A SONG OF SONGS

The European premiere of A Song of Songs, the award winning and critically acclaimed musical theatre experience, opens at the Park Theatre, Thursday 9 May to Saturday 15 June 2024. (Press night: Tuesday 14 May 2024, 7pm).

In a new adaptation, the cast of twelve performers and musicians bring this epic, poetical musical theatre to vibrant life, led by the prolific Arab-Israeli actress, writer and composer Ofra Daniel, making her UK stage debut. Ofra Daniel is joined by Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Pacific Overtures - Menier, Death Note - Palladium, Heathers The Musical - Theatre Royal Haymarket); Matthew Woodyatt (The Fair Maid of the West - RSC, Moving Stories - Globe, One Man Two Guvnors - Theatre Royal Haymarket + UK tour); Laurel Dougall (Singin’ in the Rain - Adelphi, Street Scene - Opera de Monte Carlo); Rebecca Giacopazzi (Mamma Mia!, A Chorus Line, Ghost); graduate Ashleigh Schuman (young Sally in Follies – TRCSofS&D); Shira Kravitz (The Band’s Visit – Donmar). Alongside, there are five on stage musicians including world-renowned Ramon Ruiz (Gypsy Kings) on lead flamenco guitar; percussionist Antonio Romero; upright bass Ashley Blasse, clarinet Daniel Gouly (music captain) and violin Amy Price.

Winner of The San Francisco Critics Award for best new production, A Song of Songs fuses a world music score from Middle Eastern harmonics, the sounds of modern European Flamenco and Klezmer bringing a unique fusion of extraordinary musicality, with dazzling choreography - the timeless story of awakening passion and love-induced madness.

A Song of Songs tells the evocative story of a young wife, Tirzah (Daniel), in a loveless marriage (The Husband - Woodyatt). Tirzah discovers she has an unseen admirer (The Lover - Valdes) and enters into a mysterious and fervent love affair; finding herself in what is a seductive, sensuous, soul-searing journey of sexual and climatic personal empowerment…. or is it love sick madness?

Ofra Daniel says: “I want to bring a different musical theatrical experience to audiences. I was inspired by some of the most beautiful poetry ever written in the epic A Song Of Songs. Poetry and music are the highest forms of expression: stirring the senses, mind and body. A Song Of Songs brings the timeless story of love sickness into an explosion of pulsating, rhythmical music and physical live theatre.”

A Song of Songs creative team features a multicultural collection of award-winning artists including: prolific award winning Actress, Writer, Composer and Director Ofra Daniel (Behind Closed Doors, Edges, What if?, Kassit - The Musical - San Francisco); Associate Director is Columbian Actress and Director Victoria Góngora (Maria, Vagina Monologues, acting coach Museo Rayo, University Del Vale); Original Direction and Dramaturgy by Christopher Renshaw (We Will Rock You, Zorro: The Musical, Taboo); Music by Ofra Daniel, in collaboration with Lior Ben Hur, Ali Paris, and Yuval Ron. Lyrics inspired by A Song Of Songs. Musical Supervisor Thomas F. Arnold. Choreographer and Assistant Director Billy Mitchell (Cats, Matilda - Teatro Sistina, Rome; Associate Choreographer Cinderella, School Of Rock - Gillian Lynne Theatre; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - Palladium & Australia); Lighting Designer Aaron J Dootson (OffWestEnd Award best lighting design The Night Larry Cramer Kissed Me); Sound Designer Andrew Johnson (Broadway World Award for Best Sound Design The Play That Goes Wrong – Broadway; Grand Hotel, Mack & Mabel and Titanic - UK); Set Design by visual artist Marina Paz; Production Manager James Anderton (Little Women - Park Theatre); Casting Director Jane Deitch (Tick Tick Boom, The Addams Family). Producer for A Song of Songs is John Gertz (Zorro: The Musical) and General Manager is Aria Entertainment’s Katy Lipson and Ollie Hancock (Rags – Park Theatre).

A Song of Songs – a unique musical and theatrical experience.

The 2017 San Francisco premiere of A Song of Songs: “Jubilant and mournful, it’s a stirring world-music mix” - San Jose Mercury News / “This story seems ordained by gods!” - San Francisco Chronicle / “Daniel is positively hypnotic…The Israeli-born performer almost dares you to look away” - DC Theatre Scene.

