There’s been a spate of news lately about musicals based on beloved books that are making their way to exciting new destinations, allowing fans a chance to see the adaptations and fall in love with the stories all over again.
This summer, Be More Chill will make its long-awaited debut in New York City, at the Pershing Signature Center, with previews starting July 26 and running for nine weeks. The adaptation of Ned Vizzini’s book had a short production in New Jersey in 2015, but later went viral, and a producer has finally stepped up to sate the fandom and bring the show to NYC.
Most of the original cast is slated to return, and the lead will be played by Will Roland (known for playing Jared in Dear Evan Hansen). This writer, for one, absolutely can’t wait to see it – and will definitely report back in August on how it is.
To switch gears, let’s talk about the other beloved book adaptation penned by Joe Tracz, which starred George Salazar. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which we heralded here on Hypable a year ago as “a gift from the gods for Percy Jackson fans” will be launching a US National Tour in January 2019.
The musical will begin its killer quest in Chicago. It will then make its way to Seattle, Detroit, Charlotte, San Antonio, and other cities yet to be announced. Anyone who’s a fan of Rick Riordan’s books, or Greek mythology, or awesome music would be well served to check it out when it comes to their town.
And though it’s based on a movie, not a book, we’d be remiss not to mention that the Heathers are taking over London this summer. Our favorite show in NYC in 2014 is making its way across the pond, all the way to London. Heathers is based on the 1989 movie of the same name, a Mean Girls for the prior generation.
There is even a promise of a new song, an Act 1 finale number sung by Heather Duke – an interesting choice, given that in the original iteration, Heather Duke only sings dark reprises of everyone else’s songs because she is that unoriginal.
The only casting announced thus far is Carrie Hope Fletcher as the lead, Veronica Sawyer – a role played Off-Broadway by Barrett Wilbert Weed and Charissa Hogeland. Fletcher is a familiar face on the West End, having done musicals there ever since appearing as Young Eponine in Les Miserables in 2001. She was most recently seen in a touring production of War of the Worlds.
Heathers will be playing in The Other Place, an off-West End theater, from June 9 to August 4. The fandom of Corn Nuts has already been showing its might: the theater’s website crashed when tickets went on sale, and the first two performances are already sold out. So the Brits (and whoever else can make it to London) would do well to book tickets right away.
So whether in New York City, London, or Chicago, there’s an exciting new show coming your way. Will you be making your way to a theater anytime soon to catch any of these shows?
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