Film & TV NewsDisney Channel’s Freaky Friday Movie Musical, Starring Heidi Blickenstaff, Premieres August 10The TV presentation of the musical adaptation, featuring a score by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, co-stars Cozi Zuehlsdorff.
By
Andrew Gans
August 10, 2018
The TV musical Freaky Friday, starring Broadway favorite Heidi Blickenstaff as Katherine (the part she originated in the musical's world premiere and three subsequent productions) and Cozi Zuehlsdorff (Dolphin Tale) as Ellie, makes its premiere August 10 at 8 PM ET on Disney Channel.
Heidi Blickenstaff and Cozi Zuehlsdorff in Freaky FridayDisney Channel/David Bukach
The music-driven, body-swap comedy about a mother and daughter who spend a day in each other's shoes will be available earlier (12:01 AM PT) on DisneyNOW (to verified users) and 12:01 AM ET/PT on Disney Channel VOD.
Adam Bonnett, Disney Channel Executive Vice President of Original Programming, said in an earlier statement, “This movie is a creative collaboration with our Theatrical colleagues who developed an original stage musical from a beloved story. Now we've added a fresh twist by adapting it again into a movie for kids and families—with Broadway talent on and off camera—that has the potential to be a classic 'DCOM' for years to come.”
The trailer above shows the mother-daughter pair post-swap, as the two are brought into the principal's office to discuss Ellie's behavior and performance. As expected, tension and comedy simultaneously ensue as the two try to hide the bizarre, body-swapping circumstances.
The TV adaptation is based on the Tom Kitt-Brian Yorkey stage musical, which debuted in October 2016 at Virginia's Signature Theatre (the show is based on Mary Rodgers' 1972 novel and the various screen adaptations that followed). The Disney Theatrical Productions project subsequently played La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, and Houston's Alley Theatre.
The Steve Carr-helmed movie also features a score by David Lawrence, plus a screenplay penned by the musical's book writer, Bridget Carpenter.
Freaky Friday also features Ricky He as Adam, Alex Désert as Mike, Jason Maybaum as Fletcher, Kahyun Kim as Torrey, Dara R. Moss as Savannah, Jennifer LaPorte as Monica, Isaiah Lehtinen as Karl, and Sarah Willey as Kitty. Two-time Tony nominee John Carrafa (Urinetown and the 2002 revival of Into the Woods) choreographs.
The FreakyFriday soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, is available in physical and digital formats August 10.
A statement from the Off-Broadway company's board of directors pledges a future "filled with diversity," and "to continue our long legacy of supporting artists of all backgrounds."
