Sir Paul McCartney is working on his first ever musical – a stage adaptation of Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life
SIR Paul McCartney is working on his first ever musical – a stage version of Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life.
The Beatles legend, 77, has teamed up with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall, 52, and theatre producer Bill Kenwright, 73, for the show, based on the hit 1946 film, which is due out late next year.
Paul said: “Like many of these things this all started with an email. Bill had asked if it was something I might be up for.
“Writing a musical is not some that had ever really appealed to me but Bill and I met up with Lee Hall and a chat and I found myself thinking this could be
interesting and fun.
“It’s a Wonderful Life is a universal story we can all relate to.”
The film starring Hollywood legend James Stewart tells the story of young George Bailey on the brink of taking his life but saved by Clarence, his guardian
angel.
Bill won the rights to the cult movie three years ago after getting initially turned down by director and producer Frank Capra early on in his career.
He recalls receiving Sir Paul’s first attempt at an opening number for the project: “It was a Friday night and I was in the office. I suppose you could say it hadn’t been the best of weeks.
“No real progress on multitudinous film and theatre projects – and Everton had lost the previous Saturday.
Out of the blue I got an email from Paul asking my thoughts on his first stab at an opening song.
“He wasn’t sure – but wanted to know what Lee and I thought of it? I played the demo. Lee and I were unanimous. Our hero was a musical theatre writer!”
Sir Paul has won 18 Grammys, eight Brit Awards and one Oscar for Let It Be in the Brit doc of the same name about the Beatles.
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