New Version of Broadway Musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown Set for Premiere at Denver Center

Molly Brown is back! The long-brewing new staging of the 1960 Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown is ready to set sail. Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, the revival will kick off the 2014-2015 season at the Denver Center Theatre Company in September.

Based on the real rags-to-riches story of one-time Denver resident Molly Brown, a famous survivor of the Titanic tragedy, The Unsinkable Molly Brown originally featured a book by Richard Morris and score by Meredith Willson, creator of The Music Man.

Three-time Tony nominee Dick Scanlan has written this new adaptation of the musical, reworking Morris’ book and adding previously-unheard songs by Willson. Interestingly, Scanlan first made a name for himself when he adapted Morris’ screenplay for Thoroughly Modern Millie into a Tony-winning hit Broadway musical.

Although Molly Brown was snubbed in the category of Best Musical in the 1961 Tony Awards race, leading lady Tammy Grimes picked up a trophy (shockingly in the featured category!). On the big screen, Debbie Reynolds received an Oscar nomination in the role.

No casting has been announced for the Denver premiere. Kerry O'Malley and Marc Kudisch (as love interest J.J. Brown) headlined a reading of the show in Denver in 2009, and Sutton Foster later played the role in New York City readings, opposite both Craig Bierko and Kudisch at different times.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown will play from September 12 through October 26, 2014 at the Denver Center. Will it swim to Broadway next? Stay tuned!