The Kennedy Center Welcomes WAR HORSE Tonight, 10/23

The Kennedy Center presents The National Theatre of Great Britain and Bob Boyett production of War Horse from tonight, October 23 to November 11, 2012 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Press night will take place on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play and based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford, the tour of War Horse is directed by Bijan Sheibanibased on the original Tony Award-winning direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa. Michael Morpurgo’s novel, War Horse, is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s feature film of the same name, which earned six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.

War Horse is the story of young Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving on 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. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

The cast includes Michael Stewart Allen, Danny Beiruti, Brooks Brantly, Laurabeth Breya, Brian Robert Burns, Jason Alan Carvell, Todd Cerveris, Michael Wyatt Cox, Grayson DeJesus, Catherine Gowl, Aaron Haskell, Mike Heslin, Jon Hoche, Mat Hostetler,Chad Jennings, Brian Keane, Nathan Koci, Jessica Krueger, Nick LaMedica, Rob Laqui, Megan Loomis, Jason Loughlin, Christopher Mai, Gregory Manley, Andrew May, John Milosich, Alex Morf, Patrick Osteen, Angela Reed, Jon Riddleberger, Lavita Shaurice, Derek Stratton, Andrew Veenstra, and Danny Yoerges.