Zwick, Bricusse, Fraser and Arch Collaborating on Sleepless in Seattle — The Musical

By Andrew Gans
03 Mar 2009

Cover art for "Sleepless in Seattle" film.
Cover art for "Sleepless in Seattle" film.

A musical version of "Sleepless in Seattle" — the hit 1993 film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan that garnered two Academy Award nominations — is currently in development.

Producer David Shor is developing Sleepless in Seattle — The Musical through his entity Sleepless in Seattle Management, LLC.

Jeff Arch, who penned the film's original story and co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screen play with Nora Ephron and David Ward, will write the musical's libretto. Sleepless will also boast a score by composer/lyricist Leslie Bricusse (Stop the World—I Want to Get Off, Jekyll & Hyde, Victor/Victoria) and orchestrations/arrangements by Ian Fraser. Eighteen songs have already been written for the musical.

Joel Zwick — who helmed the mammoth hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" — will direct.

The producers are aiming for a reading in May 2009 with an official opening at a venue to be announced in early 2010.

In a statement producer Shor said, "We are thrilled to have finally secured the theatrical rights and are grateful to so many people, including Tom Hanks, for helping to facilitate the process. . . . This is a timeless romantic comedy that lends itself to stage production, and having one of the film's original writers involved – someone who has lived these characters for many years – will help us bring it to life in an authentic way."

Sleepless in Seattle – The Musical, according to press notes, "will remain pegged to 1993, reflecting the culture, fashions and music of the era."