Lily Allen Reveals BRIDGET JONES Musical Nearing Completion; 2012 Opening Possible

BroadwayWorld last reported on the status of the Bridget Jones' Diary musical, helmed by BILLY ELLIOT's Stephen Daldry and composed by British pop star Lily Allen and Greg Kurstin.  The musical adaptation of the eponymous Helen Fielding novel had West End aspirations for an upcoming season.  Not much was said about the project's status since last summer, however Allen broke her silence in a recent interview with Elle Magazine, stating: "I've nearly finished a musical. I think it'll be out sometime next year."

Helen Fielding is collaborating on the musical's book with Julian Webber.  Stephen Daldry, the director of BILLY ELLIOT, last directed a workshop alongside Webber last spring.  The workshop was choreographed by BILLY's Peter Darling. Working Title is producing the project.

The reading featured actress SheriDan Smith, current star of London's LEGALLY BLONDE, as Bridget Jones.  Other actors allegedly includec Bertie Carvel (Mark Darcy), Julian Ovendon (Daniel Cleaver), Marilyn Cutts (Bridget's Mother), Billy Boyle (Bridget's Father), Tiffany Graves, Cassidy Johnson, Richard Frame, and Julie Legrande. 

'Bridget Jones's Diary' follows a year in the life of Bridget Jones, a British single woman in her thirties who writes comically about her troubles, many of which involve her love life.