Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe are coming back together to redevelop their musical adaptation of Almost Famous.
The musical, which snagged a Tony nomination last season for Best Score, ran for 77 performances at the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. Now, the team is reentering the development stage with a residency at the Eugene O鈥橬eill Theater Center.
The move is not one without precedent: Many musicals have, historically, been retooled after their Broadway debuts, although Almost Famous' entry into a development residency within a year of its closing is notable.
鈥淐ameron and I are thrilled that the O鈥橬eill is giving us this wonderful opportunity to dive back into the world of Almost Famous. Having previously experienced the magic of the O鈥橬eill, I know that our time there will be inspiring and transformative,鈥� says Kitt, who is a member of the O鈥橬eill鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
In a previous interview with 半岛体育, Kitt had teased the project's continued life, saying, "This is the music that changed my life. I think with every show, more life is better than not. If you're lucky, you hit it out of the park the first time, but most often with a new musical there's stuff to learn every step of the way. It's been a wild ride with Almost Famous, first with the Old Globe in San Diego, and then on Broadway, and we've learned a lot in both incarnations. I'm excited to see what 'more life' is for this show."
READ: Tony Nominees Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe Reflect on the 'Wild Ride' of Almost Famous
Almost Famous, based on the 2000 Oscar-winning film of the same name, follows a 15-year-old aspiring music journalist who Rolling Stone hires to go on tour with an up-and-coming rock band. The musical features a book and lyrics by Crowe and music and lyrics by Kitt, with Kitt also penning arrangements and orchestrations.
The original Broadway engagement opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre November 3, 2022, where it played 30 preview performances and 77 performances before closing January 8, 2023.
鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly excited to host Tom and Cameron on campus and to provide them with an opportunity to continue fine-tuning this piece. For nearly 60 years the O鈥橬eill has been a place for experimentation and exploration; we take seriously the preparation of artists鈥� work for future realization, and Almost Famous is no exception. Who says development has to stop once a piece hits the stage鈥攅ven a Broadway stage,鈥� said Tiffani Gavin, the O鈥橬eill鈥檚 executive director.
Public readings of the new Almost Famous workshop will be given November 11, 15, and 18 at 7 PM at the Waterford, Connecticut, venue.
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