Music Theatre International has released a new JR. adaptation of the 2022 Off-Broadway musical Between the Lines for licensing. Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, the work features a book by Timothy Allen McDonald (James and the Giant Peach) and music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Central Park). Joining MTI's Broadway JR. catalogue, Between the Lines JR. adapts the full-length musical into an hour-long show designed for young performers.
The JR. release comes as a live stage film of the full-length Off-Broadway production comes to Prime Video, where it's now available for digital purchase and rental.
The musical follows Delilah, an outsider in a new school who seeks comfort in her favorite book, where she feels heard and understood. The lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur, and she has to confront whether she has the power to rewrite her own story. Following a world premiere at Kansas City Rep in 2017, the musical made an Off-Broadway bow in 2022. Read reviews for that run here.
“Between the Lines JR. offers audiences and young performers the chance to indulge a fantasy so many of us have had: that is, to engage with fictional characters from a story we love and have them literally come to life by leaping off the page," says MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen in a statement. "The show has a hilarious and heartwarming book matched with a brilliant score featuring instant classics and new 'audition songs.' We are proud to represent this new show that attendees at Junior Theater Festivals have seen in development for the last few years."
“Between The Lines has always had a devoted fan base that connects with its mantra of creating the story you want to live in, instead of the one you’re stuck in," add McDonald, Samsel, and Anderson in a joint statement. "We are thrilled that MTI launched a Broadway Junior version of our show, and we look forward to seeing future productions that carry that message far and wide."
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