ONCE Will Return to Minneapolis in Summer 2015

Once, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, returns to Minneapolis by popular demand for a limited engagement June 23-28, 2015, at Hennepin Theatre Trust's State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets for Once are on sale now to subscribers, groups and Trust Donors. Single tickets will be available at a later date. For more information, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.859.7469 (SHOW).

Once, which was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics' Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards, is currently running on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Once features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia) and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

Once is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful, but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, Once is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty and unforgettable in every way.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Once, was written and directed by John Carney and starred Hansard and Irglová, who also wrote the original music and lyrics. This acclaimed independent Irish film was made for $150,000. Shot in 17 days, it went on to gross $20 million worldwide, becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. Hansard and Irglová won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for "Falling Slowly," the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in April 2011 with Diane Paulus (Artistic Director) and Diane Borger (Producer). A developmental run of Once at New York Theatre Workshop (James C. Nicola and William Russo) began performances on November 15, 2011 and opened December 6. The production broke box office records and concluded a sold out engagement including a two week extension through January 15, 2012.

Once is produced by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Executive Producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop. For more information, visit www.oncemusical.com.

Tickets for Once are on sale now through subscription, to Trust Donors and to groups. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date to be announced. Ticket prices depend on performance time and seating preference. For additional information, visit the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave.), HennepinTheatreTrust.org, or call 1.800.859.7469 (SHOW). Groups of 10 or more should call 612.373.5665 or contact MinneapolisGroups@broadwayacrossamerica for information and reservations. Performance times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.