EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Garner, star of the 2004 romantic comedy 13 Going on 30, will be executive producer of the stage musical based on the beloved movie.
The show’s director Andy Fickman and its producer Hamish Greer for lead producing company ROYO confirmed the news to Deadline.
Garner, in a statement shared exclusively with us, declares that “after more than 20 years- I still get to talk about Jenna Rink and 13 Going on 30 more days than not- who knew our quirky little movie would have such staying power?”
The actress says she’s thrilled to see the movie’s cherished characters “live on in their very own musical- are you kidding me? I’m geeking out?”
Garner saw a tape of a workshop staged in London last year with a cast led by Lucie Jones, who will play Jenna Rink, the role Garner created in the film. Judy Greer and Mark Ruffalo also featured in the story of how geeky teen Jenna finds herself fast-forwarded to her 30s.
And Jones gets the thumbs up from Garner. “Lucie Jones is flirty and thriving as Jenna, the music is a blast and all of the anguish of growing up is alive and well in this magical production.”
She adds “I’m so happy to join them as executive producer and very much look forward to the journey.”
Fickman also posted Garner footage of Jones performing a number from the show.
“I sent that song to Jen on her birthday. And it had such a great response from her,” he says.
Jennifer Garner in the 2004 rom-com ’13 Going on 30′
Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection
13 Going on 30 -The Musical will run at the Manchester Opera House, north of England, from September 21-October 12.
Fickman got to know Garner several years ago when they collaborated on a possible remake of the 1945 Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan holiday picture Christmas in Connecticut.
“And we had just a great script and an amazing producing team, and Jen was going to be the lead,” Fickman explains.
However, the schedule for the project couldn’t be aligned with those of the artists and creatives.
“In my mind, I have a secret wish that someday that project will come back to fruition and we’ll finally get to see it get made because it’s really delightful,” Fickman says hopefully.
The point being that he and Garner kept in touch over the years and when he was in London last year for workshop rehearsals, he got Garner and Greer to send videos of encouragement to the cast involved in the test-run.
What exactly would Garner’s duties be as an executive producer? Chuckling, Fickman responds: ”Well, I’m hoping she just sprinkles magic dust everywhere, and I hope she’s ready to understudy Lucie. She better be ready to go on in a moment’s notice and step into that role.”
Turning serious, he suggests “that there is no one better than Jen to speak of the legacy of the show and to help support the show that way, and to help be a champion of us from here and wherever this journey may take us, which hopefully will be a long along and exciting road ahead. What’s really great about Jen, and I think one of the things we bonded over when we first met, she comes from the world of theater. She comes from the world of musical theater … this really ignites that passion in her.”
The director wants Garner to be “as active and involved as she wants to be.”
Laughing, he adds, “I’ll even let her yell ‘action’ and ‘cut’ if she wants.”
Andy Fickman at a workshop for ’13 Going on 30 – The Musical’
Courtesy ROYO
Folks, he was joking. No one uses such terms in the theatre.
Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who wrote the screenplay for filmmaker Gary Winick’s movie, have crafted the show’s book, and Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner have written original songs.
Other key creatives include choreography by Jennifer Weber (& Juliet); set design by Colin Richmond (The Red Shoes, The Wizard of Oz); musical supervision, dance, vocal and incidental music arrangements by Alan Williams (Sunset Boulevard); orchestrations by Williams, Weiner and Zachary; lighting design by Howard Hudson (Starlight Express, & Juliet); sound design by Adam Fisher (Kinky Boots, Sunset Boulevard); video design by George Reeve (Hercules the Musical OLIVER!); wigs, hair & makeup design by Sam Cox (Clueless, Moulin Rouge); illusions by Paul Kieve (Matilda); casting by Will Burton; children’s casting & children’s general management by Keston & Keston; production management by Simon Gooding & Matt Jones for Gooding Jones Production Management; associate direction by Michaela Powell; associate choreography by Rhian Duncan; and associate sound design by Ollie Durrant.
The show’s produced by ROYO, Revolution Studios, Wendy Federman and Phil Kenny, with Todd Garner, Marla Levine and Dean Stolber, and executive produced by the aforementioned Garner.
.
