New Stage Musical AMELIE Heading to Broadway Next Spring?

Is the new stage musical AMELIE, based on the 2001 French movie starring Audrey Tautou, heading to Broadway? According to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, the show, currently playing through October 11th at San Francisco's Berkeley Repertory Theatre, has sparked interest among Broadway backers.

Riedel reports that a producer who is unaffiliated with the production called him to say he believed the musical can become the next ONCE, winner of eight Tony awards, including Best Musical back in 2012. In addition, the show has received raves from critics who have sampled it thus far.

Starring LES MISERABLES' Samantha Barks, the story is set in Montmartre in Paris, and follows a "pixieish waitress who secretly creates moments of joy for those around her, even as she battles her own isolation." The film, which received five Academy Award nominations, earned $175 million at the box office.

AMELIE producers Aaron Harnick, Triptyck Studios, and SBR Production are reportedly in the midst of looking for a Broadway house to bring their ciritically acclaimed production, perhaps in time for next spring's season.

Get a first look at the production below:

Directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon, who is known for her work on Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Clybourne Park, AMELIE has a book by Craig Lucas (An American in Paris, Prelude to Kiss), and features a stirring score by Daniel Messé of the band Hem and lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys).

The cast for Amélie, A New Musical in alphabetical order includes: David Andino (Blind Beggar/Garden Gnome),Samantha Barks (Amélie), Randy Blair (Hipoloto), Adam Chanler-Berat (Nino), Alison Cimmet (Amandine/Philomene),Savvy Crawford (Young Amélie), Carla Duren (Gina), John Hickok (Raphael/Bretodeaux), Alyse Alan Louis (Georgette), Shannon O'Boyle (Swing), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Suzanne), Tony Sheldon (Dufayel/Collignon), Perry Sherman(Lucien), Jacob Keith Watson (Swing), and Paul Whitty (Joseph).

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne, kevinberne.com