HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON musical coming to Broadway?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/11/22 at 4:23pm

https://variety.com/2022/legit/news/harold-and-the-purple-crayon-broadway-ajr-1235202119/

In the musical, Harold, once a baby in the books, is now a young adult facing challenges in everyday life — and realizing that he can no longer rely on his magical purple crayon.

“We adored ‘Harold and The Purple Crayon’ growing up, and we thought: ‘What if we saw Harold as a young adult, realizing that his problems are too profound to simply draw away?’” added AJR. “Vivek’s incredible musical work and his passion for this idea made him the perfect partner for the reimagining of the classic story.”

In addition to the “Harold and the Purple Crayon” news, TEG Plus also named Elie Landau as chief operating officer on Friday. With over 25 years of experience as a producer and manager, Landau’s recent credits on Broadway include the upcoming revival of “Funny Girl” starring Beanie Feldstein, Steve Martin’s “Meteor Shower” starring Amy Schumer and “You’re Welcome America” starring Will Ferrell.

Updated On: 3/11/22 at 04:23 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/11/22 at 4:40pm

I grew up on The Purple Crayon, my kids have well worn copies.  But a MUSICAL, and  a broadway one at that?  Even from the description, it doesn't even SOUND like Harold.  And with no writer attached, it could be more than 2 years before it sees the light of day.

I guess time will tell.   Maybe it will surprise me and be stunning. 

Updated On: 3/11/22 at 04:40 PM

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 3/11/22 at 6:48pm

I've been a casual fan of the AJR brothers for years and saw/met them a few times back in the day as my friend and her mom were huge fans of them .  Saw them play for 30 people once in Philly in circa 2014 where more people were there for the opening band than them . Crazy how popular they are now . Their latest album could be a Broadway show in itself and they've mentioned in interviews on how they are huge theater geeks (They are New Yorkers )

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/11/22 at 7:36pm

It must be hard to be Harold: to know you peaked literally as a baby, and it’s been downhill ever since.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/11/22 at 7:45pm

First, a movie with Zach Levi and Zoey Deschanel set for 2023 and now a Broadway musical?

Did the book's publisher have a licensing deadline or something?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/23/22 at 9:10am

The in-development stage adaptation of Crockett Johnson's 1955 children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon has found its book writers in playwright Dan Rothenberg and Robert Quillen Camp. The pair joins a writing team that includes Jack and Ryan Met of indie pop rock band AJR, who are handling the score.

Both Rothenberg and Camp are alum of Philadelphia's Pig Iron Theatre Company, where Rothenberg serves as co-founder and co-artistic director and at which Camp has collaborated on such works as Chekhov Lizardbrain, Pay Up, and Franklin's Secret City. Camp also co-wrote All Hands for Hoi Polloi Theater Company with Great Comet composer Dave Malloy; and White on White, which recently premiered Off-Broadway at JACK.

The Broadway-aimed project, adapted from Johnson's classic book about a young boy who uses a magical crayon to create the world around him, transforms from the book's four-year-old hero into a young adult facing real-life problems, many of which may fall outside the abilities of that magical crayon. The work is being led by Jagged Little Pill producer Vivek J. Tiwary's Tiwary Entertainment Group (TEG+).

https://www.playbill.com/article/harold-and-the-purple-crayon-stage-musical-finds-its-book-writers