Vendôme Pictures and Pathé Films have partnered with the Tony-winning Deaf West Theatre to develop a stage musical adaptation of the Academy Award-nominated film CODA.
A creative team for the project has yet to be announced.
CODA follows 17-year-old Ruby, who is the sole hearing member of a Deaf family–a CODA, child of Deaf adults. Her life revolves around acting as interpreter for her parents and working on the family's struggling fishing boat before school with her father and older brother. When Ruby joins her high school’s choir club, she discovers a gift for singing and soon finds herself drawn to her duet partner Miles.
Directed by Siân Heder and starring Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, and Eugenio Derbez, CODA premiered on Apple TV+ in August 2021. The film subsequently earned three Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), and Actor in a Supporting Role (Troy Kotsur). Named Movie of the Year at the AFI Awards, the film made history as the first predominantly Deaf cast to win the ensemble prize at the SAG Awards. Kotsur also entered the history books as the first Deaf actor to win Best Supporting Actor at the SAG, BAFTA, and Critics Choice Awards.
Deaf West Theatre Artistic Director DJ Kurs says, “In the movie there is a scene where the Deaf members of the Rossi family, confronted with an inaccessible school performance, take in Ruby’s song through the joy of others in the audience. This is an opportunity, then, to bring the story full circle by bringing it back to members of the Deaf community and by making the music accessible through our signed and sung live adaptation of the movie. It is in the mission of our organization to be the artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing communities and we are truly excited and honored to embark on this live iteration of a story that brings together both sides of the aisle and addresses the ways that we move throughout the world."
Philippe Rousselet and Fabrice Gianfermi of Vendôme and Jerome Seydoux of Pathé Films co-produced the film alongside Patrick Wachsberger. Vendôme also played an integral role in kick starting CODA’s journey, having co-produced the original French film, La Famille Bélier.
Deaf West Theatre has been represented on Broadway with the Tony-nominated revivals of Spring Awakening (2015) and Big River (2003).
