Musical Adaptation of Garry Marshall's The Flamingo Kid Sets Sights on Broadway

Producers Bob Israel and Larry Hirschhorn announced today that a musical adaptation of The Flamingo Kid — the popular 1984 coming-of-age film directed and coauthored by the late Garry Marshall — is being developed with aspirations for a Broadway opening in the spring of 2018.

The musical will feature a book and lyrics by Tony Award winner Robert L. Freedman (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder) and music by Tony nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens), whose latest project War Paint is now in performances at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole.

The Flamingo Kid takes place in the summer of 1963 and follows an 18-year-old Brooklynite (originally played by Matt Dillon) who leaves his humble roots behind in favor of the sexy and alluring world of The El Flamingo, a private beach club for well-to-do Long Islanders. Torn between his father's blue collar values and those of his new, cocky mentor, Phil Brody, he finds consolation in Brody's niece, Carla, a girl with radical ideas of her own. He soon learns that there’s no shortcut to lasting success, and there’s no substitute for family.

According to press materials, Freedman and Frankel's score will feature sounds of the era "from Do-Wop and R&B, to the Cha Cha and the Watusi." The scenic design will also re-create the look and feel of summertime at The El Flamingo Beach Club, complete with a pool center stage.

Marshall, who died on July 19 at the age of 81, was also working on a musical adaptation of his hit film Pretty Woman, at the time of his passing. The production was aiming for a stage debut in 2017.