Midnight’s Children to Dawn at the Apollo Theatre

, a new stage adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s award-winning allegorical novel, will have its New York debut engagement at the Apollo Theatre beginning March 21.

Originally published in 1981, Midnight’s Children follows the story of the young boy Saleem, born at midnight on August 15, 1947 — the exact moment of Indian independence from Britain. He is swapped with another child at birth and his destiny becomes entwined with those of India and Pakistan.

The production will be directed by Tim Supple, whose previous work includes The Comedy of Errors, Tales from Ovid, and A Servant to Two Masters for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) as well as the stage version of another of Rushdie’s novles, Haroun and the Sea of Stories at London’s National Theatre. The creative team also includes Melly Still (designer and choreographer), John Leonard (sound and video designer), Bruno Poet (lighting designer) and Simon Reade (dramaturg). Starring as Saleem will be Zubin Varla, who has appeared in Romeo and Juliet, Roberto Zucco, and The Tempest for the RSC as well as the West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and Supple’s upcoming film adaptation of Twelfth Night.

The stage production — a collaboration between Columbia University, the University of Michigan and its affiliated orgnization the University Musical Society, and the RSC — will premiere at the Barbican Theatre in London on January 18 and will appear March 12-16 at the University of Michigan’s Power Center in Ann Arbor, Michiga, prior to its New York run.

Tickets are priced at $20 to 80 and can be purchased through TicketMaster by phoning 212-307-7171, through the website www.MidnightsChildrenNYC.com, or at the Apollo Theatre’s box office, 253 West 125th Street.