Susan Stroman to Helm New Musical Featuring Music of Alan Jay Lerner

Deadline reports exclusively that Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (THE PRODUCERS) is joining forces with writer John Lahr to develop a new musical featuring the music of Broadway and Hollywood lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, best known for such hits as MY FAIR LADY, GIGI and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

Titled "The Late Great Me: An Evening With Alan Jay Lerner," the project is scheduled to be workshopped in late March and early April by longtime producers Julian Schlossberg and Roy Furman, along with Liza Lerner, daughter of the late lyricist. A reading of the project took place in September.

The show is decribed as "something that would be neither a conventional book musical nor a revue, but a sophisticated show that would be compelling and fun."

Actors portraying Lerner and his partner, composer Frederick Loewe, will serve as the story's narrators. The musical will features ten additional actors playing various roles from such iconic musicals as BRIGADOON, PAINT YOUR WAGON, MY FAIR LADY and CAMELOT.

"You do come to understand the change that took place during that period we grew up in, the '50s and '60 - from Broadway to rock-and-roll," Schlossberg explains to Deadline. "We have a workshop from March 23 to April 7 in New York, and we will see what we have." He adds, "We have not pulled the trigger, but Liza and I have beyond great expectations for the show."

Photo credit: Paul Kolnik/Nicole Rivelli