Forget the soundtracks for “Lord of the Rings” or “Star Wars.” When it comes to fantasy, one will truly capture your imagination— the catalog of Britney Spears’.
The New York Times reported a fantasy musical comedy called "Once Upon a One More Time" is coming to Chicago Nov. 13 through Dec. 1. After that, the producers hope to transfer to Broadway.
"I'm so excited to have a musical with my songs—especially one that takes place in such a magical world filled with characters that I grew up on, who I love and adore," Spears said told Playbill. "This is a dream come true for me!"
The show will follow a book club of fairy-tale women, including Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. When the characters wish for something new after reading Grimms' fairy tales, a fairy godmother brings them Betty Friedan's classic feminist book "The Feminine Mystique."
The book, published in 1963, described a feeling of discontent among American women in post-World War II society.
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"Prevailing attitudes held that 'truly feminine' women had no desire for higher education, careers, or a political voice; rather, they found complete fulfillment in the domestic sphere," Lindsey Blake Churchill wrote in Encyclopedia Britannica. "Friedan, however, noted that many housewives were unsatisfied with their lives but had difficulty articulating their feelings."
“Once Upon a One More Time” will tackle similar themes. John Hartmere, a writer on the musical, told the Times Cinderella is in an existential crisis.
“These women have been in this hermetically sealed world, and then they start to get deeper into modern ideas — second and third-wave feminism — and also explore how stories are passed down to us, and where we get our norms from,” Hartmere said. “But it’s also superfun and funny.”
Hartmere said at the moment the soundtrack includes 23 Britney Spears songs, including most of her well-known hits and a few “deep album cuts.”
"Throughout her career, Britney has captivated fans across the globe with her singular brand of energy and resilience," said theater owner James L. Nederlander. "For three years, we have been working closely with her to develop a concept that perfectly encapsulates her unique spirit, and are so thrilled to finally bring this joyous and electrifying show to the stage."
"Once Upon a One More Time" will play at the James M. Nederlander Theater in Chicago. According to Playbill, the casting and creative team will be announced later.
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