BING! ‘Groundhog Day’ Musical Coming to Broadway
UPDATE: Producers have set April 17th, 2017 as the official opening night of the musical version of Groundhog Day. The show will run at the August Wilson Theatre.
A musical adaptation of Groundhog Day – the revered 1993 film dramedy starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell– will begin its Broadway run in early 2017. Previews for the show will commence January 23rd of that year, with an official opening planned for March 9th, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The musical’s creative team includes director Matthew Warchus, composer-lyricist Tim Minchin, choreographer Peter Darling and designer Rob Howell – all of whom worked together on a successful adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda, which has grossed over $117 million thus far in its Broadway run. Danny Rubin, co-writer of Groundhog Day‘s original screenplay, will write the book.
“Our version of Groundhog Day is going to be both instantly recognizable, and utterly different,” Minchin said in his 2014 announcement of the project. “The central conceit is perfectly suited to the theatre, in my opinion. In fact, I think many of its ideas could be enhanced by the stage. 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. It’s certainly not an easy job, and I’m truly honored – and genuinely excited – that Danny is letting me have a crack at it.”
Groundhog Day explores the surreal experience of burned-out Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors. While covering the annual Groundhog Day event in a small Pennsylvania town, he’s stranded in a blizzard and becomes locked in a time loop, eventually shifting his cynical attitude after befriending the local residents.
The Broadway musical will be produced by Whistle Pig Productions, Scott Rudin and Columbia Live Stage. Casting and theater information haven’t been announced.