Rocky the Musical Will Play Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre in 2014

By Adam Hetrick
28 Apr 2013

Wietske van Tongeren and Drew Sarich starred in the German production of Rocky the Musical
Wietske van Tongeren and Drew Sarich starred in the German production of Rocky the Musical

Rocky the Musical, the new stage production based on the Academy Award-winning film, and featuring a score by Ragtime Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, will arrive on Broadway in February 2014 at the Winter Garden Theatre.

The musical, which has a book by Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray), premiered in Hamburg, Germany, last fall. It will officially open on Broadway in March 2014. An on-sale ticket date will be announced shortly.

"Rocky" creator/star Sylvester Stallone produces the stage production along with Stage Entertainment.

Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher, Here Lies Love) directs. The Hamburg production is performed in the German language, but was first written in English by its American writers. A cast album is currently available.

"I couldn't be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage," Stallone said in a statment. "The story of Rocky was very much like my life at the time – starting out with nothing, having to fight for roles and recognition. So I put those feelings into the body of a boxer and I had no idea there were so many millions of people that felt the same way. Alex Timbers and the entire creative team have not only honored that original impulse, but have made his story as exciting, heart-breaking, and inspiring as it was when Rocky first went the distance on screen."

The Winter Garden's current tenant, the hit jukebox musical Mamma Mia!, will transfer to the Broadhurst Theatre later this year.

Broadway has long been the goal for Rocky, which had a New York City workshop in 2011 prior to the Hamburg premiere.

Casting for the Broadway production has not been announced.

The German production stars Drew Sarich, the American actor who has had a prolific career on the German stage, starring there in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. He last appeared on Broadway in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables and Elton John's Lestat.

The production has boxing choreography by 2012 Once Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett. Kelly Devine (Rock of Ages) is the choreographer.

Click here to read Playbill.com's coverage of the German premiere.

Visit RockyBroadway.com.

Here's a look at the show: