'Mrs Doubtfire' Is Being Turned Into a Stage Musical

Hello, the latest 90s film to make the leap to the theatre.
Sarah Ward
September 01, 2018

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 best-selling 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.

Just when the stage musical version will be giving audiences hot flashes yet to be announced, the creative team of director Jerry Zaks, and writers John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick (book) plus Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick (music and lyrics) will take on the task of bringing the beloved flick to Broadway. Between them, 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!.

If the project sounds familiar, that's because it was originally mooted back in 2015, but with different folks behind the scenes. This time, however, the musical seems set to forge ahead — 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.

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 well as Empire Records.

Via Entertainment Weekly / Playbill.

Published on September 01, 2018 by Sarah Ward
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