Posted on August 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm
CBS Films is making a big-screen version of the stage musical 13.
Laurence Mark is producing the adaptation, which is being written by Bert V. Royal, the scribe best known for the well-regarded Emma Stone high school movie Easy A. Bob Boyett, who produced 13 onstage, also is producing, while David Blackman will executive produce.
Jason Robert Brown, who won a Tony for his score for The Bridges of Madison County, wrote the music and lyrics for 13 and will tackle the same duties on the film.
The play — which made its debut in 2007 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles before hitting Broadway — centers on a 13-year-old boy who moves from New York City, where he is on top of the social pyramid, to small-town Indiana, where he finds himself in the gutter. While he deals with his parents’ divorce and his upcoming bar mitzvah, he concocts a plan to become popular, which promptly backfires and he’s forced to do some growing up.
Dan Elish and Robert Horn wrote the stage musical’s book. (The musical proved to be a launchpad for actors; Ariana Grande made her acting debut in 2008 as Charlotte in the Broadway version.)
Mark produced Last Vegas, the comedy that proved to be a hit for CBS Films.
Overseeing for CBS Films are vp production Mark Ross and creative executive Winnie Kemp.
Borys Kit’s article in The Hollywood Reporter can be viewed here.
4 comments
Dear Jason Robert Brown,
I would love love LOVE to audition for 13 the musical. How can I do that? When are auditions being held and where? I would love to get that information! This has been my dream for, a while, so I hope you or someone on your press team replies.
-Franny Sewell
[FROM JRB: Dear Franny, we’re a long way from auditioning anyone for the movie; the screenplay is only now being written, which means the movie won’t begin shooting for at least a year, and even that is highly optimistic. Meanwhile, if there are productions of 13 happening anywhere near you, go audition! You can find a list of some upcoming productions by going to http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000358 and clicking “Upcoming.” Keep singing!]
Aside from some surprise that it wasn’t Disney that snapped up the rights to what should be the next teen-based smash musical (I’m thinking “Grease,” not “High School Musical!”), I’m not surprised at all by the news. It was just a matter of time. I only ask that when casting DOES occur, base it on merit and not celebrity. No “John Travolta” Evans or “Miley Cyrus” Patrices, please! Nothing would be cooler than 13 year olds playing 13 year olds, as per JRB’s original vision.
Dear Jason Robert Brown,
I know you said that auditions are a long ways away, so you probably aren’t thinking about them very much and I hope I’m not annoying you. How will people find out about the auditions when the time comes? Will they have it listed on MTI, http://www.backstage.com, or a website like that? I’m super excited for the movie!
Thank you so much,
Hannah Schmidt
[FROM JRB: Hi Hannah! There are a bunch of different ways that the audition process could play out – it may all just be handled locally through talent agents in Los Angeles or New York or wherever the movie actually gets filmed; it may involve local talent searches or submissions; or it may involve a big national talent search. I have no idea which of those scenarios will ultimately be enacted, or if in fact some combination will take place; stay tuned and I’ll try to let folks know via this website!]
Hi Jason,
First off I’m so excited and am a huge fan of 13 even though I didn’t have the chance to see it on Broadway. My first questions is with CBS signing on to make this movie is it guaranteed that the movie will come out eventually or is it still up the air? If it is definitely going to come out, is there an estimated time it could be released?
Thank you!
[FROM JRB: There is nothing definite in Hollywood, ever. Stay tuned for updates.]
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