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A still frame from the motion picture "The Princess Bride"
A still frame from the motion picture "The Princess Bride"

Disney Theatricals to Bring The Princess Bride to the Musical Stage

An on again/off again stage musical adaptation of the 1973 William Goldman novel and the subsequent 1987 film The Princess Bride appears to be on again and moving forward. Though the prospect has been bandied about for many years, the long-gestating project was never brought to fruition. Initially, Goldman was set to collaborate with composer-lyricist Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza, Floyd Collins) on the musical version, but the two parted ways in 2007. Now, Disney Theatrical Productions has announced that they will bring The Princess Bride to the musical stage.

Disney Theatrical Productions confirmed their devotion to the project, naming the team that has been secured to get the wheels turning on The Princess Bride musical. Recent Tony-winning for his score for the 2018 Best Musical The Band’s Visit, David Yazbek, will write the music and lyrics. Adapting films into stage musicals has been Yazbek’s forte over the years, having provided scores for The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and this season’s Tootsie. The Princess Bride’s book will be a collaboration between Bob Martin who did similar duty for this seasons The Prom, as well as The Drowsy Chaperone, and Rick Elice who is currently represented on Broadway with The Cher Show. Elice also wrote the book for Jersey Boys with Marshall Brickman.

Goldman’s 1973 book was turned into the now iconic 1987 film directed by Rob Reiner. The romantic fairytale brimming with adventure and wit, starred Carey Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Christopher Guest, Carole Kane, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage, and Peter Falk. The film was a modest box office success, but ultimately gained great popularity through home video and frequent television airings.

No timeline, further creative team, or casting has been provided for the stage musical adaptation of The Princess Bride.

Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs. He maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.