Cher musical coming to Broadway in Fall 2018

Cher is subject of a new musical, The Cher Show, which will premiere in Chicago in June 2018 and then make its way to the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway the following fall. Three different actresses will play different aspects of Cher’s life, and the show’s book was written by Rick Elice, who also wrote the book for the Frank Valli-themed musical Jersey Boys. The NY Times points out that the show was informed by a series of interviews that Elice conducted with Cher, and that Cher has been “deeply involved in the show’s development, including reading scripts and coming to workshops.” The show is produced by Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller and his production partner Flody Suarez. Jason Moore (Avenue Q) directs, Christopher Gattelli (Newsies) is choreographer, and Daryl Waters (Memphis) is the arranger and musical supervisor. Here’s more from the NY Times article:

“We have been discussing this musical for 10 years,” Cher, a pop star and Academy Award-winning actress, said in a statement. “It’s exciting and scary.”

The musical has an unusual approach — it will be structured like a variety show, nodding to “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which helped propel her to celebrity in the 1970s. The show currently features all or part of 35 to 40 of Cher’s best known songs.

“‘The Cher Show’ is not linear, and it is entirely psychological — it takes place in her psychological closet, and in that closet is everything she’s ever been in her life — everything she has ever played, every song she’s sung, everyone she’s been married to, every pair of shoes she’s worn, every success and every failure,” said Rick Elice.

There will also be actors portraying Cher’s former husbands Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman. The cast is still TBA.

Speaking of rock and pop on Broadway, Bruce Springsteen begins his 10-week Broadway run next week.