PURE COUNTRY - New Musical To Open On Broadway Spring 2009

Producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi are bringing a new country-flavored musical, Pure County, based on the 1992 movie of the same name, to Broadway in 2008-09.

A spring 2009 world premiere is expected at a Broadway theatre to be announced, the producers revealed April 10.

The musical tells the story of a burned-out country music star who quits the business and searches for what he left behind.

The book is co-written by Peter Masterson (who co-wrote and co-directed Broadway's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) and Rex McGee, the film's screenwriter. Masterson will also direct.

Music is by Grammy Award nominee Steve Dorff ("Every Which Way But Loose," Celine Dion's "Miracle," Kenny Rogers' "Through the Years"). Lyrics are by Grammy nominee John Bettis (George Strait's "Heartland" to Madonna's "Crazy for You").

Two of the film's songs ("Heartland" and "I Cross My Heart") will be in the otherwise new and original Broadway score. The score is billed as "eclectic" and "drawing on the sounds of New and Classic Country, as well as Broadway and Adult Contemporary."

In Pure Country, according to the producers, "Rusty is a country music superstar at the height of his career with all the high stakes pressures that come with it. When they start to take their toll and he walks out of an overblown concert tour, his search begins to find himself — and the love he left behind. Pure Country is about the price of fame and one man's journey home."

The creative team will include Tony-nominated scenic designer Derek McLane (The Pajama Game), three-time Tony-nominated costume designer Ann Roth (The House of Blue Leaves, Singin' in the Rain and The Odd Couple), Tony-winning lighting designer Kevin Adams (Spring Awakening, Passing Strange) and the Drama Desk Award-winning sound designers Acme Sound Partners (for La Bohéme, plus Spamalot, In the Heights).

Choreographer will be Seán Curran (James Joyce's The Dead and Lincoln Center's Cymbeline on Broadway). Music director will be Eugene Gwozdz.
PURE COUNTRY - New Musical To Open On Broadway Spring 2009

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Great googly moogly, they're digging deep for material now. I have a long-standing loathing of this film, spurred largely by a high school teacher who was obsessed with it and made us watch it in class (despite the fact that it had zero relevance to the subject matter).

The name of the musical is misspelled in Playbill's story. It's Pure Country, not Pure County.

I've never seen the movie. Ring of Fire? Lonestar Love? Or something new and healthy?

Updated On: 4/10/08 at 05:16 PM

The movie was "Pure Country," too. It was a dreadful bore, and George Strait's acting makes those 80s-era Buzz Aldrin sitcom guest appearances seem charismatic.

Updated On: 4/10/08 at 05:24 PM

*hugs Borstal*

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My friend and I went to the reading last year with Will Chase & Julia Murney playing the leads. And let me tell you, they wrote the most beautiful score and lyrics I had ever heard in awhile.

I'm so excited for this!!

Updated On: 4/10/08 at 06:00 PM

i think it's kind of messed up that they are doing this show during the same time 9 to 5 is hitting Broadway. i think it's going to count against them.

Oh, borstal darling -- and I thought it was bad enough that they played that "Cross My Heart" song at my prom.

Chewing tobaccy and the resulting juice is one of Calvin's least favorite things.

There are quite a few shows prepared for the 2008-2009 season...

There are plenty of rumored shows and shows that are interested in coming next season but these are currently the shows that I can think of that actually have scheduled openings and announced a theater with that opening.

[title of show]
Tale of Two Cities
Shrek
Billy Elliot
Pal Joey
Equus

I hope they come up with a better title as "Pure Country" doesn't sound like anything that will attract tourists. I never saw the film, but personally, if Broadway wants to go the "country" route, I think a stage production of Coal Miner's Daughter could be absolutely brilliant. Great story (huge character arc, humor, drama, pathos, and deeply rooted in the blue-collar history of American country music), great music (with the opportunity to add original songs as well as the Loretta Lynn catalogue and a Patsy Cline number or two), and talk about a juicy opportunity for a star vehicle!

Seriously, Coal Miner's Daughter needs to happen. Who do I call?

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Carlin Glynn was in the reading last May. She played Grandma Ivy Chandler who owns a local bar. That was my first time seeing her on stage and she was great in that role.

Julia Murney sang the song so beautifully in the reading and I really hope they bring her and the rest of the reading cast back to the Broadway production.