KeyBank Broadway Series
April 9 – 21, 2013
Tues. – Sat. 7:30pm; Sat. matinee 1:30pm; Sun. 1pm & 6:30pm
2 hours, 55 minutes with intermission
OFFICIAL SHOW BLURB
Hailed by The New York Times as “theatrical magic,” WAR HORSE is the powerful story of young Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. In a tale the New York Daily News calls “spellbinding, by turns epic and intimate,” Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man’s land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.
TALKING POINTS
-WAR HORSE is based on a 1982 children’s book by Michael Morpurgo.
-It is a play, not a musical – although there is music in the show
-WAR HORSE debuted on stage at the National Theatre in London in 2007. The show then began running in the West End in 2009, and on Broadway (at NYC’s LincolnCenter) in 2011. Both of those productions are still running.
-In December 2011, the movie adaptation (directed by Stephen Spielberg) premiered nationwide. The film was shot entirely in England, and used real horses as opposed to puppets
-Handspring Puppet Company uses groundbreaking techniques to bring lifelike horses to the stage. Actors/puppeteers are on stage as a part of the puppet to give it lifelike movement, sounds and inflections. The puppets are life sized, and actors do at times ride them like real horses.
-The story is set in Devon at the outbreak of World War I. Joey, young Albert Narracott's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Joey serves in the British and German armies, befriends Topthorn (another army horse), and gets caught up in enemy fire. Death, disease and fate take him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in a no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey, and, still not old enough to enlist in the army, he embarks on a dangerous mission to find and bring him back to Devon.
Casting notes: Puppets by Handspring Puppet Company, South Africa
Awards and Special Notes: Five 2011 Tony Awards (Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, Best Sound Design of a Play). In addition, Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones of Handspring Puppet Company won the Special Tony Award for WAR HORSE. 2011 Drama Desk Award for Best Play
Official website:
Audio/visual content:
Facebook:
Twitter: @WarHorseOnStage
Additional show experience offerings: Pre-show Broadway Buzz at the IdeaCenter (one hour before all shows), Chats with the cast immediately after Thursday performances
CONTACT INFO
Marketing contact:
Elise Rossman / / 216.640.8656
Publicity contact:
Trish McKeon / / 216.640.8658
Digital contact:
Stephanie Anderson / / 216.640.8652
AUDIENCE DEMO
Target audience: Adults 25 - 54
Age appropriateness:Ages 10 and up
Adult content: Depictions of war (gunfight, cannons, charging). Younger children may be disturbed by the lifelike horses.
Niche audiences: Fans of horses/equestrian sports, Historians (particularly WWI era), Fans of plays and non-musicals
PROGRAMMING
TV
-focus on Adults 25 - 54
-potential programming includes local news, Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, PBS,
-cable stations include History Channel, Travel Channel, Animal Channel, HGTV, CNN, FOX News
RADIO
-directed at Adults 25 - 54
-formats include Talk Radio, NPR, Oldies
SALES WINDOW
Print –Late February through show dates
Electronic –Late March through show dates
Online – March / April
Outdoor –Late March through show dates
SAMPLE PROMOTIONAL / CONTESTING IDEAS
**While these sample promotions and contests will give you an idea of what we are looking for, by no means are these the ONLY ideas you can use for WAR HORSE. Please feel free to be creative and tweak these concepts, or come to us with completely new and original ideas for discussion!**
Potential Third Party Partners
**COMING SOON**
Examples
**COMING SOON**