The anticipated stage musical adaptation of King Kong—written by Jack Thorne with a score by Marius de Vries and songs by Eddie Perfect—will officially open November 8, 2018, at the Broadway Theatre. Previews are set to begin October 5.
The production, which features a one-ton, six-meter-tall silverback gorilla puppet as its star, arrives on Broadway following a 2013 Melbourne world premiere.
An all-new creative team has been assembled to bring King Kong to Broadway, including Olivier Award-winning book writer Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Let the Right One In), Olivier Award-winning director-choreographer Drew McOnie (Strictly Ballroom, In the Heights), and Australian songwriter Perfect, who is also adapting Beetlejuice for Broadway. Perfect joins the show’s original composer and arranger de Vries (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet).
The creative team will also include Peter England (set design), Sonny Tilders (creature design), Roger Kirk (costume design), Peter Mumford (lighting design), Peter Hylenski (sound design), and Gavin Robins (aerial and King Kong movement director).
Producer CarmenPavlovic said in a statement, “I am delighted with the creative team that has been assembled for the Broadway production of King Kong. I believe that Drew McOnie and Jack Thorne will bring an exciting new dimension to Kong’s story, propelled by the score and songs written by Marius de Vries and Eddie Perfect along with the most magnificent leading man to ever appear in a Broadway show!”
Producer RoyFurman added, “KingKong is a quintessential New York story, known and beloved around the world. Our team is creating a uniquely theatrical experience that we hope will enthrall audiences, while delighting them with its heartfelt story telling.”
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
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^there was a new King Kong movie that came out this year. So it’s not like it’s not relevant completely. I think it did pretty well at the BO too.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
I saw this in Melbourne. I know that basically everything has likely changed except the puppet so that’s what I’ll comment on - if I hadn’t already seen a show with large puppets (War Horse) it would seem more novel. Zzzzzz.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I actually really excited. I imagine it will be quite the visual spectacle, which is fine by me. Curious about the score, but I can't imagine this being any worse than Spider-Man, especially if they have anyone at the helm with any business sense.
This news is hardly surprising, considering how super relevant and super trendy King Kong has been in popular culture recently.
You mean like how super relevant and super trendy Alexander Hamilton was before the musical opened? Or Spring Awakening? Or Phantom of the Opera? Or Les Miserables? Please.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
I'll say this: mainstream Broadway is banking HARD on Eddie Perfect being the Next Big Thing, throwing him two hugely-anticipated adaptation scores before he's even had one big hit, let alone any name recognition, stateside.
"This news is hardly surprising, considering how super relevant and super trendy King Kong has been in popular culture recently."
I'm just loving this attempt at sarcasm, given that this year, a new King Kong movie came out, and was critically acclaimed, and it made 600 million bucks.
So this is actually happening, huh? I can already see the set design and the puppet (and probably the lighting) getting praised. I can also see that the show will probably flop too. Hopefully, it doesn't.