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We still can’t quite picture it, given the moody “vibe” of the 1999 film, but The Public just announced that it will stage the world premiere of a play with songs adaptation of Girl, Interrupted next May.
Originally a 1993 memoir by Susanna Kaysen about her experience in a psychiatric hospital, the book was turned into the award-winning film starring Winona Ryder as Kaysen, alongside Angelina Jolie, the late Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, Whoopi Goldberg and Jared Leto—a stellar cast, indeed.
How that story will translate to the stage remains to be seen, but we have faith: the play is being written by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Martyna Majok, with original music by Grammy Award winner Aimee Mann and direction by Tony Award nominee Jo Bonney. According to an official press release, "casting will be announced at a later date."
"Martyna is a playwright of extraordinary sensitivity and power; Aimee is a songwriter of unparalleled insight and beauty. Together they’ve created a breathtaking look at women, mental illness and the all-too flawed systems America has created to handle them," said artistic director Oskar Eustis in an official statement. "Heart-breaking, inspiring and profound, under Jo Bonney’s magnificent leadership, this is a show unlike any other."
According to the New York Times, the project has been a long time coming, with those in charge discussing it during various interviews. "But then came the pandemic, and the project stalled out," reports the outlet.
Fast-forward to today and the stars seem to have aligned, with the play set to take one of the most beloved NYC stages come 2026.
General ticket sales for the show will open up here on December 17.