David Yazbek Replaces Barenaked Ladies as Songwriter of Animal House Musical | Playbill

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News David Yazbek Replaces Barenaked Ladies as Songwriter of Animal House Musical Producers of the new stage musical based on the 1978 film comedy "Animal House" have tapped Tony Award-nominated songwriter David Yazbek to pen the score, according to the Lethbridge Herald.

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David Yazbek Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Yazbek, who has penned The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, has replaced pop group Barenaked Ladies, who were originally announced to be writing the score.

Representatives for the production could not immediately comment on the report. The film's original producer Matty Simmons, who is also the executive producer of the stage musical, broke the news to the Lethbridge Herald.

"It just wasn't something we liked," Simmons said of the initial songs by Barenaked Ladies. "We wanted music that would fit the story and the nature of the story and the raucousness of the story. The movie has a personality and the music had to suit that, you know?"

The musical is aiming for a 2014 premiere. Animal House has a book by Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of Our Parents). Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Elf, Spamalot) has been announced to direct.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, in association with Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and James L. Nederlander are developing the musical.

 
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