A ‘Clueless’ Musical Is In The Works
Cher Horowitz could leave Sunset Boulevard for Broadway.CluelessdirectorAmy Heckerlingconfirms that not only is aCluelessstage show in the works, she’s already written the book. Find out what she had to say about theCluelessmusical after the jump.
Heckerling discussed theCluelessmusical plans toET. She revealed it’ll be a “jukebox musical,” meaning it’ll feature existing pop songs instead of relying on original music.Kristin Hanggi— a Tony nominee forRock of Ages, another jukebox musical — is set to direct. Dodger Theatricals (Jersey Boys) will produce.
But the team has a few hurdles to clear before they can hit the stage. For one thing, there’s the matter of casting, which Heckerling admits is “the main problem.” Not that there’s any shortage of interested parties. Heckerling mentioned last year thatKaty Perryhad"expressed interest"in playing Cher, and we all remember whenIggy Azaleawent ahead and cast herself in amusic video remake.
The 1995 movie (yes,Clueless is 20; yes, you are old) is actually an adaptation ofJane Austen’s classic novelEmma.Alicia Silverstonestarred as Cher Horowitz, a sweet if oblivious teenager who meddles with her friends' affairs at Beverly Hills High. The supporting cast includedStacey Dash,Brittany Murphy, and an eerily agelessPaul Rudd.
Sadly, Heckerling said she isn’t sure when theCluelessmusical will actually come together. “It’s hard to know with Broadway when things will happen,” she said. “Everything goes so slowly… I thought movies took a long time.”
Talk of a potentialCluelessmusical has been floating around for years. Heckerling has been developing it sinceat least 2012. (At the time, she assured fans it’d take place in the ’90s. Whew.) Andaround 2009, John Dempsey, Stephen Trask, Peter Yanowitz, and Tina Landau were working on a different version that never got off the ground.
The originalCluelessiswidely regarded as a classic, so anyCluelessmusical is going to have a lot to live up to. Me, I’m not going to be satisfied unless there’s a glitzy number set to “Rollin' With My Homies.” What would you want to see in aCluelessmusical?
