TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

'Wonderful Life' stage adaptation gets a little help from Paul McCartney

  (Reuters)
Thu, July 18, 2019 Published on Jul. 18, 2019 Published on 2019-07-18T10:45:14+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
'Wonderful Life' stage adaptation gets a little help from Paul McCartney Sir Paul McCartney performs in concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on July 26, 2017 in Tinley Park, Illinois. (AFP/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Paul McCartney is adding another string to his bow - writing his first musical.

The former Beatle, an 18-time Grammy award winner, is in the final stages of completing songs for a stage adaptation of the beloved 1946 movie It's a Wonderful Life, with the aim of launching it in late 2020, the musician's representatives said on Wednesday.

McCartney is writing the music and working on the lyrics with Britain's Lee Hall, the screenwriter of Billy Elliot and the Elton John biopic Rocketman. British theater and film producer Bill Kenwright, who secured the rights, will produce the show.

It's a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart as a man down on his luck who is saved by a guardian angel, has become one of Hollywood's best loved Christmas movies.

"Writing a musical is not something that had ever really appealed to me but Bill and I met up with Lee Hall and had a chat and I found myself thinking this could be interesting and fun," McCartney said in a statement.

Read also: Confident and content, Paul McCartney rejuvenates sound

'It's A Wonderful Life is a universal story we can all relate to," he added.

McCartney, 77, who wrapped up the U.S. leg of his latest tour last weekend, has already written about seven songs for the musical.

"The songs take you somewhere you don't expect to go. They sound simple - but its deceptive," Kenwright said.

McCartney's partnership with fellow Beatle John Lennon in Liverpool in the 1960s produced many of the best-known and most enduring songs in pop music.

Since the Beatles broke up in 1970, McCartney has released more than 25 studio albums, including five of original classical music. 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.