Christian Borle to Lead Workshop of New 'BRITISH INVASION' Musical from Rick Elice

British pop is headed to the stage in the new piece THE BRITISH INVASION MUSICAL (working title) from the co-creator of JERSEY BOYS. The New York Post writes that SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Christian Borle will star a workshop of the project this Wednesday.

"It's taking its first baby step this week, and I hope there will be a second baby step," producer Hal Luftig, who brought KINKY BOOTS to Broadway, told the Post. "We're going to wait and see what [director Jerry Mitchell] and Rick [Elice] think when we're done."

Based on the life of Peter Noone (Borle's role) of Herman and the Hermits, BRITISH INVASION has a script by Rick Elice, who just lost his husband Roger Rees, who, according to the Post, "was a big advocate of the show."

Elice pieced together Noone's memories to tell the story, though "It's not strictly autobiographical," according to Luftig. "It's more of a fable of the time."

The musical centers on "the wave of British pop groups that invaded America in the 1960s" and is set in London, specifically the Bag O'Nail's pub, where the Hermits launched their music career. Luftig told the Post that Mick Jagger, The Beatles and others "considered renegades at the time" used the venue as a hub.

BRITISH INVASION will feature Hermits tunes, including "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "There's a Kind of Hush," and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," alongside other hits from the time period.

Among Elice's other works are JERSEY BOYS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and PETER AND THE STARCATCHER.

Aside from KINKY BOOTS, Luftig has shepherded THE ELEPHANT MAN, EVITA, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, WEST SIDE STORY, LEGALLY BLONDE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, SEUSSICAL, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, THE KING AND I, ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE SECRET GARDEN, MAME and more to the Great White Way.

Prolific Broadway director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell will soon see the new musical ON YOUR FEET! on the Great White Way. Among his past credits are KINKY BOOTS, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, PRICILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, LEGALLY BLONDE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, GYPSY, HAIRSPRAY, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE FULL MONTY, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and more.

Borle, currently starring in SOMETHING ROTTEN!, worked with Elice on PETER AND THE STARCATCHER and has also appeared on Broadway in LEGALLY BLONDE, MARY POPPINS, SPAMALOT, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and more.