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    Musical based on 'Because of Winn-Dixie' planned

    By MARK KENNEDY | AP – Thu, Dec 15, 2011

    NEW YORK (AP) — Plans are under way to create a musical based on Kate DiCamillo's book "Because of Winn-Dixie" with songs by Duncan Sheik and a real dog on stage.

    Producers said Thursday they plan a workshop reading for the project this spring, followed by an out-of-town engagement and perhaps a spot on Broadway down the line. They've even found their star: Taran, an Irish Wolfhound, has been cast in the title role.

    The musical, based on the 2000 novel, tells the story of a 10-year-old girl who gains confidence and rekindles her relationship with her father, thanks to a stray dog she finds one day at a Winn-Dixie supermarket. The novel was made into a film in 2005 starring Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews and Eva Marie Saint.

    In addition to Sheik, who won a Tony Award for writing the music for "Spring Awakening," the producers have tapped Nell Benjamin to write the lyrics and story. She earned a Tony nomination of "Legally Blonde."

    John Tartaglia, who made his debut as a puppeteer with "The Muppets" at age 16 and earned a Tony nomination for his puppetry in "Avenue Q," will direct the project. The budget estimate is between $6 million and $7 million.

    The animal director will be Bill Berloni, who has trained dogs for more than a dozen Broadway shows and discovered the original Sandy for "Annie." He found Taran, who was adopted from a breeder in Connecticut. The musical will also have about 15 human actors.

    The producers are Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri and Dorothy Berloni.

     

    3 comments

    • at
      at  •  Washington, United States  •  5 mths ago
      That poor dog is going to be put through hell just to be some silly entertainment for selfish humyns who don't care about anyone but themselves. Nobody should ever be forced to be used for any purpose especially not for entertainment against their will. That is what is known as slavery and slavery is, has and always will be WRONG!!! Anyone who goes to see this play is supporting slavery and anyone who whines about what I wrote is also supporting slavery and is making assumptions on beings they clearly know little about!
    • at
      at  •  Washington, United States  •  5 mths ago
      adopted from a breeder? Huh? That persyn whomever they are is a slave master to put them in proper terms except they purposefully breed their "slaves" rather than just purchase them pre-bred. It is rather a sickening industry making living beings and commodifying them while millions of other beings are left to die. It is just another mark on the score sheet of humyn selfishness and greed. Breeders should be rotting in prison, treated like commodities used and abused just like the animals they "make" and eat and wear...
    • marianne
      marianne  •  Englewood, United States  •  5 mths ago
      "adopted" from a breeder? One does not "adopt" from a breeder. One buys from a breeder or adopts from a shelter (which is the way to go!)
     Post a comment
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