Baz Luhrmann‘s 2001 hit “Moulin Rouge!” may soon be can-canning its way to the stage.
Tony-winning playwright John Logan (“Red”) is writing the book for the new stage production, and two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers (“Rocky,” “Peter and the Starcatcher”) is on board to direct.
The stage production is currently in development, Global Creatures CEO Carmen Pavlovic announced Thursday. Global Creatures is an Australian-based international theater touring companies whose past projects include large-scale shows involving giant animatronic creatures like “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular” and “How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular.”
Luhrmann’s 2001 film starred Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman as a penniless poet and a beautiful cabaret performer in turn-of-the-20th-century Paris — but employed late 20th-century songs like “Lady Marmalade” to tell its star-crossed romance.
Luhrmann directed, produced and co-wrote the original script with Craig Pearce. The film, which grossed nearly $180 million worldwide, received eight Academy Award nominations and won two, for costume design and art direction.
In addition to “Red,” Logan’s credits include three Oscar-nominated screenplays, “Gladiator,” “The Aviator” and “Hugo.”
“I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ and the brilliance of ‘Here Lies Love,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “I immediately recognized the young director’s creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts.”
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17. "Rent" (original production) Opened: April 29, 1996 Closed: Sept. 7, 2008 Gross: $274.2 million
16. "The Producers" Opened: April 19, 2001 Closed: April 22, 2007 Gross: $288.4 million
15. "Mary Poppins" Opened: Nov. 16, 2006 Closed: March 3, 2013 Gross: $294.6 million
14. "Miss Saigon" (original production) Opened: April 11, 1991 Closed: Jan. 28, 2001 Gross: $298.7 million
13. "Kinky Boots" Opened: April 4, 2013 Closed: April 7, 2019 Gross to date: $319.0 million
12. "Aladdin" Opened: March 20, 2014 Closed: Still running Gross to date: $404.9 million
11. "Les Misérables" (original production) Opened: March 12, 1987 Closed: May 18, 2003 Gross: $406.3 million
