NEW YORK (Back Stage East) - Patrick Swayze and Melissa
Gilbert will star as Pa and Ma in an April workshop presentation
of "Prairie," a musical version of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little
House on the Prairie."

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Gilbert played middle daughter Laura Ingalls in the long-running NBC
television series from 1974-83. She was recently president of
the Screen Actors Guild.

Beth Henley, who won a Pulitzer for "Crimes of the Heart," wrote the
book, Donna DiNovelli wrote the lyrics and Oscar winner Rachel Portman
("Emma") composed the music. Francesca Zambello will direct.

The workshop will run April 16-17 in New York and be closed to the
public. The producers are hoping for a national tour in spring 2008
before it lands in New York.