Raúl Esparza stands alone under a sky full of stars in the first production photo from Galileo, released hours before the new musical plays its first Broadway preview tonight, Tuesday, November 10, at 8 p.m. at the Shubert Theatre.
The frame is mostly sky. A towering lattice of glittering lights fills the stage from floor to flies, and at the foot of it the title character, staff in hand, throws his head back toward the heavens. The picture is by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman, and it is the only image the producers, Amanda Lipitz, Henry Tisch and Jordan Roth, have put out ahead of tonight.
Esparza, a four-time Tony nominee, plays the astronomer whose telescope set him against the most powerful institution of his age. Danny Strong wrote the book, and Zoe Sarnak and Michael Weiner wrote the original score. Tony winner Michael Mayer directs, and Tony nominee David Neumann choreographs. Opening night is Sunday, December 6.
The story turns on what Galileo sees through his lens and his refusal to unsee it. His close friend Maffeo Barberini, played by Jeremy Kushnier, climbs to power and the friendship curdles into betrayal, while the plans Galileo has made for himself and for his brilliant daughter, Virginia Galilei, start to come apart. Tony and Grammy nominee Joy Woods plays Virginia.
Bradley Dean, Jordon Lee Garcia and Javier Muñoz complete the principal cast. Grammy winner Michael Park (Dear Evan Hansen, Stranger Things) plays Galileo Galilei at certain performances.
The ensemble features Gabrielle Elisabeth, Adam Halpin, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Rico Lebron, Michael J. Mainwaring, Terica Marie, Rob Marnell, Alexander Mendoza, Ramone Nelson, Matty Palmer, Chase Peacock, David Rowen, Madeleine Spacapan and Erica Sweany. The swings are Nicci Claspell, Ninako Donville, Cameron Johnson, Michał Kołaczkowski and Noah Plomgren.
Tony nominee Brian Usifer handles music supervision, orchestrations and additional arrangements. The design team is Rachel Hauck (sets), Susan Hilferty (costumes), Kevin Adams (lighting), John Shivers (sound) and Ethan Tobman (video and projections), with hair and wigs by Satellite Wigs, Inc. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger. Aurora Productions is production manager, and ShowTown Theatricals is general manager.
The musical was developed at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where it had its world premiere. Last month the Broadway production added Mae Jemison, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson to its producing team.
The Shubert Theatre is at 225 West 44th Street. Tickets are sold through Telecharge and by phone at 212-239-6200, and group bookings go through Broadway Inbound at 866-302-0995. More details are on the official website.
