Jeff Buckley's The Last Goodbye to Debut at Williamstown

The Last Goodbye, a rock musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet featuring songs by the late Jeff Buckley, will premiere at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. The show will run from August 5 through 20 on the Nikos Stage, conceived, adapted and directed by Michael Kimmel. No casting has been announced.

As previously reported Goodbye had been eyeing an out-of-town premiere after a sold-out three night concert version played at Joe’s Pub last year starring Kelli Barrett (The Royal Family, Rock of Ages) and Theo Stockman (Hair, American Idiot).

Developed in collaboration with Mary Guibert, Buckley’s mother and executor, The Last Goodbye is the first show to be authorized by the estate of the popular singer, who drowned at age 30 in 1997. The musical includes tunes such as “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over,” “Eternal Life” and “Grace” interspersed among actual Shakespeare dialogue. Buckley’s famed cover version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is also reportedly included in the score. An announcement from Williamstown states that the show will feature an ensemble of 14 singer/actors.

Williamstown is producing the show alongside Hal Luftig (Come Fly Away), Alan D. Marks (Blithe Spirit), Ruth and Stephen Hendel (American Idiot) and Stephen Moore (Finian’s Rainbow).

In addition to The Last Goodbye, Williamstown has added a revival of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation to its Main Stage season. The comedy will run July 14-25; no casting or director have been announced.