Tim Minchin Blogs About GROUNDHOG DAY: THE MUSICAL

Oliver Award-winning MATILDA: THE MUSICAL composer/lyricist and popular stage and concert performer Tim Minchin sheds some light on his new stage endeavor, a screen-to-stage reworking of hit 1990s comedy GROUNDHOG DAY, as part of a new blog post.

In a post titled "GROUNDHOG DAY: A NEW STAGE MUSICAL BY US", Minchin writes, "Hi all, It seems that our wee secret has leaked: I'm working on a stage musical adaptation of the iconic and brilliant Danny Rubin script, Groundhog Day. Danny himself is writing the 'book', I'm writing music and lyrics, and Matthew Warchus (of Matilda fame) is directing."

Minchin continues, "For the handful of you who've never seen the film (philistines!), Groundhog Day is about a cantankerous weatherman who is sent to a small town to do a weather report, and gets stuck in a time loop, living the same day over and over again until - eventually - he figures out how to be less of a miserable, egotistical git. It's about selflessness and acceptance and love and time and life and death and all that good stuff."

Additionally, Mincin writes, "The central conceit is perfectly suited to the theatre, in my opinion. In fact, I think many of its ideas could be enhanced by the stage. It has the potential to be complex, dark, visually fascinating, and thematically rich, whilst still being a joyous romantic comedy with cool tunes and lots of gags. It's certainly not an easy job, and I'm truly honoured - and genuinely excited - that Danny is letting me have a crack at it."

Of note, Minchin also offers, "The idea of a Groundhog Day musical is not new; famously, Stephen Sondheim was rumoured to be working on the idea five or ten years ago. I've actually spoken to him about it (he is - if you're wondering - a brilliant, witty, charming man), and the truth is he was only ever tossing the idea around. It got put on the back burner, and he is now happy that we're making a go of it. We have Steve's blessing - and it's a blessing I value enormously."

Also, Minchin adds in a post-script that some lucky attendees at his recent shows have had the chance to preview a few tunes from the score, as well.

"I actually played two of the ballads from GhD at Koko in Camden a few weeks ago. Not sure whether, out of context, they meant anything to those of you who were there, but I hope you enjoyed them. I suspect some of you guessed the project ages ago anyway!" Minchin states.

Check out the entire blog post by Tim Minchin at his official site here.