Ron Abel, Lissa Levin, Chuck Steffan at Work on Planned Broadway Musical About Iconic Character Hazel

Composer Ron Abel, lyricist Chuck Steffan, and playwright Lissa Levin are at work on a planned Broadway musical about Hazel, the cartoon character created by Ted Key and first introduced in the Saturday Evening Post in 1943.

The character appeared in the magazine up through its demise in 1969, and is also well known for her early 1960s television incarnation, as portrayed by actress Shirley Booth. Hazel is the wise and wisecracking housekeeper that keeps life moving along in the Baxter household.

Press notes state that the musical will be “coming to the stage in 2011,” although additional details (including casting) are unavailable at this time.