Musical Adaptation of EMPIRE RECORDS - News & Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/7/21 at 11:57am

Empire Records: The Musical will receive a private industry reading helmed by Obie Award-winning director Trip Cullman(Choirboy) on December 7, 2021 at Roundabout Studios in NYC. The musical features original music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Zoe Sarnak, and a book by the film's screenwriter Carol Heikkinen (Center Stage),

The cast of the reading features Tony Award nominee Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill, Deaf End's Spring Awakening), Drew Gehling (Waitress, Jersey Boys), Drama Desk Award nominee Rebecca Naomi Jones(Oklahoma!, American Idiot), Lorna Courtney (Dear Evan Hansen, West Side Story), Hilary Fisher (Cyrano, Pamela's First Musical), Ilan Eshkenazi (Sing Street), newcomer Brody Grant, De'Lon Grant (Come From Away), Veronica Otim (Jagged Little Pill), J Daughtry (Ain't Too Proud, The Color Purple), Sam Poon (Sing Street, The King and I), Eric Weigand (Plaza Suite), Gabe Violett (Spring Awakening), and Ashley Perez Flanagan (Freestyle Love Supreme, ...The Great Comet of 1812). The reading has music direction by Grammy Award Nominee Bryan Perri, casting by Stephen Kopel & Carrie Gardner, and stage management by Narda E. Alcorn.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 12/7/21 at 12:04pm

Trip Cullman, RNJ, Kathryn Allison, Drew Gehling-- take my money now.

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 2:47am

Any insider reports on this?  I watched this film a crazy amount of times growing up, so have a soft spot for the source material. Wondering if they intermix original songs with period recorded works?

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 2:47am

Any insider reports on this?  I watched this film a crazy amount of times growing up, so have a soft spot for the source material. Wondering if they intermix original songs with period recorded works?

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 6:31am

I wasn't that crazy about the movie but I've been hoping for a Zoe Sarnak project to take off. Some great names in the cast for this reading. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 7:06am

This excites me. Happy to hear Heikkinen is doing the book but that score had better have that early/mid 90s feel or the fans are gonna riot. 

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 12/9/21 at 5:58pm

Amazing news!! Wouldn't Drew Gehling be busy with Almost Famous though? 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/9/21 at 6:02pm

Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "Amazing news!! Wouldn't Drew Gehling be busy with Almost Famous though?"

^ Same with music director Bryan Perri

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/9/21 at 6:02pm

Nope, this is just a reading. And he is not confirmed to be in Almost Famous anyways. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/10/21 at 6:18am

I wasn't a huge fan of the film...but can totally see this being musicalized.

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 12/11/21 at 12:30pm

Disappointed that none of our chatters have any “sources” who were at the reading. Would love to know how it fared - and who played Rex Manning! 😆

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 5:34pm

https://www.playbill.com/article/empire-records-musical-to-make-world-premiere-at-new-jerseys-mccarter

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 2:48pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "https://www.playbill.com/article/empire-records-musical-to-make-world-premiere-at-new-jerseys-mccarter"

https://www.theatermania.com/news/lorna-courtney-damon-daunno-to-lead-empire-records-the-musical-at-mccarter-theatre-center_1745993

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 4:07pm

I'm so happy for Damon Duanno, after being so underused in a small role in The Lonely Few!

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 4:53pm

Liam Pearce! Very nice.

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 9/7/24 at 5:52pm

This began previews! Would love thoughts if anyone makes it out to the McCarter in the coming weeks.