Bringing Almost Famous to Broadway

The creators and cast of the new musical talk about turning a beloved movie into alive show

the new broad way season features several movie adaptations. But at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater, the people behind Almost Famous are aiming to rewrite the way films are adapted for the stage.

The story is based on the real-life experience of writer and filmmaker Cameron Crowe, who covered the Allman Brothers Band as a teen in the 1970s. Crowe, who wrote the new show’s book and lyrics, was unsure if the story would work as a musical. He likes jukebox musicals, but felt the deeply personal story deserved original songs to drive home key themes.

“It’s more about being a fan than the actual replaying of all the songs,” he says. After working as a music journalist, Crowe began writing and directing films that captured the Gen X experience, including 1989’s Say Anything, 1992’s Singles and 1996’s Jerry Maguire.

Crowe then channeled his experience to write and direct 2000’s Almost Famous. The film became a classic and launched the careers of Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson, the latter of whom earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of “band aid” Penny Lane. The film also earned Crowe an Academy Award for Best Screenplay and a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture.

After a run in San Diego and production delays due to the pandemic, the stage production opened on Broadway on November 3. Adapting the story to the stage required balancing the spirit of the film while creating something new for fresh audiences.

As Solea Pfeiffer, who plays the iconic Penny Lane, says, “We’re not trying to make this anything besides the most truthful, honest and joyous version” of Crowe’s story.