Tarzan replaces lottery program with student rush

By Amy Somensky Apr 5, 2006, 15:07 GMT

A shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human - Jane Porter, a curious young explorer - both their worlds are transformed forever. ...more

New York: Disney Theatrical Productions has decided to replace the lottery ticket program for Tarzan already in use at the Richard Rodgers Theater with a student rush program.

Beginning with the April 6th performance, based on availability, $20 student rush tickets will be sold two hours before each performance of Tarzan at the Richard Rodgers Theater. There will be a limit of 2 tickets per person and the purchaser must present a valid studnt ID. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis and are available to students up to and including the undergraduate level.

Disney's Thomas Schumacher said in a statement, "After witnessing the success of the Lottery Program these past two weeks, I realized that I want to make affordable tickets to Tarzan available to as many students as possible. As someone who grew up wanting to see as much live theatre as I could, it is such a pleasure to be able to make these reduced price tickets available to students for Tarzan."

Starring in the musical will be Josh Strickland as Tarzan, Jenn Gambatese as Jane, Merle Dandridge as Kala, Shuler Hensley as Kerchak, Chester Gregory II as Terk, Timothy Jerome as Professor Porter, Donnie Keshawarz as Clayton, and Daniel Manche and Alex Rutherford as Young Tarzan. 

Tarzan is now in previews at the Richard Rodgers Theater. Opening night is set for May 10th.

The musical, based on the 1999 film, will feature direction and designs by Bob Crowley, book by Henry Hwang adapted from the screenplay by Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, and Noni White and based on the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

In the musical, a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human - Jane Porter, a curious young explorer - both their worlds are transformed forever.

Choreography will be done by Meryl Tankard, flying/climbing design by Pichon Baldinu, lighting design by Natasha Katz, scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, and sound design by John Shivers. Phil Collins, who wrote the score for the film, has written several additional songs for the musical.

For Tarzan tickets visit www.disneyonbroadway.com.