: 28 August 2013 . Sting 'compelled' to pen Tyne shipyard musical . bbc.co.uk/news . BBC News . 22 February 2014.
  7. News: Sting and Brian Yorkey Embark on a New Musical, 'The Last Ship' . The New York Times . 1 September 2011 . 15 February 2014 . Dave . Itzkoff.
  8. Web site: Sting Pens Bio-musical for Broadway??? . whatsonstage.com . 12 July 2010 . 21 February 2014.
  9. Web site: Sting gets on board The Last Ship musical . The Guardian . 2 September 2011 . 21 February 2014.
  10. Web site: Joe Mantello Helms U.K. Reading of Sting-Brian Yorkey Musical The Last Ship . Playbill . 6 February 2012 . 24 February 2014.
  11. Web site: Sting's THE LAST SHIP Musical Coming to Broadway in 2014; Louise Pitre to Lead? . BroadwayWorld . 13 May 2013 . 13 May 2013.
  12. Web site: Louise Pitre Part of The Last Ship Reading; Is Sting-Scored Musical Eyeing Broadway in 2014? . Playbill . 14 May 2013 . 24 February 2014.
  13. Web site: Sting Musical The Last Ship Will Premiere in Chicago Prior to Fall 2014 Broadway Arrival . Playbill . 19 September 2013 . 24 February 2014.
  14. Web site: Sting Will Perform The Last Ship as Benefit Concert for Steppenwolf . Playbill . 27 January 2014 . 22 February 2014.
  15. Sting's Musical 'The Last Ship' Is Broadway Bound . Rolling Stone . 19 September 2013 . 22 February 2014.
  16. Web site: The Last Ship: Sting musical arrives 30 Sep 2014 . newyorktheatreguide.com . 12 February 2014 . 22 February 2014.
  17. News: Sting's musical "The Last Ship" headed for Broadway this fall . CBS News . 12 February 2014 . 22 February 2014.
  18. News: Sting musical The Last Ship sets sail for Broadway . Toronto Star . 12 February 2014 . 22 February 2014.
  19. Web site: Sting's musical finds Broadway home . The Belfast Telegraph . 13 February 2013 . 22 February 2014.
  20. Web site: Sting's "The Last Ship" Coming to Broadway This Fall . nbcnewyork.com . 12 February 2014 . 22 February 2014.
  21. Web site: Brian Yorkey-Sting Musical The Last Ship to Test Its Sails in October . Playbill . 1 September 2011 . 24 August 2020.
  22. Web site: Sting's New Groove Struggle . ABC News . Gary . Graff . 14 December 2000.
  23. News: Sting to Release a New Album in September . The New York Times . 4 June 2013 . 22 February 2014 . James C. . McKinley Jr.
  24. Web site: STING'S THE LAST SHIP – New Album From the 16-Time Grammy® Award Winner. 5 June 2013. Sting.com. 7 June 2013. 16 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093345/https://www.sting.com/news/title/stings-the-last-ship-new-album-from-the-16time-grammy-award-winner. dead.
  25. News: Sting's Musical to Open on Broadway After Chicago Tryout . The New York Times . 19 September 2013 . 26 February 2014 . Melena . Ryzik.
  26. News: Taking Himself Out of the Equation . The New York Times . 12 September 2013 . 22 February 2014 . Jon . Pareles.
  27. Web site: Grammy Award Winner Sting Begins Ten-Concert Engagement at the Public Theater Sept. 25 . Playbill . 25 September 2013 . 24 February 2014.
  28. Web site: Sting performs highlights from his Broadway-bound musical on PBS show . dailynews.com . 20 February 2014 . 24 February 2014.
  29. Web site: "Sting: The Last Ship" Airs on PBS' "Great Performances" Feb. 21 . Playbill . 21 February 2014 . 24 February 2014.
  30. News: Watch An Exclusive Performance from 'Sting: The Last Ship' . The Wall Street Journal . 19 February 2014 . 24 February 2014.
  31. Web site: Casting announced for Sting's new musical 'The Last Ship' . Chicago Sun-Times . 29 January 2019.
  32. Web site: Database . Playbill . The Last Ship . PlayBill . 29 January 2019.
  33. Web site: Gans . Andrew . Cast Complete for U.K. Premiere of Sting's The Last Ship . PlayBill . 29 January 2019.
  34. Web site: NewsDesk . BWW . Sting to Star in Canadian Premiere Of THE LAST SHIP Alongside Frances McNamee and More . BroadwayWorld . 29 January 2019.
