Buffett musical planned
California show featuring his songs will première next year
The Jimmy Buffet t musicalwill make its world pr emiè re in May of 2017 somewhere nice and warm — the La Jolla Playhouse in California — according to producers of the show, which combines Buffett’s blend of rock and country tunes with an original story by writers Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley.
Buffett has had hits with such beach-bum classics as A Pirate Looks at Forty, Margaritaville, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes and Cheeseburger in Paradise.
The new musical is described “as the story of a part-time singer, parttime bartender and full-time good ol’ boy named Tully who suddenly finds himself in uncharted territory — falling in love with a beautiful, career-minded tourist.”
Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley, director of the Tony winner Memphis, will direct the still-untitled show.
The producers are Frank Marshall, Mindy Rich, Anita Waxman and Beth Williams.
Garcia is the creator of such TV shows as My Name Is Earl and Yes, Dear, in which O’Malley starred.
Buffet and Marshall — the producer of the films Back to the Future and Raiders of the Lost Ark — teamed up to create Parrothead Productions, which helped produce Broadway shows Big Fish and Doctor Zhivago.
La Jolla Play house has been home to many big shows, including the musicals Jersey Boys, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hands on a Hardbody.