La La Land Musical Taps Moore, Zophres, 59 Studio — SkimNews
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- La La Land musical has signed choreographer Mandy Moore and costume designer Mary Zophres, both veterans of the 2016 film, with 59 Studio joining as production designer and Edward Pierce as design collaborator.
- 59 Studio is a Tony-winning design firm whose stage credits include Stranger Things: The First Shadow, An American in Paris, War Horse, and the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, and is now part of the experience agency Journey.
- Mandy Moore is a three-time Emmy winner for choreography on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, while Mary Zophres is a four-time Oscar nominee most recently for Babylon.
- The newly named creatives join previously announced director Bartlett Sher, book writers Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker, composer Justin Hurwitz, and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
- Lionsgate's Jenefer Brown said the team is "honoring what audiences love about the film while finding new ways to bring its romance, emotion and artistry to life on stage."
- The 2016 film won six Academy Awards — Best Director, Best Actress, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song — and casting, performance dates, and venue remain to be announced.
- The La La Land stage hire follows Lionsgate's recent Broadway-aimed announcements including a first-time Dirty Dancing adaptation, with other stage projects including Now You See Me Live and The Hunger Games: On Stage in London.
Why it matters: Reprising Moore and Zophres from the six-Oscar-winning film preserves the dance and costume language fans already love, while 59 Studio's portfolio — War Horse, the London 2012 Olympics — adds high-end visual pedigree at a moment when Broadway musicals from film IP are competing hard for ticket buyers. Without announced casting, performance dates, or venue, however, Lionsgate still has a long runway before this musical reaches a stage. The hire lands as Lionsgate simultaneously builds out a broader stage slate spanning Dirty Dancing, Hunger Games, and Now You See Me Live.
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