Alan Menken to compose 'Animal Farm' Musical

Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater are teaming up with playwright James Graham on a new musical adaptation of George Orwell's classic novel, Animal Farm.

A workshop of the new musical is set for this spring. There is no director currently attached to the project. Adam Spiegel Productions will produce.

Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy.

Time magazine chose the book as one of the 100 best English-language novels.

It should be noted that the book has already been adapted for the stage. An adaptation by Ian Wooldridge is available for licensing. Another theatrical version, with music by Richard Peaslee and lyrics by Adrian Mitchell, was staged at the National Theatre London in 1984, directed by Peter Hall. It toured nine cities in 1985.

Lea Madda, Holly Hawk, Thad Geer and Jacquelin Schofield star in “Animal Farm” at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum

A solo version, adapted and performed by Guy Masterson, premièred at the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh in 1995 and has toured worldwide since.

Menken and Slater’s most recent collaborations include A Bronx Tale The Musical and Sister Act.