17 Again, a musical based on the popular 2009 Zac Efron fantasy film about a man who gets to relive his youth, is headed for a developmental lab in New York City this November, according to an Actors Equity casting notice.
The show, which has been in development for several years, had an industry reading in November 2015 that featured Sterling Knight. No word if Knight will take part again this year. The casting notice is seeking male and female ensemble dancers who sing. The role of 17-year-old Stan, a principal dancer, is also being cast.
The lab will be directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman, who is also co-producing with Warn Bros Theatre Ventures. The musical has a book by Marco Pennette and a score by First Date and Secondhand Lions songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Vadim Feichtner will be music director for the lab, which has 101 Productions as General Management. No principal casting for the lab has been announced.
Casting is being handled by Telsey + Company. Auditions are scheduled for Pearl Studios in Manhattan on October 25, with male dancers being seen at 10:30 AM and female dancers at 2 PM. Telsey is seeking “all ethnicities, to play various high school students...should be fantastic, athletic dancers. Tumbling/tricks a plus but not necessary for all dancers.”
The musical focuses on a man, unhappy with how his life has turned out by the time he's 37, who wakes up as his 17-year-old self and is given a second chance to rewrite his story.
Previous readings and workshops have featured Tony Award nominee Will Swenson, Tony nominee Kate Baldwin, Tony nominee John Cariani, Ann Harada and others.
No post-reading plans for the show have been announced.
Here is a trailer for the original film: