A new musical adaptation of Tootsie is eyeing a Broadway debut in spring 2019.
Scott Sanders Productions on Wednesday announced the world premiere of the show will play a pre-Broadway engagement this fall at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 14.
Santino Fontana — known onscreen for his roles on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and in Frozen, and onstage for his Tony-nominated performance in Cinderella — will star as Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work. That is, until he dons a wig and heels to become Dorothy Michaels.
Dustin Hoffman played the starring role in Columbia’s hit 1982 movie on which the musical is based. Jessica Lange, Bill Murray and Geena Davis were also part of the cast of the Sydney Pollack comedy, which nabbed 10 Oscar nominations and one win for Lange.
Directed by Scott Ellis, the musical features an original score by David Yazbek (currently represented on Broadway by The Band’s Visit, a book by Robert Horn, choreography by Denis Jones and musical direction by Andrea Grody. The design team includes sets by David Rockwell, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Donald Holder and sound by Brian Ronan.
