The making of Steven Spielberg‘s horror classic will be told on stage in Bruce, an upcoming Jaws musical that’s based on Carl Gottlieb’s behind-the-scenes book, The Jaws Log.
Today, it was announced that Bruce has found its Steven Spielberg. Tony-nominated leading man Jarrod Spector will star in the new musical at its world premiere at Seattle Rep’s Bagley Wright Theater. Bruce will begin previews on May 27 and run through June 26, with an opening night set for June 8.
Single tickets and digital access are on sale now online at SeattleRep.org. Tickets will be available for purchase through Seattle Rep’s Patron Services Office at 206-443-2224 beginning today at 12:00p.m. PT.
Jarrod Spector made his Broadway debut as Gavroche in the original production of Les Misérables. More recently, he has starred in the Broadway production of The Cher Show as Sonny Bono, was nominated for both a Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance as Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and played a record-breaking 1,500 performances as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway. His critically acclaimed solo concerts and duet performances with his wife Kelli Barrett can be seen all around the country. Jarrod grew up in Philadelphia, attended Princeton University, and trained at Atlantic Theater Company.
“After watching Jaws the first time, for years I was so terrified of the water I could barely step foot in a swimming pool, let alone the ocean!” said Jarrod Spector. “Now having joined the Bruce gang (and having read The Jaws Log, of course), I’ve learned that making the movie was every bit as harrowing as what the guys on the Orca endured. It’s a real honor to portray perhaps the foremost genius in all of filmmaking, and I’m so excited to work with Donna Feore and the whole Bruce team to help tell this story about the group of brilliant artists who stared down every obstacle imaginable to somehow emerge with this genre-defying masterpiece. I just hope Mr. Spielberg doesn’t mind that his singing voice sounds an awful lot like my own.”
The production also announced the full creative team. Bruce will feature music by Richard Oberacker, book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker (Bandstand), and will be directed and choreographed by Donna Feore (Stratford Festival). The musical will also feature scenic design by Jason Sherwood (Rent: Live), costume design by Tina McCartney (Tony Awards design team), lighting design by Jeff Croiter (Bandstand), sound design by Brian Hsieh (Jagged Little Pill), projection design by Shawn Duan (The Chinese Lady at the Public Theater), music direction by Lily Ling (Hamilton, “And Peggy” tour), and orchestration/music supervision by Greg Anthony Rassen (Bandstand).
Bruce tells the story of a virtually unknown 26-year-old Steven Spielberg in 1974 as he sets out to film an adaptation of a best-selling novel. While invading a sleepy fishing island off Cape Cod to shoot on the open ocean, he faced several challenges including weather, water, hostile locals, an exploding budget, endless delays, and a highly dysfunctional mechanical star named Bruce, to bring his vision to life in what proved to be one of the biggest success stories in film history.
Additional casting information will be available soon.
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