Oscar-Winning Film Once to Become a Musical

The Academy Award-winning feature film Once may be headed for Broadway: Producers John N. Hart, Jr, Jeff Sine and Fred Zollo have acquired worldwide theater rights to the heartwarming movie, with the aim of transforming it into a Broadway musical to debut during the 2010-2011 season.

Written and directed by John Carney, the film Once featured music and lyrics by its stars, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. The news release did not confirm the participation of Hansard and Irglová in the stage show, saying only, "The creative team for the theatrical musical adaptation of Once will be announced shortly."

Once is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin about a street musician and a Czech immigrant. During an eventful week the two meet, begin writing songs together, rehearse and record their songs to take to London in hopes of landing a music contract. Through the music they write, the duo works through their past loves, and are confronted with their new feelings for each other.

Director/writer Carney had asked Hansard, his bandmate from the popular Irish Rock band The Frames, to share busker anecdotes and compose songs for the film. When the lead actor withdrew from the project, Hansard stepped in opposite first time actress Irglová. Shot in 17 days for less than $150,000, Once went on to gross over $10 million and win the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly." The film's soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

"The film was shot modestly, on a shoe-string budget and managed to capture the hearts of fans around the world, wildly exceeding all critical and box office expectations," Zollo, a four-time Tony-winning producer, said in a statement. "It did so because it invited its audience into the process of artists making music and did not stoop to melodrama."