Happy Feet Musical Set for Broadway Development

A new stage musical adaptation of the 2006 animated film Happy Feet is in development with sights set on Broadway, led by a team of award-winning theater professionals.

The project, announced this week, brings the story of Mumble, a young emperor penguin who dances rather than sings in a society that values vocal talent, to the live stage. Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden, known for his work on Parade and Maybe Happy Ending, the production is spearheaded by Tony Award-winning producer Dori Berinstein, whose credits include Legally Blonde and The Prom. Douglas Lyons, who wrote the book for Chicken & Biscuits and the upcoming Fraggle Rock musical, rounds out the core creative team.

Choreography will be handled by tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel, recently featured in Funny Girl, alongside the duo of Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, who are also contributing to the stage adaptation of The Lost Boys. The design elements promise a visually dynamic production, with Tony Award winners Dane Lafferty on sets, Susan Hilferty on costumes, and Natasha Katz on lighting. Basil Twist, a renowned puppet designer with Broadway experience on shows...