‘Matilda’ Looks to Make Jump from West End to Broadway 2013

The hit West End musical “Matilda” may be making the jump across the pond for a Spring 2013 Broadway opening, but a few details have to be ironed out before any official announcements are made.

Among other outlets, the New York Post reports that several Broadway producers are interested in the musical. But the paper also reports that a source says the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is producing the London show, is reluctant to team up with a New York producer.

“They’re going to do it themselves,” the source told the paper, “maybe in conjunction with a theater owner but not with an independent producer.

The Post also reports that one of the reasons for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s lack of enthusiasm stems from their work with Cameron Mackintosh for “Les Miserables.” The company is reported to have earned far less than Mackintosh and his investors for the now massively successful musical.

“Matilda,” which is based on the 1988 Roald Dahl novel of the same name, was originally produced at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in late 2010 and early 2011 before moving to West End and the Cambridge Theatre later in 2011. The musical opened on November 24 in London to high critical acclaim.

The story of “Malitda” focuses on the title character, a young girl with a great imagination. The story was made into a 1996 film starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman. DeVito also directed the film.

The new musical has a book written by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics written by Tim Minchin. Matthew Warchus directed the musical, and recently is known for directing “Ghost: The Musical.” He also won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for “God of Carnage” in 2009. It has won numerous awards, and was named Best Musical at both the Critics’ Circle Awards and the Theatre Awards UK.