The upcoming Broadway season will feature a slew of adaptations making their debut. But at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater, Almost Famous aims to rewrite the way films are adapted to 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 was unsure if the story would work as a musical, and while he likes jukebox musicals, he 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 told Newsweek.
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 an instant classic and launched the careers of Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson, the latter of whom earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of 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 COVID-19 pandemic, the stage production will find new life 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 "band-aid" Penny Lane, told Newsweek: "We're not trying to make this anything besides like the most truthful, honest and joyous version" of Crowe's story.
"It's about finding that middle ground where you properly represent the story...but you lean into the fact that it's a theatrical experience and you play to the strengths of theater," director Jeremy Herrin told Newsweek.
Almost Famous tells the story of precocious 15-year-old William Miller, an aspiring music journalist and rock 'n' roll super fan. Will begins a personal and professional journey of self-discovery when Rolling Stone magazine hires him to go on the road to cover one of his favorite up-and-coming bands, Stillwater.
Audiences will get a more intimate look at the beloved characters, including the backstory on Penny Lane's famous shearling coat. With new scenes and original songs, the characters truly discover their voices on stage. But don't worry, fan-favorite lines like Elaine Miller's "Don't take drugs!" will be featured.
"We're giving voices to people who didn't have at least a singing voice in the show," said Broadway newcomer Casey Likes, who plays Miller.
When preparing for the role, Likes said he initially felt pressure to emulate Patrick Fugit's characterization of Will in the film.
"I really admire [Fugit] and I wanted to deliver something that was true to him," Likes said. "And then when I realized that I could just do something that was true to Cameron, that changed everything for me."
Likes got to know Crowe, who shared dozens of stories about his life on the road, and picked up his mannerisms and "how he makes people feel."
While revisiting his own story, Crowe spoke with his sister, played in the movie by Zooey Deschanel, about what it was really like back then.
"OK, it was a little tougher than it is in the movie. So let's talk about what that feeling really was," he said. "And so we kind of grew it from that, which was good for the songs for sure."
Good theater, like good music, provides an intimate emotional connection between performer and audience member.
"There is a reason why people listen to music to help them through heartbreak, and there is a reason why it works," said Anika Larsen, who plays William's mother, Elaine. "In musicals, we get to a place of emotion where we can no longer speak it, we have to sing it."
Composer Tom Kitt, known for Next to Normal, Bring It On!, and American Idiot, calls Crowe "the poet of the everyday."
His movies have spoken to me my whole life. He teaches us about humanity and connection.
"His movies have spoken to me my whole life," he said. "He teaches us about humanity and connection."
In the show, William's self-discovery as he navigates his role in the music industry parallels the journey of Stillwater. Likes can relate to William's struggle with stepping into a new professional role surrounded by his heroes.
"This is the story of William coming out of obscurity and being on the road with the people [he's] looked up to for years," he said. "I came in with a playbill backpack the first day of rehearsal in San Diego and half the people who were in that room were in shows on my backpack."
Likes, who is making his Broadway debut, said his character represents the feelings of "first times."
"We all remember when our dream came true, when we got to do that thing that we always wanted," he said.
At its core, Almost Famous is a love letter to being a fan, and to those who have a pure, unabashed love of music.
"I would say anybody that loves this movie loves music," said Drew Gehling, who plays Stillwater lead singer Jeff Bebe.
Gehling, best known for his role as Dr. Pomatter in the Broadway musical adaptation of Waitress, said if you love music, "then this is the show for you."
Larsen, who received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Cynthis Wiel in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, said Crowe's level of insight is infused throughout the musical. His passion and expertise makes the show feel "magical."
Almost Famous' exploration of growing up and achieving one's dreams is something to which audiences of all ages can relate.
It's those young characters just hitting adulthood and there's a fork in the road where they have to decide what sort of person they're going to be. And that works for everybody.
"It's those young characters just hitting adulthood and there's a fork in the road where they have to decide what sort of person they're going to be," Herrin said. "And that works for everybody."
Almost Famous underscores the power of music to bring different groups together. Colletti credits Crowe's expert examination of the human condition for making the musical so impactful.
"Cameron is truly one of the great explorers of humanity of the last...40 years," he said. "He's an icon for a reason. My hope is that [audiences] also take with them the message that the show pushes in a way that obviously you get from the movie, but in that elevated, interpersonal experience you only get in a live show."
Larsen told Newsweek that if you spend enough time with Cameron Crowe, "you start to be in a Cameron Crowe movie." So for over two hours, audiences can feel like they, too, are living out their dreams on the back of a tour bus.
About the writer
Lauren Giella is a Newsweek National reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on breaking and trending U.S. ... Read more
