Groundhog Day (musical)

Groundhog Day
Music Tim Minchin
Lyrics Tim Minchin
Book Danny Rubin
Basis 1993 film Groundhog Day
Premiere 16 August 2016 (2016-08-16) – The Old Vic

Groundhog Day is an upcoming musical comedy with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and a book by Danny Rubin. Based on the 1993 film of the same name, the musical is scheduled to receive its world premiere at The Old Vic in London in 2016, before transferring to Broadway in 2017. The role of Phil will be played by Andy Karl.

Background

The musical is based on the 1993 film Groundhog Day.[1] The film itself was produced on a budget of $14.6 million, earning over $70 million in domestic box office receipts.[2] In 2006 it was added to the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[3] It was voted at number 8 in the top ten greatest films in the fantasy genre by The American Film Institute.[4] The plot centred on Phil Connors, an arrogant Pittsburgh TV weatherman[5] who, during an assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania,[6] finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again.[7]

In August 2003, Stephen Sondheim, when asked what his next project might be, said that he was interested in the idea of a musical adaption of Groundhog Day.[8] However, in a 2008 live chat, he said that "to make a musical of Groundhog Day would be to gild the lily. It cannot be improved."[9] In 2009, during an interview with MTV News, Harold Ramis revealed that Danny Rubin was working on the book for a musical version of the film.[10] In January 2014, it was revealed that lyricist Tim Minchin and director Matthew Warchus had teamed up with Rubin.[11] A workshop was held in London on 12 July, and Minchin performed a song from the show "Seeing You" during a concert in Hyde Park.[12]

On 2 April 2015, the musical was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would receive its Broadway premiere in March 2017.[13] It was later announced the musical would make its world premiere during 2016[14] at The Old Vic theatre in London,[15] as part of director Matthew Warchus' debut season as artistic director of the theatre.[16]

The musical has a book by Danny Rubin, based on his and Harold Ramis's original screenplay,[17] and is directed by Matthew Warchus,[18] with choreography by Peter Darling[19] and design by Rob Howell.[20] The show features an original score and lyrics by Australian comedian and lyricist Tim Minchin.[21] The production reunites most of the creative team behind the 2010 musical Matilda.[22]

Speaking about the musical, director Warchus said that it's "a show full of intellect, integrity and wit, insight, humor—and of course romance."[23] Minchin, who wrote the music and lyrics for the adaption, added, "Our version of Groundhog Day is going to be both instantly recognisable, and utterly different" and that "The central conceit is perfectly suited to the theatre... it has the potential to be complex, dark, visually fascinating, and thematically rich, whilst still being a joyous romantic comedy with cool tunes and lots of gags."[24]

Productions

The show's premiere production is scheduled to begin previews at the The Old Vic in London, on 11 July 2016, with its official opening night coming on 16 August, booking for a limited period until 17 September 2016.[25] The musical is scheduled to transfer to Broadway, opening on 9 March 2017, following previews from 23 January 2017.[26] In January 2016, it was announced that Andy Karl would play the lead role of Phil.[27] Tickets are scheduled to go on general sale on 12 April 2016, with priority booking from 10 March.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Groundhog Day musical premieres in Warchus's first Old Vic season". whatsonstage.com. What's On Stage. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Groundhog Day". the-numbers.com. The Numbers. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Films Added to National Film Registry for 2006" (Press release). Library of Congress. 27 December 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Groundhog Day at Belfast City Hall". belfastfilmfestival.org. Belfast Film Festival. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "A Groundhog Day musical is on the way". metro.co.uk. The Metro. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "'Groundhog Day' musical to open March 2017". usatoday.com (USA Today). 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Groundhog Day musical to have world premiere at London's Old Vic". digitalspy.co.uk. Digital Spy. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Sondheim Talks About Bounce; Revisions in Works". playbill.com. Playbill. 26 August 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Roundabout Live Chat". Roundabout Theatre. 5 May 2008. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "'Groundhog Day' Musical In The Works, Says Harold Ramis". moviesblog.mtv.com. MTV News. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Matilda's Tim Minchin Working on "Groundhog Day" Musical". playbill.com. Playbill. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tim Minchin's Groundhog Day Musical Gets Off the Ground; Watch Song Performed in London (Video)". playbill.com. Playbill. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Tim Minchin's Groundhog Day Musical Sets Broadway Dates; Watch Song Performed in London (Video)". playbill.com. Playbill. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Warchus Announces First Season at Old Vic, Including Pre-Broadway Groundhog Day". playbill.com. Playbill. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Clark, Nick (20 April 2015). "Groundhog Day musical to premiere at Old Vic from Matilda theatre director". independent.co.uk (London: The Independent). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "'Groundhog Day' musical to premiere at London's Old Vic". dailymail.co.uk (Daily Mail). 21 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2 April 2015). "It'll Be 'Groundhog Day' on Broadway for 'Matilda' Team". artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com (New York Times). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Nothing will ever be the same again: now it's Groundhog Day the musical". thetimes.co.uk. The Times. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "Tim Minchin's Groundhog Day musical confirmed for 2017". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Hawksley, Rupert (3 April 2015). "Encore! Groundhog Day to open on Broadway". telegraph.co.uk (London: The Telegraph). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "Tim Minchin Writing 'Groundhog Day' Stage Musical". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Groundhog Day musical: Tim Minchin to write lyrics with Matilda collaborators also attached". independent.co.uk (London: The Independent). 6 April 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "'Groundhog Day' Musical to Premiere at London's Old Vic". nytimes.com (New York Times). 20 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Tim Minchin to bring Groundhog Day to stage". bbc.co.uk/news (BBC News). 14 January 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Groundhog Day Announces Dates for World-Premiere Run at London's Old Vic". playbill.com. Playbill. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  26. ↑ Cox, Gordon (2 April 2015). "‘Groundhog Day’ Musical Hits Broadway in 2017". variety.com/ (Variety). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "Andy Karl Nabs Bill Murray Role in Broadway-Bound Groundhog Day Musical". playbill.com. Playbill. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  28. ↑ "GROUNDHOG DAY Musical Will Begin This July in London; Priority Ticket Sale Begins Today!". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
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