As You Wish: The Beloved 1987 Film Heads to the Stage with a Broadway-Bound Musical from the Frozen Songwriters
As fans of the beloved movie know, "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." That delay for The Princess Bride musical finally has an end date. After years of anticipation and speculation, the iconic film will come to the stage in 2027.
According to Playbill, the highly anticipated stage adaptation will debut in Chicago. From July 19 to August 22, 2027, the new production will premiere at the James M. Nederlander Theatre.
Chicago is often a tryout city for new Broadway productions. Years ago, shows like Kinky Boots and Spamalot did trial runs in the Windy City before hitting the Great White Way.
Currently, few details have been revealed about the upcoming production. The creative team is in place, and it is packed with celebrated talent. Frozen's Academy Award winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have a key role, writing the music and lyrics. Tony Award winner Bob Martin and Tony-nominated Rick Elice take charge of the book.
That score and book combination should have heart and humor in spades.
That score and book combination should have heart and humor in spades. Songs like Frozen's "Love Is an Open Door" could be the blueprint to capture that balance of fun and sentiment.
Additionally, Tony Award winner Alex Timbers will direct, and Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler will choreograph. Hamilton's choreography and Moulin Rouge!'s direction could give a hint at the high-energy, visually compelling, and intricate staging that could be in store for this production.
As reported in the Chicago Tribune, lead producer Jeffrey Seller said, "I read The Princess Bride in college and thought it could be a musical ... So it's no exaggeration to say I have been wanting to do this show for 40 years."
Movie adaptations into musicals have seen a huge surge in popularity. From classic tales like Matilda to '80s favorites like Death Becomes Her, those familiar tales in a new setting bring people to the theater. During the recent Tony Awards, shows like The Lost Boys received critical praise for their performances as well as their staging.
The concept of The Princess Bride musical has been discussed for more than 10 years. While the iconic 1987 Rob Reiner film will always be a favorite, bringing the classic book to the stage has not been easy. The project has had many ups and downs through several iterations before reaching this pre-Broadway world premiere.
At present, a cast has not been announced. Since the film is beloved by many, the lead actors will have big shoes to fill. Andrew Rannells stepping into Cary Elwes' role makes sense. Only time will tell if star-studded names will take the lead or musical veterans get their moment to shine.
With a definitive 2027 opening date, The Princess Bride and musical fans are counting down the days on their calendars. For now, it is time to say again, "As you wish," theater fans.
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