UK Musical Comedy I CAN'T SING Heading to Broadway?

By: Apr. 14, 2014
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Although the new musical comedy I CAN'T SING was met with less than glowing reviews and disappointing ticket sales, producers of the production are still planning to bring the show to Broadway, according to Radaronline.com.

According to the report, several theater sources are currently in talks with producers to transform the musical, which is based on the singing competition The X Factor, into a reality television version more suited for U.S. audiences. A source told the website, 'Here's why there is an attraction about putting this on Broadway. Imagine a tongue-in-cheek musical showcasing Simon Cowell and all the other judges who appear on the biggest reality competitions. It would be hilarious.It could have great Broadway potential with the right writer.'

They continued, 'But we know that there is a risk. It could be hard to adapt because some of the humor in I Can't Sing is very British and Primetime television audiences can be different to the theatre audiences.'

Simon Cowell is reportedly concerned that the show does not simply mimick U.S. judges or contestants who appear on televised singing competitions. The 54-year-old is also said to have 'some regrets' over the character portrayals included in the British production and believes that some of the jokes in the show have been taken too far.

UK X Factor judge Cheryl Cole and UK host Dermot O'Leary are reportedly miffed at Cowell because of their portrayal in the show. 'They are refusing to see the theater show,' says the source, 'and have made it clear they are very unhappy with the way they are being portrayed. Cowell's going to be worried that other judges and contestants would hate it in the same way here.'

Should the show make it to The Great White Way, Cowell will be Extra sensitive to the way the characters in the show are portrayed. 'His producers have made it clear he doesn't want to make a Broadway version which would cause him more problems,' says the Broadway source. 'And he doesn't want US writers to offend anyone else he has worked with,'


Vote Sponsor


Videos