Here's one that we couldn't have predicted. A musical based on 2000's controversial and ultra violent film "American Psycho" is set to take New York City by storm after a successful run at London's Almedia Theatre. The news was announced by the Second Stage Theatre today.
While most will agree that "American Psycho" is an odd choice for a musical, there is no doubt that the film has a cult following all these years later. It is hard to believe that the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel about the psychotic Wall Street broker Patrick Bateman is now going to be set to music.
The film did an excellent job of including a stable of '80s pop artists, including Phil Collins and Huey Lewis and The News. Now it looks like producers are building upon that and turning the stage version into a full-blown musical.
The London production was adapted by comic book and TV writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. He adapted the play for the stage with music and lyrics by recording artist Duncan Sheik. Apparently the stage adaptation of the film and novel has been a gestating project for a while now. After its successful run in London, it seemed a logical step for producers to bring the show to the bright lights of Broadway. Well, Off Broadway at least.
Sacasa is a vet of writing for shows like "Glee" and "Big Love" and also wrote the screenplay for the reboot of "Carrie." The London show starred "Doctor Who's" Matt Smith in his stage debut and was directed by Rupert Goold.
"Goold's glitzy new London stage adaptation almost glosses over the book's notoriously graphic carnage altogether, aiming instead for a darkly funny tone that plays at times like a light-headed, razzle-dazzle social satire. A little lacking in focus, it feels more like a series of splashy set-pieces than a serious literary adaptation. But it's nonetheless an impressive, immersive spectacle," said Hollywood Reporter's Stephen Dalton.
The New York run of the production is slated to begin previews in February 2015 before opening in March of next year. The NYC run of the show is being presented by Act 4 Entertainment.
It is unclear as to whether or not there will be major changes from the London version of the show, but fans of the book and film are sure to have their bloodlust realized in the very dark narrative. If the musical captures fans attention the way the movie did, it should have a successful run in the Big Apple.
