Tony Winners Gabriel Ebert & Nikki M. James Set for Preludes Off-Broadway

Tony winners Gabriel Ebert and Nikki M. James, along with Eisa Davis, Chris Sarandon and more will star in Preludes. The previously reported LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater production by Dave Malloy, inspired by the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin, is set to receive its world premiere in the Claire Tow Theater. The new musical will play a limited engagement off-Broadway May 23 through July 19. Opening night is scheduled for June 15.

Ebert won the Tony for Matilda; other Broadway credits include Casa Valentina, Brief Encounter and Red. James has just completed a run in Les Miz on Broadway. She received a Tony for The Book of Mormon; she has also been seen on the Great White Way in All Shook Up and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Davis has been seen on screen in Smash and The Good Wife and has appeared on Broadway in Passing Strange. Sarandon’s Main Stem credits include Cyrando de Bergerac, The Light in the Piazza and Nick & Nora.

From the creators of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Preludes is a musical fantasia set in the hypnotized mind of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov. After the disastrous premiere of his first symphony, the young Rachmaninov (Ebert) suffers from writer’s block. He begins daily sessions with a therapeutic hypnotist (Davis), in an effort to overcome depression and return to composing.

Preludes' company will also include Joseph Keckler and Or Matias on piano. The production will feature sets by Mimi Lien, costumes by Paloma Young, lights by Bradley King, sound by Matt Hubbs and musical direction by Matias.