A stage musical adaptation of the Fannie Hurst novel Imitation of Life and its film versions is under development at Universal Theatrical Group, with Lynn Nottage writing the book and John Legend handling the music and lyrics.
Liesl Tommy is attached to direct. Following a private industry reading that took place in New York City April 24-28, Universal Theatrical Group, the live theater division of Universal Pictures, announced the further development of the project today.
Imitation of Life will be produced for the stage by Universal Theatrical Group and Get Lifted Film Co. The musical is being developed for Broadway.
The novel was originally published in 1933, with Universal Pictures producing two film adaptations, the first directed by John Stahl in 1934 and starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers; and the second in 1959, with stars Lana Turner and Juanita Moore directed by Douglas Sirk.
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