'Muriel's Wedding' Is Heading to the Stage in 2017

As if anyone could forget Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths‘ spirited rendition of ABBA’s “Waterloo” in the surprise hit “Muriel’s Wedding.”

For fans of the 1994 critical darling about two Aussie women who awkwardly search for love and happiness, a musical based on comedy-drama has been a long time coming.

Hitting the stage Nov. 6 through Dec. 30, 2017, “Muriel’s Wedding the Musical” will enjoy its first world-premiere run at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney, Australia, Global Creatures CEO Carmen Pavlovic announced on Thursday.

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The show will be directed by Simon Phillips, responsible for Sydney Theatre Company renditions of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” “Love Never Dies” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.”

PJ Hogan, who wrote and directed the original film, is updating his screenplay for the stage — which appears to be getting an era-approriate update with a new synopsis that mentions Twitter: “Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted — a man, a fortune and a million Twitter followers. That’s when things start to go really wrong.”

Otherwise, the musical appears to be following the film’s familiar story arc, with Muriel Heslop (originally played by Collette) feeling stuck in her sleepy town of Porpoise Spit, dreaming of the perfect wedding, complete with white dress, church, and loads of much-needed attention.

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Original music for “Muriel’s Wedding the Musical” is being written by award-winning singer-songwriters Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, as their songs will be joined by the ABBA tunes so famously featured in popular Australian film (which were originally written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson).

The show, which has yet to announce a cast, is being produced by Global Creatures and Sydney Theatre Company (STC).

Evolution of Winona Ryder, From 'Beetlejuice' to 'Stranger Things' (Photos)

Over the last 30 years, Winona Ryder has played everything from a disillusioned high schooler to a stressed-out mom.

Check out how she's evolved onscreen - and off.

Also Read: ‘Stranger Things': Here’s How the Netflix Hit Plays With Fans on Twitter
"Lucas" (1986)
Ryder was just 14 when she made her screen debut in this coming-of-age story, playing the best friend to a lonely high-school nerd.
"Beetlejuice" (1988)
Ryder's big breakthrough came in Tim Burton's comic horror fantasy "Beetlejuice," playing goth teen Lydia, whose parents are haunted by an irritating spirit played by Michael Keaton.

Also Read: Tim Burton Squashes ‘Beetlejuice 2’ Rumors: ‘There’s Nothing Concrete Yet’
"Heathers" (1989)
One of the biggest cult films of the late '80s, with Ryder (opposite Christian Slater) playing an intelligent high schooler battling conformity and shallowness among her peers.

Also Read: ‘Heathers: The Musical’ Theater Review: Singing and Killing People All the Way to the Prom
"Great Balls of Fire" (1989)
Ryder costarred with Dennis Quaid in this biopic of early rocker Jerry Lee Lewis. She played Myra Gale Brown, a 13-year-old second cousin whom Lewis eventually married.
"Mermaids" (1990)
Ryder played Cher's daughter in this comedy about an eccentric family in 1960s Massachusetts.
"Edward Scissorhands" (1992)
Ryder went blonde to play the love interest of the title character, the artistic -- and very unique -- loner played by Johnny Depp.

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Ryder went on to have a tempestuous affair with her "Edward Scissorhands" costar Johnny Depp, who got a tattoo on his right arm that read "Winona Forever." After the pair broke up, he altered it to read "Wino Forever," which seemed easier to live up to.
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992)
Francis Ford Coppola's retelling of the Gothic vampire novel, with Ryder playing the ingenue Mina who's victimized by Gary Oldman's title character.

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"The Age of Innocence" (1993)
Ryder played the American society girl wooed by Daniel Day-Lewis in this adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel, directed by Martin Scorsese. Ryder scored an Oscar nomination for her work.

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In 1993, Ryder offered a reward of $2000,000 for the safe return of Polly Klaas, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared from her mother's home in Petaluma, California, where Ryder was raised. Klaas was later found strangled.
"Reality Bites" (1994)
Ben Stiller's directorial debut and a quintessential Gen X document, with Ryder among a group of Houston college grads struggling with life and love.

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"Little Women" (1994)
The fifth screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel about an East Coast family just after the Civil War. Ryder played the emotional Jo, an aspiring writer, a classic role for which she was again nominated for an Oscar.
"Alien: Resurrection" (1997)
Ryder dove straight into the sci-fi genre with this fourth installment in the "Alien" franchise. She played Annalee, a spaceship crew member with a secret.

Also Read: It’s Alien Day! Watch ‘Aliens’ in 60 Seconds to Celebrate (Video)
"Girl, Interrupted" (1999)
Ryder was a patient in a psych ward in this adaptation of the bestselling memoir, for which co-star Angelina Jolie won an Oscar.
"Autumn in New York" (2000)
A tearjerker directed by Joan Chen, with Ryder playing a young woman who falls in love with a middle-aged man played by Richard Gere.

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Ryder's career was temporarily sidetracked in 2001, when she was arrested for shoplifting at Saks Fifth Avenue (here she appeared in court in 2003 with her lawyer, Mark Geragos). She later called the arrest "the best thing that could have happened" as she reassessed her career and life values.
"Mr. Deeds" (2002)
A rare foray into broad comedy for Ryder, who played the tabloid reporter chasing Adam Sandler in this remake of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."

Also Read: 12 Terrible Adam Sandler Movies Ranked From Bad to Worst (Photos)
"A Scanner Darkly" (2006)
Ryder played a drug supplier named Donna in this dystopian thriller, which was shot on digital film then converted to animation through a rotoscope technique.

Also Read: ‘Dazed and Confused’ Stars: Where Are They Now? (Photos)
"Star Trek" (2009)
For this reboot of the fabled sci-fi franchise, Ryder was given the small but key role of Amanda Grayson, Spock's mother.

Also Read: ‘Star Trek’ 101: Must-See Episodes Before the New Series Launches (Videos)
"Black Swan" (2010)
In this intense psychological drama, Ryder played an embittered former ingenue ballerina whose spotlight has been taken by a younger dancer played by Natalie Portman.

Also Read: ‘Black Swan’ Intern Legal Victory Reversed by Court of Appeals
"The Dilemma" (2011)
Ryder played Kevin James' wife in this comedy about a pair of buddies (James and Vince Vaughn) whose schemes to promote their auto design business go awry.

Also Read: Kevin James Comedy ‘Kevin Can Wait’ Ordered to Series at CBS
"Stranger Things" (2016)
Ryder has returned to her roots in this '80s period thriller, this time playing a suburban mom stressed by her son's disappearance.

Also Read: ‘Stranger Things': 21 ’80s Relics We’ve Spotted So Far (Photos)
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The star who dominated the 80s and 90s with roles ”Heathers,“ ”Reality Bites,“ ”Edward Scissorhands“ and ”Girl, Interrupted“ is back in the Netflix horror hit

Over the last 30 years, Winona Ryder has played everything from a disillusioned high schooler to a stressed-out mom.

Check out how she's evolved onscreen - and off.

Also Read: ‘Stranger Things': Here’s How the Netflix Hit Plays With Fans on Twitter

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Evolution of Winona Ryder, From 'Beetlejuice' to 'Stranger Things' (Photos)

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