The 'Mrs Doubtfire' Stage Musical Is Finally Happening (And It'll Hit Broadway in 2020)

Say "helloooo" to the latest 90s film to make the leap to the theatre.
Sarah Ward
October 19, 2019

Another of your childhood favourites is making the leap from movie to stage musical — this time, the Robin Williams-starring Mrs Doubtfire.

The theatre production will once again follow the plight of a divorced dad and struggling actor who's desperate to see his kids, and so dresses up as a kindly English nanny in order to spend time with them. Originally based on Anne Fine's bestselling novel Alias Madame Doubtfire, the 1993 film won two Golden Globes — for best musical or comedy, and for best actor in a musical or comedy for Williams — as well as an Oscar for best makeup.

If the stage musical version sounds familiar, that's because it was originally mooted back in 2015. Then, last year, a different team hopped onboard, revived the project and announced that it was actually going to happen — unlike the film sequel that was planned in the early 00s, but didn't ever come to fruition. (And no, Arrested Development's homage, aka Tobias Funke's Mrs Featherbottom, doesn't really count.)

Set to premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre this year, the Mrs Doubtfire musical will then give Broadway hot flashes from March 9, 2020, ahead of its proper New York launch on April 5. Both productions will star Rob McClure, who nabbed a Tony nomination in 2013 for Chaplin, and is currently treading Broadway's boards in another movie-to-theatre adaptation: Beetlejuice.

If you need a refresher on just what McClure will get up to when Mrs Doubtfire hits the stage, check out the original film trailer below:

Behind the scenes, the musical's creative team includes director Jerry Zaks, and writers John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick (book) plus Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick (music and lyrics) – all taking on the task of bringing the beloved flick to the stage. Between them all, they boast an impressive history. Zaks has won four Tonys, including for the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, and also has Little Shop of Horrors, Le Cage aux Folles, A Bronx Tale, Sister Act and Hello, Dolly! on his resume. As for the writing team, they're behind nine-time Tony nominee Something Rotten!.

Planning to visit New York next year? Pre-sale tickets are currently available for the Broadway season, with regular sales starting on November 1.

If it wasn't evident before this news, then it is now — the combination of  nostalgically remembering  enjoyable flicks from years gone by and adding songs to the mix seems to be a licence to print money. In recent years, everything from Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bring It On and Mean Girls has made the leap to the stage, plus The Bodyguard, Amelie, Waitress, Muriel's Wedding and Moulin Rouge!. A stage version of The Devil Wears Prada is also in the works, as are theatre adaptations of Empire Records, The Notebook, The Princess Bride, Magic Mike and Aussie classic Starstruck.

Via Playbill.

Published on October 19, 2019 by Sarah Ward
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