‘The O.C.’ Musical in Development
Eight years after the popular teen drama ended its TV run, The O.C. is being revived for a musical version. Directed/adapted by Jordan Ross and produced by Lindsey Rosin, the one-night-only event will take place August 30th in Los Angeles, Variety reports.
Casting information has not been announced, but the roles of Luke Ward and Kirsten Cohen have reportedly been secured. Adding a meta feel, O.C. creator Josh Schwartz will also be characterized for the production, albeit with a non-singing role.
The O.C. debuted on Fox in 2003 and became a ratings smash with its melodramatic focus on a group of upper-class teenagers in Orange County, California. The show, which lasted four seasons, featured an ensemble cast led by Peter Gallagher, Kelly Rowan and Benjamin McKenzie, and helped launch the careers of actors Adam Brody and Mischa Barton.
It’s been a good year for California pop-culture nostalgia: Amy Heckerling, writer-director of iconic Nineties film comedy Clueless, confirmed plans for a Broadway adaptation last week. “I’ve written what they call ‘the book,’ and it’s a jukebox musical,” Heckerling told Entertainment Tonight, adding that the process is far from complete. “Everything goes so slowly,” she said. “I thought movies took a long time.” Rumors of the Clueless production had been swirling since last summer, when the filmmaker told reporters that singer Katy Perry had expressed interest in playing lead valley girl, Cher.
A number of high-profile musical adaptations have been announced over the past year, including Cheers, School of Rock, Groundhog Day and True Blood.