Medieval Musical Chasing Nicolette to Play Off-B'way's Little Shubert

Broadway.com has learned that Chasing Nicolette, a musical by Peter Kellogg and David Friedman, will be the next tenant at the Little Shubert Theatre. The show, directed by Ethan McSweeny, is expected to start performances at the off-Broadway space in September.

“It's about the romance between a Christian and a Muslim,” Kellogg told Broadway.com. “It preaches tolerance and respect. And it offers opportunities for both comedy and romance.”

"I really wanted New Yorkers to see it," Friedman said. "It's hilarious, but ultimately moving. It's a love story, but underneath that there are all of these lessons to be learned that are important to our times."

Based on the 13th Century romance Aucassin et Nicolette, whose author is unknown, Chasing Nicolette recounts in comic style the perilous adventures of a noble youth and the beautiful dark-skinned servant he wants to marry. The lovers face terrifying obstacles--angry parents, dark dungeons, flashing sword fights, and a jealous princess---aided only by the boy's outrageous servant. The tuner features book and lyrics by Kellogg and music by Friedman.

The show, which premiered at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse in 2000, ran at Philadelphia's Prince Music Theater last season. In his review of that production, Variety's Toby Zinman wrote: “Chasing Nicolette is both melodic and witty--all the dialogue is in couplets, and a can-you-top-this game develops as we wait for the next impossible rhyme--but the show is goofy, too, and likely to appeal to kids as well as adults.”

Headlined by Bronson Pinchot as the servant, the cast of Chasing Nicolette at the Prince also included Kingsley Leggs, Jasika Nicole Pruitt, Kevin R. Free, Bill Buell, Davis Duffield, Dale Radunz, Richard White, Rebecca Bellingham and Mary Martello. Many are expected to reprise their roles in New York, but no casting has been confirmed for the Gotham mounting.

“The story was interesting to us because it is so relevant,” Kellogg said, “even though it was written in 1224!”