’13 Going On 30′ Going To Broadway; Revolution Preps Musical Take On 2004 Hit

EXCLUSIVE: Revolution Studios is teaming with veteran producers Andy Fickman, Dean Stolber and Todd Garner to mount a Broadway musical version of hit 2004 romantic comedy, 13 Going On 30. Fickman will direct the show whose book will be penned by the film’s screenwriters Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa. Music and lyrics are by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Broadway’s First Date). Mining the material from the Revolution catalog is the latest move for the studio as it’s increased activity this year under the stewardship of CEO Vince Totino and COO Scott Hemming.

Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer and Andy Serkis starred in the 2004 film which made over $96M worldwide. The story centers on Jenna, a teenager who dreams of escaping the social pressures and humiliation of middle school. With the help of some “wishing dust,” she finds herself transformed overnight into a glamorous career woman who seems to have everything Jenna ever wanted — except her childhood best friend Matt. As she learns more about adult life and the path she took to get where she is, Jenna realizes there’s much more to happiness than being popular.

Fickman says the story “has all the elements of a great musical: comedy, romance an empowering message — and a touch of magic.”

His theater credits include Heathers: The Musical and Off-Broadway’s Reefer Madness: The Musical. Feature directing credits include She’s The Man, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Parental Guidance. He’s also exec producer of the new hit CBS comedy Kevin Can Wait.

Former Revolution exec and prolific producer Garner exec produced the feature version of 13 Going On 30 as well as Revolution’s xXx and TV series Anger Management and Are We There Yet?. Stolber, the co-founder of MGM On Stage, was a producer on Broadway’s Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and Legally Blonde.

Bookwriters Goldsmith and Yuspa’s previous credits include What Women Want and the long-running sitcom King Of Queens. Zachary and Weiner wrote the songs for Broadway musical First Date and are working on upcoming stage adaptations of 17 Again and Take The Lead.

The original 13 Going On 30 included a set-piece set to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and a rousing rendition of Pat Benatar anthem, “Love Is A Battlefield.” Most of the show’s music will be original with the bookwriters and composer/lyricist teams having recently begun working together. Licensing “Thriller” and other source cues has not been ruled out.

Revolution is currently producing xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage which is set for release in January with Vin Diesel starring. The studio, originally founded in 2000 by Joe Roth and acquired by Fortress Investment Group in 2014, owns the Morgan Creek and Cold Spring Pictures libraries, and this year acquired a total eight titles from the GK Films library, including Hugo and World War Z. It further invested in Spanish-language digital services company Latin Everywhere.

Related stories

'xXx: Return Of Xander Cage' Trailer: The Three G Rule Applies

Revolution Acquires Five GK Films Titles Including 'Hugo' & 'The Tourist'

Covert Media Closes First Look Co-Financing Production Pact With Todd Garner's Broken Road

Get more from Deadline.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter