Oscar-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin adapted his script for the stage, where it's directed by Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing, La Bête). Ghost will open on Broadway April 2012, producers announced.
Ghost The Musical has music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Dave Stewart (of the Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard. Rubin also contributed lyrics. It opened July 19 at the Piccadilly Theatre.
Warchus and members of the London creative team will repeat their work on Broadway. No casting has been announced for Broadway. Richard Fleeshman ("Coronation Street," Legally Blonde) and Caissie Levy (Hair, Wicked) created the roles of Sam and Molly, respectively, in London.
Critics were lukewarm on the London staging, which is faithful to the film property, but singled out the multimedia scenic work and illusions by Paul Kieve, which allow Molly to interact with Sam after his death. The musical arrives on stage replete with the infamous potter's wheel from the film, and strains of "Unchained Melody" throughout.
Ghost has set and costume design by Rob Howell, choreography by Ashley Wallen with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and projection design by Jon Driscoll. Ghost will be produced on Broadway by Colin Ingram Productions Limited and David Garfinkle with Adam Silberman; Land Line Productions, Donovan Mannato, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter in association with Paramount Pictures Corporation and ATG/Robert G. Bartner.
According to producers, "Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her."
The original film starred the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Whoopi Goldberg earned the Academy Award for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown. "Ghost" also earned the Oscar for Best Screenplay.
