Blankenbuehler, Whitty, Miranda, Kitt, Green and Lacamoire Creating Bring It On: The Musical

By Andrew Gans
September 23, 2009

A Tony Award-winning creative team has been assembled for Bring It On: The Musical, an original musical set in the world of competitive cheerleading.

Andy Blankenbuehler (Tony Award-winning choreographer of In the Heights) will direct and choreograph the new musical, which boasts a book by Avenue Q Tony winner Jeff Whitty, music by In the Heights Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and Next to Normal Tony winner Tom Kitt and lyrics by High Fidelity's Amanda Green.

Tony Award winner Alex Lacamoire (In the Heights, Wicked) will serve as orchestrator, arranger and music supervisor.

A developmental regional production is expected in early 2011, with a national tour to follow.

In a statement Blankenbuehler said, "The explosive world of cheerleading heightens so naturally to the stage. I can't imagine a more perfect team to bring this musical to life on stage. Jeff Whitty has come up with an enticing original story, and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, two of Broadway's most talented composers, are joining their amazing creative forces to write the score. With Amanda Green collaborating on lyrics and musical supervision by Alex Lacamoire, this team is a director and choreographer's dream."

A 2000 Universal Pictures movie of the same name was a hot title that spawned sequels; the new musical uses that title and is set in the cheer world, but the plot is new.

Producers are Universal Pictures Stage Productions along with Charlie Lyons and Armyan Bernstein of Beacon Communications. Day-to-day production will be overseen by Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson. General Management will be under the direction of Nina Essman and Nancy Nagel Gibbs of 321 Theatrical Management.