The Nutty Professor Musical, Directed by Jerry Lewis, Set For Pre-Broadway Run in Nashville

The Nutty Professor, the previously announced musical adaptation of the 1963 film of the same name, will have its pre-Broadway world premiere at Nashville’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Starring Michael Andrew as Professor Julius Kelp, The Nutty Professor will run from July 24 through August 19. Directed by the film's original writer/director/star Jerry Lewis, the show features music by Tony winner Marvin Hamlisch and a book and lyrics by Tony winner Rupert Holmes. No further casting, design team or potential Broadway dates have been announced. 

“The film that I made in 1963 was so good that I decided to do a Broadway show, and there’s no better place to go to find out what you’ve got than Nashville,” Lewis said in a statement. “This musical will be spectacular for a couple of reasons. One, I’m directing it. Two, I have Michael Andrew, who is one of the best talents to come down the pike in 50 years. And I’m surrounding him with one of a kind creative people, like Marvin Hamlisch, Rupert Holmes, and me…After it’s over, give me a call and let me know if everything I said was spot on.”

The story of The Nutty Professor follows Professor Julius Kelp (Andrew), a dull geek with a bright idea. Privately experimenting in his laboratory to find the cure for his social failures, he creates a potion that transforms him into a smooth-talking party animal named Buddy Love. Buddy is everything that Julius always dreamed of being and gets the girl that he always dreamed of dating, Stella. The only problem is that the potion doesn’t last very long. The original 1963 film starred Lewis as Kelp, while a popular 1996 remake starred Eddie Murphy.


Lewis himself has appeared on Broadway in Damn Yankees! and Jerry Lewis at The Palace. He is well known for his former comedy partnership with Dean Martin. They made their film debut in 1949 and starred in 13 blockbuster comedies before their split in 1956. Lewis went on to star in over 25 films, 13 of which he directed including The Bellboy, The Ladies’ Man and The Family Jewels. His humanitarian efforts for The Muscular Dystrophy Association have won him countless accolades, including a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Lewis received an Oscar in 2009 for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.