Bring It On: The Musical Will Kick Off National Tour in L.A. in the Fall

By Adam Hetrick
17 Feb 2011

Adrienne Warren and Dominique Johnson
Adrienne Warren and Dominique Johnson
Photo by Greg Mooney

Bring It On: The Musical, the new, high-energy stage production about the world of competitive cheerleading, is rallying for a national tour that will launch this fall at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

The original musical boasts a creative team of Broadway heavyweights: Music and lyrics are by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights) with additional music by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyrics by Kitt's High Fidelity collaborator, lyricist Amanda Green. Tony Award-winning Avenue Q book writer Jeff Whitty has penned an original libretto for the musical.

Tony Award-winning In the Heights choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler directed and choreographed the production that began its world-premiere engagement Jan. 16 in Atlanta and will conclude Feb. 20. Early reviews were encouraging.

The writers will reunite with Blankenbuehler for the national tour, which will run Nov. 1-Dec. 11 at the Ahmanson. An official opening has been set for Nov. 11. Additional tour dates are currently being determined.

While the musical takes its inspiration from the title and subject matter of the popular film franchise, Bring It On has a completely new script and plot by Whitty. The stage production is produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross, Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons, and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson. Beacon and Universal also produced the "Bring It On" films.

Here's how producers bill the work: "In Bring It On: The Musical, the high-stakes world of competitive cheerleading is intertwined with cutthroat high school politics to tell the story of Campbell, the heir apparent to the head cheerleader at Truman High School. Campbell is at the top of the cheerleader pyramid and she has it all -- a strong squad, a doting boyfriend and a straight path to the national championships. Her entire life has been dedicated to honing routines and staying within the strict rules and guidelines, but when a surprise letter arrives, Campbell’s world is thrown upside down."

Center Theatre Group subscriptions will be available in March. Visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.