Adam Spiegel has announced that he is developing a new musical based on George Orwell’s masterpiece Animal Farm.
Multi award-winning playwright James Graham (This House, Quiz) is collaborating with Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, Sister Act) and lyricist Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, School of Rock) to create a new musical based on Orwell’s iconic novel.
Described as a ‘Chilling Fairy Tale’, the musical is currently in development and planning a series of workshops in 2021. It will make its World Premiere in London’s West End thereafter.
James Graham said: “To be working on Animal Farm, one of the greatest political fables of the 20th Century, with this team of Alan and Glenn, one of the greatest in musical theatre, is both a sheer delight, and also a real responsibility. Orwell’s themes of power and misinformation, corruption and ideological divides resonate strongly today. We want this gothic fairytale to open them up to a wide audience in a boldly theatrical way.”
Alan Menken said: “I am beyond excited to be adapting George Orwell’s masterpiece, Animal Farm, as a musical. And to be embarking on a brand new collaboration with James Graham, as book writer, and to be resuming my partnership with Glenn Slater, as lyricist, is truly thrilling.”
Glenn Slater said: “Animal Farm could not be more relevant to the world we’re living in today. I’m wildly excited to thrill, provoke, and perturb audiences with a new of-the-moment musical version of this timeless tale —and especially to do so in tandem with two certified geniuses like Alan Menken and James Graham.”
All further production information, including the theatre where Animal Farm will be staged, will be announced at a later date.
