Mackintosh's Witches Fly In June 2000

Producer Cameron Mackintosh has confirmed the West End opening for his new mega-musical, The Witches of Eastwick, based on the novel by John Updike and the 1987 Warner Brothers motion picture which starred Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. As expected, the musical will play at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where Mackintosh's Miss Saigon finishes its 10 year run this month. The opening date, still subject to change, is set for Tuesday 13 June 2000, following previews from 26 May.

The Witches of Eastwick has book and lyrics by the young American writers John Dempsey and Dana Rowe, whose musical The Fix premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in 1997. The show will be directed by Eric Schaeffer, designed by Bob Crowley and choreographed by Bob Avian with orchestrations by William D Brohn, sound design by Andrew Bruce and lighting design by Howard Harrison. Casting has yet to be confirmed.

Set in a small New England town, The Witches of Eastwick follows three bored women who are yearning for a little excitement. But, when their conjuring is made flesh in the form of the mysterious and charismatic Darryl Van Horn, all hell breaks loose.

Best-selling novelist John Updike's books have won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the American Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Howells Medal. He comments on the musical adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick: 'I'm pleased to think my witches will have another incarnation through the medium of the musical stage. In my mind, there was always dancing and singing involved in witchcraft.'

Prior to the opening of the new production, the auditorium of the Theatre Royal will be architecturally remodelled, giving it a new seating configuration. The current capacity of 2,240 seats will be reduced to 1,650 to maximise intimacy.

Booking for The Witches of Eastwick opens 16 October 1999.

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