Broadway-hopeful musical ‘Waterfall’ to run at Pasadena Playhouse

“Waterfall,” a new musical from writer Richard Maltby Jr. and Oscar-winning composer David Shire, will have its U.S. premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in June before transferring to Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in the fall of 2015, organizers announced Monday.

The musical, an epic romance set in Thailand and Japan during the ‘30s, has Broadway ambitions, with producers aiming for a New York bow in 2016.

Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre has served as an out-of-town launching pad for a number of high-profile, Broadway-bound shows, including “Catch Me If You Can,” “Hairspray” and Disney’s “Aladdin.”

“Waterfall,” directed by Tak Viravan, is scheduled to open at the Pasadena Playhouse on June 7.

A previous version of the musical was seen in Thailand under the title “Behind the Painting.” The story, about a young Thai student who falls in love with the American wife of a diplomat, is set against the political upheaval in Asia prior to World War II.

Maltby and Shire are reworking the musical for American audiences. The cast will include Thai celebrity Bie Sukrit Wisetkaew, who appeared in the musical when it was seen in Thailand. No other cast members were announced.

The musical is the latest work from Shire, who won an Oscar in 1980 for the movie “Norma Rae.” He also has received two Tony Award nominations for his scores for the musicals “Big” and “Baby.”

Shire has collaborated a number of times with the Tony-winning Maltby, whose theater credits include the musical revues “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Fosse.”

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT