French Pop Musical Mozart Sets Sights on Broadway Bow

Rock me, Amadeus! Mozart, L’Opera Rock, a French musical featuring a score of both pop-rock songs and classic Mozart compositions, could be heading to Broadway, according to Variety. A new adaptation, featuring a book by playwright David Grimm and musical direction by Paul Gemignani, is aiming to open on Broadway in spring of 2013. No casting, theater or premiere dates have been announced.

Mozart L’Opera Rock will need to be retooled to fit the expectations of Amiercan audiences, according to producer Gregory Young. “When the French write musicals, a lot of their songs are written like pop singles placed contiguous to each other, while on Broadway, it’s necessary to have a storyline and a semblance of a relationship,” he said. In the French production, many audience members dress as their favorite characters, and the show’s songs, which are topping French pop charts, are given numerous standing ovations each night.

Mozart L’Opera Rock is a rock retelling of Mozart’s life from the age of 17 to his death. The musical premiered on September 22, 2009 at the Palais des Sports de Paris, starring Mikelangelo Loconte as Mozart. The production toured France, Belgium and Switzerland in 2010 before returning to Paris for a second tour in 2011. The production features music by Dove Attia, Jean-Pierre Pilot, Olivier Schultheis, William Rousseau, Nicolas Luciani, Rodrigue Janois and Francois Castello, with lyrics by Vincent Baguian and Patrice Guirao.