Renowned writer Aaron Sorkin is embracing a full-circle moment as he takes on the challenge of reworking the book for Camelot, a classic musical that he has admired for years, which is set to open at Lincoln Center Theater on April 13.
“I love musicals and I’ve always wanted to be a part of one,” said the Academy Award winner during a rehearsal break. Sorkin is best known for his work as creator of the hit political drama series The West Wing and for his acclaimed films, including Being the Ricardos, The Social Network (Academy Award for best adapted screenplay), and A Few Good Men, among others. He made his Broadway debut in 1989 with A Few Good Men, and more recently, his adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird drew critical acclaim when it premiered in 2018.
With Camelot, Sorkin is returning to his roots and venturing back into the world of musical theater, teaming up once again with Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher, with whom he collaborated on Mockingbird. The original production of Camelot, featuring a score by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe and starring Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet, ran for more than two years at the Majestic Theatre.
“My college degree is a musical theater fine arts degree. And this is the first time I’ve ever been able to put it to use,” Sorkin points out.
Based on the legend of King Arthur, Camelot revolves around Arthur, his queen, Guenevere, and the king’s star knight, Lancelot. In this revival, Tony winner for The Inheritance Andrew Burnap plays Arthur, Hamilton alum Phillipa Soo takes on Guenevere, and Jordan Donica, last seen on stage at Lincoln Center Theater in My Fair Lady, rounds out the love triangle as Lancelot. The show features an orchestra of 30 musicians and a cast of more than two dozen performers. Sorkin assures audiences that they will hear all the beloved tunes from the original score.
“Nothing has changed,” Sorkin said, referring to the music. “I’ve written draft after draft after draft, and there have been some drafts where I cut a number in the first act and cut a number in the second act. [But] they’ve all managed to find their way back in. I love when Jordan sings “If Ever I Would Leave You.” There are no bad songs in Camelot [and] they don’t feel like old songs with this cast, there’s something brand new about it.”
However, there are some changes in Sorkin’s adaptation, particularly with regard to the supernatural elements. Don’t expect to see Merlin transform Arthur into a hawk, or Morgan Le Fey conjure an invisible wall.
“I wanted to tell the story populated by humans in a real place and at a real time,” Sorkin explains. “We still have all the other versions of the story,” he adds, referring to the numerous retellings of the Arthurian legend. “This isn’t meant to correct anything. This is just meant to be one more version of the story.”
Does he plan to work on more musicals or adapt any of his film properties for the stage? “If all I did from now on were musicals, I’d be a happy guy,” Sorkin responds. He acknowledges that there’s not a more “congenial spot” for him than working on Camelot at the moment. “To be able to tell this story in a new way has really been a thrill,” he adds.
Camelot is now in previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center Theater. Opening night is set for April 13.
