The Classic Teen 90s Film EMPIRE RECORDS is Being Adapted into a Broadway Musical
The 1995 coming-of-age teen film Empire Records, might just be one of my favorite films of the 90s. I love that movie and it embodies so many things that I loved about that era. For those of you who are fans of the film as well, you might be interested in knowing that you might be able to celebrate Rex Manning Day on Broadway in the near future as the movie is being adapted into a Broadway musical.
You know what, it's not really that hard to imagine this story being adapted into a musical. It might actually work. It's being written by original Empire Records writer Carol Heikkinen and it's being produced by Bill Weiner. The music and lyrics will be written by Zoe Sarnak.
The original film, which was directed by Allan Moyle starred Liv Tyler, Renée Zellweger, Anthony LaPaglia, Robin Tunney, Rory Cochrane, Ethan Embry and Johnny Whitworth.
The musical will retell the story of several young employees of an independent music store struggling with their various problems and learning more about each other as they try everything they can to stop the store their store from being bought out by a large music store chain.
When talking about the story Heikkinen says:
"The movie was really about a family that formed among these minimum-wage record clerks. There’s a lot of nostalgia now for those old record stores where you could go and talk to people who loved the same music you loved, and discover new bands."
Sarnak adds:
"I first saw Empire Records when my older sister brought it home on VHS – I remember sneaking into the TV room while she was watching it with her friends. Over the years, I watched it again and again because that cast – those characters – were my idea of the coolest misfits. Teenagers who loved music as much as I did, and still do. The film’s music so iconically captured the sound of that decade – a sound that has indelibly shaped my own aesthetic."
Weiner went on to say:
"I am beyond thrilled to bring this iconic film to the Broadway stage. As a film, Empire Records captured the hearts of millions of Americans, and I am so excited for Carol’s words and vision to be brought together with Zoe’s incredible music and lyrics. They both have such a passion for the story and its time."
It's going to be interesting to see how the look, the music, and the style of the 90s will be brought back to life to tell this fun and moving story as a Broadway musical. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. They hope to launch the musical in 2020.
What do you think about Empire Records being adapted into a Broadway musical?
Source: Deadline