It's Official! ROCKY The Musical is Headed to Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre

After the news earlier this month that MAMMA MIA! would transfer from the Winter Garden Theatre to the Broadhurst Theatre in late 2013, speculation has been running rampant as to what might replace the show, which was previously home to CATS.

Michael Riedel was the first to report that it was to be the Rocky Musical, running now in Germany and now the New York Times has confirmed the announcement, with word that performances will begin in February of 2014.

The paper reports that "the Broadway version is expected to cost about $15 million, according to Bill Taylor of Stage Entertainment USA, which is producing "Rocky" on Broadway with Mr. Stallone." and that "The Broadway production is expected to be fairly similar to the one in Hamburg, Mr. Taylor said, including the finale - Rocky's climatic fight against Apollo in a regulation-size boxing ring - and the use of music from the movies, like Bill Conti's theme music and "Eye of the Tiger.""

No casting has yet been set for the Broadway production.

The world premiere of Rocky took place November 18 in Hamburg under the direction of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Tony nominee Alex Timbers.

In Germany, American actor Drew Sarich leads the cast as Rocky Balboa, joined by Dutch actress Wietske van Tongeren as Adrian. Rocky won the 1977 Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director (John G. Avildsen) and Best Film Editing. It was nominated for Best Original Song, Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound. Sylvester Stallone, who was on hand to promote the event, and Talia Shire were nominated as lead actors; Burt Young and Burgess Meredith were nominated for their supporting roles.

Rocky tells "the rags-to-riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but good-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in Philadelphia. Balboa is also a club fighter who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship when the scheduled contender breaks his hand." The original Rocky film sparked five sequels.

The musical adaptation held a reading last year prior to the German run; the cast for the developmental lab featured Andy Karl as Rocky, Glenn Flesher as Pauly and Tricia Paoluccio as Adrienne. Rocky will be produced by Stage Entertainment, which also produced the German productions of TARZAN, THE LION KING and SISTER ACT.

The Hamburg production includes a boxing ring on which "Gold Circle" ticketed patrons will be able to stand to form a more interactive experience; fight chreography is by ONCE Tony nominee Steven Hoggett with traditional choreography by ROCK OF AGES' Kelly Devine.

Rocky 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.