Kathy Bates, Richard Thomas & More Set for The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony

While his new musical 13 continues its Broadway run, Jason Robert Brown will have another premiere next month at the Kennedy Center: Oscar winner Kathy Bates and Richard Thomas are among the cast in The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony, an adaptation of E.B. White's children's book, with music by Brown and a script by Marsha Norman The Secret Garden, 'Night Mother. The hour-long, family-friendly show will play five performances at the Eisenhower Theater from December 4 through December 6, directed by Gary Griffin The Color Purple.

In addition to Bates and Thomas, the cast will include Zayd Dohrn, Edward Gero, Lauren Kennedy, Peggity Price, Christopher Venditti and Fred Willard. According to the Kennedy Center website, "actors come together with an on-stage orchestra and a trumpet soloist to tell E.B. White's classic story."

The Trumpet of the Swan centers on Louis, a trumpeter swan, who can't honk like the rest of his family because he was born without a voice. Since he can't proclaim his affections, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him. But then his father gets him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?