FULL LISTINGS INFORMATION John Gertz in association with Love Sick Development LLC and Park Theatre present the European Premiere of A SONG OF SONGS at from THURSDAY 9 MAY–SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024 A Song of Songs fuses a world music score from Middle Eastern harmonics, modern European Flamenco and Klezmer bringing a unique fusion of extraordinary musicality, with dazzling choreography. The timeless story of awakening passion and love-induced madness. NEW photography and logos: HERE PARK200, PARK THEATRE 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP BOX OFFICE: parktheatre.co.uk/ - 0207 870 6876 Dates Thursday 9 May 2024 – Saturday 15 June 2024. Previews: Thursday 9 May, Saturday 11 May, Monday 13 May. Plays: Thursday 9 May - Saturday 15 June Press night: Tuesday 14 May 19.00

Performances Monday – Saturday Evening 19.30 Thursday & Saturday Matinees 15.00

Prices Previews: £15 - £29.50 Standard: £22.50 - £47.50 65+: £20 - £26.50 (Monday evening and Thursday matinee) Access: £17.50 Park Up Members (16-26 years) - Tickets £10 (available on Band C seats for all perfs) Group bookings - Buy 10 tickets, get the 11th ticket free. Discount automatically applies in basket. Booking Fees - Telephone booking fee £3 per transaction applies. All ticket prices inclusive of a £1.50 building levy. Match Day - Finsbury Park station and the surrounding area can get very busy when Arsenal play at home. These days are highlighted on the schedule.

For further information, interviews, photography, tickets please contact DGPR Deborah Goodman: publicity@dgpr.co.uk / +44 (0)208 959 9980 / +44 (0)7958 611218

See below: Notes to Editors…….

Ofra Daniel – Composer, Writer, Director and Performer Ofra is a multi-disciplinary artist and creator. Originally from Israel, she and has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 15 years. She trained as an actress and director at Tel-Aviv University. In 2010 she founded and became artistic director of a theatre company in California’s Silicon Valley. Daniel has written several plays and musicals including, Behind Closed Doors, Edges, What If?, and Kassit-The Musical, all of which were performed by her theatre company. As a creative artist, Daniel explores the creative process through multiple media including, dance, drama, music, and painting. She wrote both the book and original lyrics (while translating the biblical lyrics) of A Song of Songs while also composing the music. For her work on A Song of Songs (previously titled Love Sick), she was awarded the Will Glickman's critic prize for the best production in the San Francisco Bay Area.

John Gertz – Producer John is the President and CEO of Zorro Productions, Inc. He has produced four Zorro motion pictures, including The Mask of Zorro (1998) and its sequel, The Legend of Zorro, with Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. During his tenure, 14 different TV versions of Zorro have been produced, as well as more than 75 Zorro stage productions. In 2005, together with world-renowned author, Isabel Allende, he released the best-selling novel about the genesis of Zorro. He teamed up with Quentin Tarantino to create the graphic novel, Django/Zorro, currently being developed into a motion picture by Sony. Gertz is the worldwide lead producer of Zorro: The Musical, with a score by the Gipsy Kings, which premiered on London’s West End in 2008 and has since been produced throughout the world.
Gertz is a leader in the field of SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, having served three terms as chairman of the board of the SETI institute; and he has published a number of theoretic papers in peer reviewed astronomical journals. He is also an amateur astronomer; classical pianist, beekeeper, mycologist, and organic vegetable gardener.

Katy Lipson (Aria Entertainment) – General Manager Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by awad-winning Producer Katy Lipson. She has produced over 80 productions in the West End, Off-West End and across the UK. Recent credits include: Cruise, Olivier nomination for Best New Play and the critically acclaimed West End transfer of The Last Five Years. Katy is also a producer of several major UK Tours including: The Osmonds, The Cher Show, Hair, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and The Addams Family. Several of these productions have since been produced internationally including: The Addams Family, Hair and the upcoming runs of The Last Five years, Zorro and Broken Wings around the world.

Park Theatre Park Theatre presents exceptional theatre in the heart of Finsbury Park, boasting two world-class performance spaces: Park200 for predominantly larger scale productions by established talent, and Park90, a flexible studio space, for emerging artists. In ten years, it has enjoyed 9 West End transfers (including Rose starring Maureen Lipman, The Boys in the Band starring Mark Gatiss, Pressure starring David Haig and The Life I Lead starring Miles Jupp), two National Theatre transfers, 15 UK tours, six Olivier Award nominations, has won multiple Offie Awards and won a Theatre of the Year award from The Stage.

For further information, interviews, photography, tickets please contact DGPR Deborah Goodman: publicity@dgpr.co.uk / +44 (0)208 959 9980 / +44 (0)7958 611218