Bring It On, On the Stage

I've never been a big fan of musicals, but this is one I can get behind. On Tuesday, Variety broke the news that plans for Bring It On: The Musical are under way! And surprisingly, there are some legitimately talented people behind it. Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer of recent hit In the Heights, will co-write the music, and Jeff Whitty, Tony winner for Avenue Q, will write the book. And it gets better still -- two other In the Heights alums will take on choreography and music supervising duties.

Now before you say 'that sounds like a terrible idea,' just think about it. Remember all those cheers and dance numbers from the movie? It's basically a musical already. There were even singers in it. Plus it has elements of some of the greatest musicals of all time -- an epic battle similar to that barricade business in Les Miserables, a rags-to-riches tale of an outcast gymnast turned ace cheerleader that mirrors Eliza Doolittle's rise to fame and fortune in My Fair Lady, and a gritty exploration of racial tensions ripped straight out of the classic West Side Story.

Andy Blankenbuehler, the choreographer, says, 'The team's goal is to create a a piece of theater that's not just for little girls.' Whatever, Andy. Even it was just for little girls, I'd still buy tickets. Nearly ten years later I still know all the words to that opening cheer. We're sexy, we're cute, we're popular to boot...I'll stop now.

photo courtesy hollywoodteenmovies.com