It's all happening! The musical adaptation of Almost Famous, based on the 2000 film by Cameron Crowe, officially opens at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre November 3. Previews began October 3.
Set in 1973, the story follows a 15-year-old aspiring music journalist who Rolling Stone hires to go on tour with an up-and-coming rock band. Crowe won an Oscar for his semi-autobiographical screenplay chronicling his own time as a young journalist with The Allman Brothers Band and Led Zeppelin.
READ: Cameron Crowe Invites Jimmy Fallon to Reprise His Almost Famous Screen Role On Broadway
The cast features Solea Pfeiffer as Penny Lane, the role which garnered an Oscar nomination for a young Kate Hudson; Chris Wood as the band's guitarist Russell Hammond; Casey Likes as teen journalist William Miller; Tony nominee Anika Larsen as William's mother Elaine; Drew Gehling as the band's lead singer Jeff Bebe; and Rob Colletti as journalist Lester Bangs, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the film.
Ahead of an official cast recording, the production plans to drop Almost Famous The Musical - 1973 Bootleg EP 12-inch vinyl in December featuring new tunes written for the musical, including "Morocco," performed by Likes and Pfeiffer (listen here) and "The Night-Time Sky's Got Nothing on You," performed by Pfeiffer and Wood (listen here). The stage show also includes memorable song moments from the film including the fictional band Stillwater's hit "Fever Dog," and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."
The cast also includes Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Kevin Perdido, Andrew Poston, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee.
Almost Famous is directed by Tony nominee Jeremy Herrin (Wolf Hall Parts One and Two)and features a book and lyrics by Crowe and music and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).
The creative team includes choreographer Sarah O'Gleby, music supervisor Bryan Perri, scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer David Zinn, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Peter Hylenski, hair and makeup designer Luc Verschueren, and physical movement coordinator Lorenzo Pisoni. Kitt has penned arrangements and orchestrations, and vocal design will be by AnnMarie Milazzo. The production is cast by Jim Carnahan.
Almost Famous made its world premiere at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 2019 with much of the same cast continuing on to the Broadway run.
Anika Larsen in Almost Famous
Casey Likes and Rob Colletti in Almost Famous
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Casey Likes and Solea Pfeiffer in Almost Famous
Casey Likes and Solea Pfeiffer in Almost Famous
Casey Likes and the Company of Almost Famous
Chris Wood and Casey Likes in Almost Famous
Brandon Contreras, Drew Gehling, and Chris Wood in Almost Famous
Emily Schultheis, Anika Larsen, and Casey Likes in Almost Famous
Matt Bittner, Drew Gehling, Chris Wood, and Brandon Contreras in Almost Famous
Solea Pfeiffer and Chris Wood in Almost Famous
Casey Likes and the company of Almost Famous
