A Princess Diana musical is heading to New York City soon, and it’s going straight to Broadway.
The musical, starring Jeanna de Waal as Princess Di, is simply titled Diana and follows the story of a woman who “rocked the monarchy and changed the world; “who chose to be fearless, and as a result became timeless.” Written by Joe DiPietro and composed by David Bryan (the brains behind the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Memphis), Diana began its run at San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse back in 2019. After delays due to the pandemic (it was supposed to open in March 2020), the production company has officially announced it would open on Broadway on December 16 (of course, pending Broadway’s anticipated return with government approval).
But even before it premieres on Broadway, you’ll be able to catch the show virtually on Netflix! Diana: The Musical will “premiere as a special presentation on Netflix on Friday, October 1, 2021, two months ahead of its Broadway debut.”
In a joint statement, the Diana producers said, “The chance to share our show, first with Netflix’s global audience, and then welcoming a live audience back on Broadway, is something we’ve all been dreaming about for more than a year. We could not be more thrilled to finally share both the film and the Broadway musical with the world.”
Other big names behind the show include the Tony winner Christopher Ashley as the director (Come From Away), choreography by Tony nominee Kelly Devine (Rock of Ages), and music supervision and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath (Come From Away).
As the “People’s Princess,” Princess Diana was loved by all even after her divorce from Prince Charles. The show describes her story as:
“When Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles, she instantly became a cultural phenomenon. Leading fiercely with her heart, Princess Diana stood up for her family, her country and herself. She defied expectations, she rocked the royals and she created a legacy that will endure forever.”
Along with Jeanna de Waal, other stars of the show that will be joining Broadway include main characters Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Erin Davie as Camilla Parker Bowles, and Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth.
The Diana musical will make its Broadway debut at Longacre Theater with a preview on December 1, 2021, followed by the show’s official opening night on December 16. Tickets are now on sale.
featured image source: wikimedia commons / Russ Quinlan/CC BY-SA 2.0
Also published on Medium.