  35. Web site: Clement . Olivia . Sting to Return to The Last Ship for 2020 North American Tour. PlayBill . 20 December 2019.
  36. Web site: Inside the Playbill: The Last Ship Opening Night at Neil Simon Theatre . . playbillvault.com . 6 January 2015.
  37. Web site: Hetrick . Adam . Cast Album of Sting Musical The Last Ship Released Today . PlayBill . 29 January 2019.
  38. News: Sting's 'The Last Ship' Musical To Premiere in Chicago in 2014 . The Wall Street Journal . 26 February 2014 . John . Jurgensen . 19 September 2013.
  39. Web site: Tickets to Pre-Broadway Premiere of Sting's THE LAST SHIP on Sale this Friday . Broadway World . 12 February 2014 . 26 February 2014.
  40. Web site: The Last Ship - Bank of America Theater, Chicago, IL - Tickets, information, reviews . Chicago-theater.com . 2017-03-25.
  41. News: Sting sails to Chicago for pre-Broadway tryout of 'The Last Ship' . Chicago Tribune . 19 September 2013 . 26 February 2014.
  42. News: Sting Musical 'The Last Ship' Books Broadway Theater, Cast . Variety . 12 February 2014 . 26 February 2014 . Gordon . Cox.
  43. Web site: All Aboard! Sting's The Last Ship Begins Performances on Broadway . broadway.com . 29 September 2014 . 29 September 2014.
  44. News: 'Last Ship' casting announced . Chicago Tribune . 12 February 2014 . 26 February 2014.
  45. Web site: All Aboard! Sting's The Last Ship Begins Performances on Broadway | Broadway Buzz . Broadway.com . 2014-09-29 . 2017-03-25.
  46. Web site: Sting's musical The Last Ship opens on Broadway – video report . . 27 October 2014 . 25 November 2014.
  47. News: Sting to join Broadway musical The Last Ship . BBC News . bbc.co.uk/news . 24 November 2014 . 25 November 2014.
  48. News: Sting to Join the Cast of His Broadway Musical . . 23 November 2014 . 25 November 2014 . Patrick . Healy.
  49. News: Sting's Broadway musical to close, as theatres report blockbuster year . BBC News . bbc.co.uk/news . 6 January 2015 . 6 January 2015.
  50. Web site: Sting rocks sold-out 'Last Ship' crowd in Salt Lake City . Sltrib.com . 2017-03-25.
  51. News: Viimeinen laiva. fi.
  52. Web site: Sting brings Newcastle-set musical The Last Ship home for UK premiere. . bbc.co.uk/news . 30 October 2017 . 10 June 2018.
  53. Web site: The Last Ship to Have U.K. Premiere and Tour. . playbill.com . 30 October 2017 . 10 June 2018.
  54. Web site: The Last Ship (Closed July 07, 2018) ─ Salford ─ reviews, cast and info. Whats On Stage. 2020-01-25.
  55. Web site: The Last Ship. . heraldscotland.com . 25 March 2018. 10 June 2018.
  56. Web site: Cast Complete for U.K. Premiere of Sting's The Last Ship. . playbill.com . 1 February 2018 . 10 June 2018.
  57. Web site: Jimmy Nail no longer starring in Sting musical The Last Ship as cast is announced. . thestage.co.uk . 10 January 2018 . 10 June 2018.
  58. News: Mirvish brings The Last Ship to Toronto, with Sting along for the ride. 16 February 2019. The Globe and Mail.
  59. Web site: McNulty . Charles . Review: Sting stars in a retooled version of 'The Last Ship,' but it is still a leaky vessel . Los Angeles Times . 23 January 2020 . 26 November 2020.
  60. Web site: Janiak . Lily . Review: Sting and 'The Last Ship' sink at BroadwaySF . San Francisco Chronicle . 26 November 2020.
  61. Web site: The Last Ship. debut performance.
  62. Web site: The Last Ship. 2022-02-03. www.theaterluebeck.de.
  63. https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/drama-desk-nominations-2015-full-list-1201478395/# "Drama Desk Nominations 2015 Full List"
  64. http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/2015-outer-critics-circle-awards-nominations-annou_72589.html "Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations Announced"
  65. Web site: Tony Award Nominees - The Last Ship. The Tony Awards. 10 June 2015.

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