A new kind of star is coming to town
Because of Winn-Dixie
A new musical based on the Newbery Medal-winning and best-selling children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie
An enchanting show for the whole family, Because of Winn-Dixie has had record-breaking runs in Arkansas, Delaware, Alabama and Connecticut.
A warm and enthralling story about the intimate friendship between a young girl and her dog, and how the smallest act of kindness can ripple into a celebration of community.
When 10-year-old Opal moves to a trailer park in Florida with her preacher father, she takes in a stray dog, Winn-Dixie, who helps her make friends and settle into her new home.
What People Are Saying
“Although the four-legged star will steal your heart in a matter of seconds, the play is about so much more...much, much more.”
“...a compelling, richly textured world-premiere musical full of great songs and enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.”
“hard to resist the feel-good charm bubbling off the stage.”
“One could be forgiven for having initial doubts that Kate Dicamillo’s Newberry Award-winning book could be made into a successful musical, let alone a moving and beautiful one headed toward Broadway – doubts arising not just from it requiring a dog to be a lead performer.
But largely because of the book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, who co-wrote the Broadway-hit “Legally Blonde,” and the music of Duncan Sheik, the Grammy- winning musician who wrote the score for the Tony-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” “Because of Winn Dixie” is a triumph.
It is a delight not because it features an incredibly cute dog or a superb cast (although it features both), but because it manages to take a story that could have been easily adapted into something puerile and simplistic and instead gives it great depth and feeling.”
“heartwarming and rewarding”
“...enthralling new musical”
“a perfect fit for the whole family”
“...a doggone good show...cute, but also complex.”
“An emotional and captivating musical that is as well-suited for adults as it is for kids...Because of Winn Dixie’s wide appeal is thanks to its music as much as its story.”
“But the treadmill scene became the most resonant image of a promising, unexpectedly deep and moving musical starring a dog who did everything short of sing and dance.””
“Based on the well-known novel and film of the same name, this new musical has been created by Nell Benjamin (book and lyrics) and Duncan Sheik (music) and it’s their best work to date. The show has got heart, the music is richly varied. It’s a show that works for all ages.”
“I saw Ethel Merman once, Mary Martin twice and Barbra Streisand thrice (for I saw FUNNY GIRL both in its Boston tryout and on Broadway). Gwen Verdon, Phil Silvers, Beatrice Lillie, Robert Preston, Chita Rivera, Zero Mostel, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes – yup, caught them all in one vehicle or another. Segueing to later years, I’ve seen every Broadway show that has starred Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and Sutton Foster.
So why am I waving my theatrical credentials at you? I’m establishing that when I saw those superstars, they didn’t get the tumultuous entrance applause — and exit applause — as quickly as Bowdie did in BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE at The Goodspeed Opera House.”
Creative Team
Nell Benjamin,
Olivier Award Winner
LIBRETTIST/LYRICIST
Nell was recently nominated for a Tony Award for her lyrics in the new Broadway musical Mean Girls. She is also currently working on the upcoming Broadway musicals Half Time and Dave. Nell co-wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway and West End smash hit musical Legally Blonde.
Theatre credits include Legally Blonde (Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award winner), The Explorers Club (Outer Critics Circle winner), Pirates!, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Cam Jansen (Drama Desk nominee), I Want My Hat Back, How I Became A Pirate, The Mice and Life of the Party.
Duncan Sheik,
Tony Award Winner
COMPOSER
Duncan is a Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter who won two Tony Awards for the ground breaking hit musical Spring Awakening.
Theatre credits include Spring Awakening (Tony Award winner, Grammy Award winner), American Psycho, Whisper House, Alice by Heart, The Secret Life of Bees, Nero: Another Golden Rome (currently in development), The Nightingale (currently in development), Noir (currently in development). Recorded works include; American Psycho: Original London Cast Recording, Legerdemain, Covers 80s, Whisper House, Spring Awakening: Original Broadway Cast Recording, White Limousine, Daylight, Phantom Moon, Humming, Duncan Sheik (Grammy Award nominee, RIAA Certified Gold).
John Rando,
Tony Award Winner
DIRECTOR
John is an acclaimed Tony Award winning director who has a track record of great commercial successes like Urinetown and A Christmas Story.
Broadway credits include On The Town (Tony Award nominee), Penn & Teller on Broadway, A Christmas Story, The Wedding Singer, Urinetown (Tony Award winner, Outer Critics Circle Award winner), A Thousand Clowns and Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party. His recent Off-Broadway credits include Lives of the Saints, The Heir Apparent (2014 SDCF Calloway Award for Direction), All in the Timing (Obie Award winner) and The Toxic Avenger, among many others. Recent Regional Credits include Pirates of Penzance and Big Sky. He directed the Encores! Productions of Annie Get Your Gun, Little Me, It’s a Bird... It’s a Plane... It’s Superman, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, On the Town, Damn Yankee, Face the Music, Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi, The Pajama Game and Of Thee I Sing. He also directed the staged performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel at the New York Philharmonic.
Bill Berloni,
Tony Award Honoree
ANIMAL DIRECTOR
Bill has trained animals for hundreds of productions on and off Broadway, and for regional theatre, tours, television and movies.
Broadway credits include The Crucible, The Audience, Living on Love, Bullets Over Broadway, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Annie (original production and all revivals), A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Camelot, Frankenstein, The First, Alice in Wonderland, Oliver!, Anything Goes, Nick and Nora, The Wiz (20th anniversary revival and City Center 2009), The Wizard of Oz, Dinner at Eight, Double Feature (New York City Ballet), The Woman in White, Awake and Sing, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
Featuring Bowdie as Winn-Dixie
Bill Berloni found Bowdie in 2014 when his family could no longer keep this smart, energetic dog. He made his acting debut when he was cast as the first dog to ever play Nana in Peter Pan Live on NBC. He began training to be Winn-Dixie in the Delaware Theatre Company production of Because of Winn-Dixie in the spring of 2015.
After performing in Delaware, Bowdie was cast in a music video and a Rachel Ray commercial. Bowdie played “Grandpa” in an episode of the new HBO series High Maintenance, receiving glowing reviews. He also plays the character “Schnoodle” in Elmo’s World of Sesame Street. He recently filmed a movie with Julianne Moore.
Classic Children’s Book
Additionally selected or nominated for over 25 individual state reading awards, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award.
“Lyrical, moving, and enchanting... A well-crafted tale of community and fellowship, of sweetness, sorrow and hope. And it’s funny, too. A real gem.”
“An exquisitely crafted first novel. This bittersweet tale of contemporary life in a small Southern town will hold readers rapt.”