Alex Timbers, Stephen Hoggett, Kelly Devine Join Team ROCKY; Musical Takes Germany By Storm in Nov. 2012

As BroadwayWorld reported this yesterday, Sylvester Stallone was out signing autographs when he arrived for a press conference to announce the new musical ROCKY in Hamburg, Germany. Today, we report that the production will open at the Operettenhaus in Hamburg Germany in November, 2012.  As previously speculated, the production is aiming for Broadway in 2013. Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) will direct. Stephen Hoggett (American Idiot) is on board to choreograph the fights, while Kelly Devine (Rock of Ages) will handle the musical numbers.  The musical features a book by Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan and songs by Tony Award-winning team Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (composer) - the creators of Ragtime, The Glorious Ones, and Once on This Island. 

Rocky won the 1977 Oscar for Best Picture. John G. Avildsen won for Best Director. The film also garnered awards for Best Film Editing and was nominated for Best Original Song, Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound. Stallone and Talia Shire were nominated as lead actors; Burt Young and Burgess Meredith were nominated for their supporting roles.

Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated debt collector in Philadelphia who finds his passion and talent in boxing. The original Rocky film inspired five sequels.

The musical based on the famous film, commissioned by Stallone, has been in development for nearly 8 years.