Cyndi Lauper Leads a New 'Working Girl' Stage Musical

2 days ago7 min read1 comments

The marquee lights are dimming for a new star on Broadway, one that carries the formidable legacy of shoulder pads and power lunches into a fresh era. Cyndi Lauper, the indomitable spirit whose anthems defined a generation's search for fun and freedom, is now steering the ship for a stage musical adaptation of the seminal 1988 film 'Working Girl,' with the formidable JoJo announced to lead the ensemble.This isn't merely a nostalgic revival; it's a full-throated reimagining for a contemporary audience, asking the poignant question of how the story of Tess McGill—a secretary from Staten Island using her wit and grit to climb the corporate ladder—resonates in today's vastly different, yet strangely similar, professional landscape. Lauper’s involvement is a masterstroke of thematic alignment.Her own career, built on championing the misfits and the underestimated with songs like 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and 'True Colors,' mirrors Tess’s journey of authentic self-discovery in a world demanding conformity. One can already anticipate the score: not a simple jukebox of her hits, but likely a collection of new, character-driven numbers that capture the simmering frustration of being overlooked, the electric thrill of a bold idea, and the triumphant joy of earning a seat at the table on one's own terms.The casting of JoJo, a vocal powerhouse who herself navigated the complexities of the music industry from a young age, adds another layer of meta-narrative depth. Her journey from teen pop sensation to a respected, independent artist reflects a modern-day Tess, fighting for creative and professional autonomy.The original film, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, and Sigourney Weaver, was a cultural touchstone that perfectly captured the ambition and aesthetic of late-80s Wall Street. It was a fairy tale, yes, but one grounded in the realpolitik of office dynamics, glass ceilings, and the art of the deal.Translating this to the stage requires more than just replicating iconic scenes; it demands a theatrical language that can convey the internal monologues, the whispered conspiracies in elevator banks, and the soaring feeling of a hard-won victory. The creative team will undoubtedly leverage the immediacy of live performance to heighten the story’s emotional stakes, perhaps using choreography to illustrate the cogs of the corporate machine or set design that seamlessly shifts from the claustrophobic Staten Island ferry to the dizzying heights of a Manhattan skyscraper.The context of this production is also critical; it arrives amidst a renewed cultural conversation about women in the workplace, from the #MeToo movement to the ongoing fight for pay equity and representation in leadership. The 1988 Tess battled a single, formidable villain in her boss, Katharine Parker.The 2024 Tess, as interpreted through Lauper and JoJo, likely contends with a more insidious and systemic set of challenges. How will the musical address the evolution of feminism, the role of mentorship, and the definition of success in a gig economy? The potential here is for a production that is both a loving homage and a sharp, relevant commentary, using the language of musical theatre—a genre built on big emotions and even bigger dreams—to tell a story that, at its heart, has always been about the universal hunger to be seen, heard, and valued for one's mind, not just one's title.

#featured

#Cyndi Lauper

#Working Girl

#musical

#revival

#JoJo

#theater

#adaptation

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