To the Moon! The Honeymooners Musical to Premiere at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre

The Old Globe will kick off its 2013-14 season with the world premiere of The Honeymooners, a new musical based on the iconic TV series, according to San Diego Union-Tribune. Tony winner Michael McGrath will star as Ralph Kramden, the luckless, ever-scheming Brooklyn bus driver, played by Jackie Gleason on the 1950s series. Preview performances of the new tuner will begin on September 8, 2013, with an opening night set for September 22. 

Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), The Honeymooners tells the tale of buddies Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton, who enter and win a jingle contest, much to the shock of their long-suffering wives. Soon they are catapulted out of Brooklyn and into the cutthroat world of Madison Avenue, where they find themselves torn between success and friendship.The Honeymooners features a book by Dusty Kay and Bill Nuss and a score by Stephen Weiner and Peter Mills. The complete creative team and casting has yet to be announced.

The Honeymooners TV series ran for one season in 1955, and served as the inspiration for the cartoon series The Flintstones. The show has lived on in American popular culture through reruns and references on TV shows like Family Guy and Sesame Street. A film adaptation was released in 2005 starring Cedric the Entertainer. 

McGrath won a Tony for his turn in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It. His other Broadway credits include Memphis, Spamalot and Born Yesterday.