Revival of Cole Porter’s Can-Can Headed for Broadway in 2014

A brand new production of Cole Porter’s classic musical Can-Can will open on Broadway in spring 2014, at a theater to be announced. The production will feature a revised book by David Lee and Joel Fields, with direction by Lee. Casting and a theater have not yet been announced.

Can-Can tells the story of Pistache, a female Parisian café owner who decides to feature the then-scandalous and illicit dance, the Can-Can. Will her defiance of the law end her business—and love life? The musical features hit Porter songs including “I Love Paris,” “C’est Magnifique” and “It’s All Right With Me.”

The original production of Can-Can opened at the Shubert Theatre in 1953 and ran for more than two years, launching Gwen Verdon to stardom. A film adaptation in 1960 starred Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine and was nominated for two Academy Awards. The first and only Broadway revival of Can-Can opened in 1981 and ran for five performances. Patti LuPone starred in a 2004 Encores! production of the musical as well. 

Before hitting Broadway, a workshop of the new production will take place in New York in October 2013. The revival will be produced by Jonathan Burrows (nephew of the musical’s original book writer Abe Burrows) and feature choreography by Patti Colombo and musical direction by Tony nominee Steve Orich (Jersey Boys).

Watch a clip of MacLaine and co. performing the musical's title dance from the 1953 movie below!