Monster Musical King Kong Delays Its Stomp to Broadway

King Kong, the mega-musical monster thriller, is still aiming for Broadway, but has delayed its previously announced December arrival on the Great White Way. Producers for the show, which premiered in Melbourne, Australia, have decided not to “rush in before the end of the year,” according to a production spokesperson, due to the “huge scale of the production" and "the time needed to implement creative changes.”

King Kong features a score by Marius de Vries and book by Craig Lucas. Set against the backdrop of bustling New York City in the 1930s, the show tells the story of the infamous ape and his encounter with aspiring actress Ann Darrow, megalomaniac filmmaker Carl Denham, stubborn first mate Jack Driscoll and the people of NYC. The Australian production of King Kong is directed by Daniel Kramer.

The show’s score consists of revamped 1930s Broadway songs as well as new and existing numbers from artists like Sarah McLachlan, Robert Del Naja, Justice, Guy Garvey and The Avalanches. 

“King Kong has been more than five years in the making,” producer Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of Global Creatures, said in a statement. “We realize that there are some exciting creative changes we can and want to make before King Kong comes home to New York City, and we don’t want to be pressured to rush in to meet any artificial deadlines. We will announce our plans when we can confirm our timeline to open on Broadway. It will be worth the wait!”

Sad you won’t be able to see King Kong in NYC for a while? Soothe yourself with these pics of hunky Aussies posing for a Kong calendar. There, there. Feel better?