EXCLUSIVE: The Emma Thompson-penned musical adjustment of dream motion pictureBaby-sitter McPheeabout a witch who has wonderful powers wielded through her walking stick, is being primed to strike London’s West End in 2026, Deadline can expose.
Oscar-winner Thompson, songwriter Gary Clark and Working Title’s phase department have actually been establishing the production, based upon the 2005 movie directed by Kirk Jones, which starred Thompson in the title function, on and off for over a years.
Olivia Colman played the snaggle-toothed baby-sitter at an early workshop in London of the musical in 2018. This was validated to me at the time by Thompson, who applauded Colman’s “terrific” efficiency. Lily James and Rory Kinnear likewise participated in the initial workshop. Sophie Thompson took part in later test-runs.
Colman has actually not been associated with subsequent reviews, however that does not dismiss her possible participation in the West End.
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My sources, who decreased to be estimated on the record, worried that there had actually been “no casting discussions of any kind,” including, “There’s no point speaking with anybody up until we have actually reserved a theater and verified dates.”
There’s much activity going on behind the scenes now that director Katy Rudd has actually formally signed on to direct the program. The early deal with the musical was supervised by Thompson, then Rudd was generated to direct a later series of workshops.
Emma Thompson Nick Haddow
Rudd’s productions as director consist ofBallet Shoespresently performing at the National Theatre,When Winston Went to War with the Wirelessat the Donmar Warehouse,Camp Siegfriedat the Old Vic andThe Ocean at the End of the Lanewhich dipped into the National and in the West End. She worked as associate director onGroundhog DayandThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
“She and Emma are working hand in glove,” on theBaby-sitter McPheemusical, a source inform us.
Due date hears that 2026 is looking likeliest for a launchings, as the source kept in mind “there are simply no huge theaters readily available” at the minute.
Agents from the significant theater owners– Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres, Cameron Mackintosh’s Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer’s Nimax Theatres, the Ambassador Theatre Group and Nederlander Theatres– were welcomed to a staged reading a number of months earlier and, evaluating from remarks, there’s much interest for the musical based upon the cherished motion picture.
The movie likewise starred Colin Firth as a widower who needs a baby-sitter to take care of his rowdy offspring. The Artful Dodger star Thomas Brodie-Sangster played among the kids. Imelda Staunton played the cook with Kelly Macdonald as a scullery housemaid. Angela Lansbury played the powerful Lady Adelaide Stitch, the household’s great-aunt.
Baby-sitter McPhee