50 Shades! The Musical Headed Off-Broadway in 2014

Handcuffs at the ready! 50 Shades! The Musical, billed as "the original parody" of E.L. James’ kinky bestseller, is headed to off-Broadway's Elektra Theatre in early 2014. The start date and cast will be announced in due course.

A hit on tour and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 50 Shades! The Musical opens with a ladies book club deciding to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Through their interpretation of the novel, the audience is lead on an amusing ride through Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele’s erotic relationship. The show features dance numbers and original songs delivered by a live, on-stage band accompanying the cast.

Directed by Al Samuels, with a book by Samuels, Amanda Blake Davis, Emily Dorezas, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward and Dan Wessels, and music and lyrics by Samuels, Davis, Shelton, Ward and Wessels, 50 Shades! The Musical features set and costume design by John Dunnett, lighting design by Herrick Goldman, and sound design by Matt Kraus. This show is not to be confused with Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody, which featured parodies of hit songs and has also appeared off-Broadway.

Since author E.L. James’ novel was published, more than 70 million copies have been sold worldwide. Universal Studios had been scheduled to release the film August 1, 2014, but has moved the date to Valentine’s Day 2015, in part thanks to Charlie Hunnam dropping out as sadomasochist billionaire Christian Grey and being replaced by Jamie Dornan. Tony winner Jennifer Ehle has been tapped to play the mother of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) in the movie.