Just nine months after it was revealed by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures that the beloved 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians would be adapted into a musical, a star-studded reading was recently held at New 42 Studios. Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, Tony-nominated composer Helen Park (KPOP), and lyricist Tat Tong shared glimpses of their week-long work session and 29-hour long developmental workshop on Instagram. Jon M. Chu even took a break from promoting Wicked: For Good to direct. See photos from the reading below.

Performers from Broadway and beyond participated in the workshop, including Maybe Happy Ending's Helen J. Shen as Rachel Chu, Liam Oh (from Netflix's Boots) as Nick Young, and Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles as Eleanor Young, and Alyssa Joy Fox as Astrid. The cast also includes Daniel K. Isaac, Jasmine Forsberg, Helen J. Shen, Liam Oh, Ryo Kamibayashi, Conrad Ricamora, Deborah S. Craig, Amy Keum, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Anne Fraser Thomas, Claire Kwon, Amanda Morton, Mikayla Renfrow, and Kelvin Moon Loh.

The story follows Rachel Chu, who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend, Nick Young’s, family for the first time. Rachel then discovers that Nick's family is extremely wealthy, and his mother Eleanor is disapproving, and a clashing of class ensues.

Crazy Rich Asians the musical features a score by Tony-nominated composer Helen Park (KPOP), a book by Leah Nanako Winkler (Schmigadoon!), and lyrics by Tony-nominated songwriter Amanda Green (Hands On A Hardbody) and Singaporean songwriter Tat Tong. The film's original director, Jon M. Chu, (who also directed the two-part Wicked films), is overseeing the project.

Wrote Kwan on Instagram: "It was absolutely euphoric to hear these amazing actors bring the characters alive, there wasn't a dry eye in the room, and it was truly a dream come true. I cannot wait for everyone to experience this on Broadway!!!"

The musical is being produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, under Mark Kaufman. The group is also the producers behind Beetlejuice, The Notebook, and The Outsiders.

When Crazy Rich Asians was released in 2018, it was the first modern Hollywood film featuring an all-Asian cast in 25 years. Starring Constance Wu (Little Shop of Horrors) and Michelle Yeoh (the Wicked films), the film broke box office records, becoming the most successful studio rom-com in nine years—and showing that Asian-led films could be successful. A sequel to the film was soon announced, but has been in development limbo since.