Elizabeth Swados's Runaways to Receive Concert Performance

The Public Theater's annual gala concert will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Elizabeth Swados's musical Runaways. The event will take place Monday, June 11, at the Delacorte Theater.

Runaways will be directed by Sam Pinkleton, with choreography by Ani Taj and creative advisement by Jeanine Tesori. This production had its premiere in June 2016 as part of New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series.

Examining the lives of children who run away from home and live on the streets, the work was inspired by interviews Swados conducted with real-life runaways. Premiering at the Public Theater on February 21, 1978, it moved to Broadway's Plymouth Theater that spring where it ran 274 performances. Swados, then 27 years old, was the show's composer, book writer, director, and choreographer. She was nominated for four 1978 Tony Awards for each of her contributions to the work, as well as Drama Desk Awards for her direction, music, and lyrics. Swados died at the age of 64 in January 2016.

Full casting for the Public concert, which will honor Tow Foundation founder Leonard Tow, will be announced.