Music Theatre International has released the stage musical adaptation of Tootsie for licensing, after adding the title to its catalogue in 2019. International restrictions may apply.
The musical, featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Robert Horn, debuted on Broadway in 2019, earning 11 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. The show ultimately won three categories, including Best Actor in a Musical for Santino Fontana, Best Score for Yazbek, and Best Book for Horn. The work has since toured the U.S. and played a professional regional debut at Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse. A Japanese production will begin performances in Tokyo in January 2024. The story follows out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey as he disguises himself as Dorothy Michaels to get work.
"Tootsie was an incredible experience to produce at Ogunquit Playhouse," says Ogunquit Executive Artistic Director Brad Kenney in a statement. "The thoughtful yet hysterical book was handled so well by Robert Horn and the creative team—the audience got so much more than they bargained for! Absolutely side-splitting laughter, an outstanding score for a strong ensemble, wonderful opportunities for great choreography, and a contemporary and very human journey for the characters and audience. It was a huge hit at the box office! Very strong word of mouth led to outstanding sales with many audience members seeing the show two and three times. Do this show!"
"We are delighted that MTI will be shepherding Tootsie domestically, abroad, and wherever there are shepherds," add Yazbek and Horn in a joint statement. "From the beginning, we set out to craft a heartfelt and funny musical that could galvanize audiences through the universal languages of music and laughter. Each one of us thinks it's the funniest show he's written so if you add that together, it equals the funniest show anyone has ever written in the history of the world. That said, who else would we let handle it but MTI, who has artistically and successfully licensed five of David’s previous shows, and three of Robert’s."
"It is a genuine privilege to be entrusted to promote and deliver Tootsie to professional and amateur stages around the world. The film Tootsie is widely considered one of the great movie comedies in history, and Robert Horn and David Yazbek have brilliantly updated the story as a stage musical in a way that connects deeply with today’s audiences on both a comedic and human level,” added MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen.
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See photos from Tootsie's Broadway run below:
