The new musical about the international star has music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Curtis. It will open on Broadway on Sept. 10 at the Barrymore Theatre following previews from Aug. 21.
Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. Additional casting and additional creative team to be announced soon.
Here's how producers characterize the biographical musical: "From the slums of London to the heights of Hollywood, Chaplin is the showbiz Broadway musical about the silent film legend the world couldn't stop talking about — Charlie Chaplin. The brand new 22-person musical reveals the man behind the legend, the undeniable genius that forever changed the way America went to the movies."
The musical will be produced on Broadway by the Rich Entertainment Group (Bob & Mindy Rich), Roy Gabay (Fela!, The Little Dog Laughed, Steel Magnolias) and John and Claire Caudwell with additional producers to be announced. Rich/Caudwell also co-produced this season's Broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Leap of Faith. John Caudwell is the U.K. entrepreneur, philanthropist and champion of many charitable causes including his own charitable foundation Caudwell Children. McClure originated the role of Chaplin at La Jolla Playhouse (Craig Noel Award winner). He played the title role in Where's Charley? for the Encores! concert series. The two-time Barrymore Award winner starred as Princeton/Rod in the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q. He made his Broadway debut in the 2002 Broadway revival of I'm Not Rappaport, working with Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen. Other selected credits include Avenue Q (first national tour, Helen Hayes nomination), Amadeus (Mozart at Walnut Street Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour, The MUNY), The Game's Afoot (world premiere of Ken Ludwig's play at Cleveland Playhouse), The Producers (Carmen Ghia at Walnut Street Theatre), The Flea and the Professor (world premiere at Arden Theatre) and Johnny Baseball (world premiere at American Repertory Theater).
Songwriter and co-bookwriter Curtis performed as a singer-pianist in Los Angeles, New York, Japan and Ireland. As a composer he wrote and sang the theme song for the popular Discovery Channel/The Learning Channel TV series "A Wedding Story" as well as the songs for the Discovery Channel's "Travelers" and "On the Inside." He wrote and sang the theme song to the Trimark Pictures film "The Break" starring Martin Sheen. He was signed to the songwriter program at Disney Animation. Chaplin was the recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s Craig Noel Award for Best Musical for its run at the La Jolla Playhouse.
For more information, visit ChaplinBroadway.com.
