Working Girl/Cyndi Lauper

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 12:23pm

Selena Gomez is in final talks to star in a remake of the film Working Girl. I'm assuming this means the Cyndi Lauper musical is dead. It was supposed to have a workshop within the past year, but I don't remember hearing anything about it happening.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 1:42pm

Not dead yet. Interesting choice for a book writer.......

Theresa Rebeck Joins Broadway-Aimed Musical

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 1:55pm

HenryTDobson said: "Not dead yet. Interesting choice for a book writer.......

Theresa Rebeck Joins Broadway-Aimed Musical"

No f***ing thanks.

[BwayStarlette]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 2:26pm

Oh gosh, I was so excited about this project and Cyndi Lauper. But reading this.... I am a little heartbroken.

Theresa Rebeck has never written a play I've remotely liked. And this is a show all about likability and charm.  I'll keep an open mind but I'll probably just keep watching the movie instead.  

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 3:16pm

Ugh Rebeck. I have no idea how she keeps getting produced and hired. I find her writing awful. I love Cyn and I'll go for her, but Rebeck is a hard pass. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 4:26pm

Interestingly enough, today happens to be the 65th birthday of Melanie Griffith, who starred in the original film. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 6:42pm

So what has Lauper been doing? Just writing a bunch of loose songs ?

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 11:11pm

RippedMan said: "So what has Lauper been doing? Just writing a bunch of loose songs ?"

The article says Bridget Carpenter was attached at first, I'm guessing she and Cyndi were working on it together. Or maybe the script was being written first? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/10/22 at 6:39am

Touche, makes sense. 

Not a Rebeck fan at all. Does she come from money?  I don't get it.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 9/28/22 at 12:57pm

Looks like there’s a reading today. Anyone know the cast list ?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 9:11am

Don't know the cast list, but I love this movie. I truly hope the workshop is as far as it gets because we do not need a musical of this movie. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 9:37am

Several members of the Kinky Boots cast did the reading.

It's basically the same as the movie  - but now with a much more diverse cast. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 9:47am

I feel like I’d still rather have the Bob’s Burgers mashed-up version, “Work Hard or Die Tryin’, Girl”

[Emma_Pillsbury]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 9:54am

Well, whatever they make of this I sure do hope it turns out better than The Devil Wears Prada.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 10:46am

BETTY22 said: "Several members of the Kinky Boots cast did the reading.

It's basically the same as the movie - but now with a much more diverse cast."

Still-no thank you. Why is it that people are so okay with these adaptations, yet they also demand new work?? So confusing. Make up your mind. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/22/24 at 4:44pm

It is happening!

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 8/22/24 at 4:55pm

Leslie as Katherine !?! Hmmm

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/22/24 at 5:35pm

Both Leslie and Jojo are great choices in my opinion.

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 8/22/24 at 7:18pm

It would be interesting for them to go back to the original script which was reportedly more satiric and cutting.

Without the fantastic cast and Nichols' deft direction, it's just a rather vapid story of the quest for corporate acceptance.

But then, maybe that's what people want now?

[greensgreens]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 11:16am

verywellthensigh said: "It would be interesting for them to go back to the original script which was reportedly more satiric and cutting.

Without the fantastic cast and Nichols' deft direction, it's just a rather vapid story of the quest for corporate acceptance.

But then, maybe that's what people want now?"

So true. I would love to see more bite and retrospective assessment of 80s corporate and gender dynamics. Sadly, Lauper's not really the person to bring that to us. My assumption is that this will play up themes of female empowerment and positivity more. I'm very excited to see this take shape! Perhaps a trip to Chicago for the tryout will be in my future if it follows in Kinky's footsteps!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 11:27am

greensgreens said: "Perhaps a trip to Chicago for the tryout will be in my future if it follows in Kinky's footsteps!"

A La Jolla Playhouse premiere seems most likely, considering Chris Ashley is directing.

The real question is who's doing the musical arrangements and orchestrations. Stephen Oremus reportedly did herculean work on KINKY BOOTS and some ghost-composing to turn Cyndi's song fragments into actual musical numbers.

Rebeck is the third bookwriter attached to this. Which could mean nothing, or could mean that the team doesn't quite know what they want this to be. (Kim Rosenstock and then Bridget Carpenter were previously announced.)

EDIT: Per a social post of a reading program, confirmed that La Jolla is producing. Stephen Oremus & Brian Usifer (of Kinky Boots and Frozen) are the Music Supervisors. No choreographer or designers listed, this being a reading.

Updated On: 8/23/24 at 11:27 AM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 7:27pm

From Twitter:

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 9:22pm

I saw that as well, I’m guessing that’s just reading cast? 

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/24/24 at 12:34pm

rosscoe(au) said: "I saw that as well, I’m guessing that’s just reading cast?"

Jojo at least feels like it could be an actual casting hope? She's not someone with deep theatre roots so it doesn't seem like it'd be a "doing a reading for my friends" situation. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/24/24 at 12:59pm

If Jojo wants to pivot to theatre, this could be a great opportunity for a high-profile project considering the title and the presence of Cyndi and Ashley –– if she can stick with it and not get burned out by the process of workshopping and going out of town.

But reading casts can also mean nothing, or can be a way to "audition" a high-profile person for a part. She and the team could decide tomorrow that this isn't the right fit. Or she could say "I want in."