As We Wished, ‘The Princess Bride’ Musical Is Happening Under Disney Theatrical
The Princess Bridemusical.The Princess Bridemusical is what brings us together, today. Or in a year or so, at least. Six years after Disney Theatrical Productions first announced that it was adapting Rob Reiner’s beloved 1987 movie to the Broadway stage, thePrincess Bridemusical is finally moving forward.Deadlinereports that a new creative team consisting of composer and lyricistDavid Yazbekand book writersBob MartinandRick Elicewill bring the greatest love story ever told to the stage. Disney Theatrical Productions confirmed today that the team has been recruited, but few other details were offered.
Yazbek has won a Tony forThe Band’s Visit, which is now in its final stretch on Broadway, while hisTootsieis currently in previews at Broadway’s Marquis for an April 23 opening. Both Martin and Elice have shows currently on Broadway:The PromandThe Cher Show, respectively. This is the first official news we’ve heard of the stage adaptation ofThe Princess Bridesince the project wasfirst announcedby Disney Theatrical in 2013, though this isn’t the first attempt to bring the story to the stage.
The late William Goldman, who wrote the novel and screenplay forThe Princess Bride, tried to develop aPrincess Bridemusical back in 2006 with computer Adam Guettel. The plans were scrapped over money issues, and Disney Theatrical took up the task, putting up the names of possible collaborators like Marc Shaiman, Randy Newman and John Mayer.
The Princess Bride, with its sweeping romance, grand adventure, and whip-smart comedy seems perfectly suited for the Broadway stage — deserving a spot alongside fantasy-comedy hits likeSpamalot. And with Disney coming off a string of movie-to-Broadway hits includingFrozen,Aladdin, andThe Lion King, perhaps it could finally finish storming the castle that isThe Princess Bridemusical and make it a reality. That’s all we wish, really.
