'Diana' The Broadway Musical, Set to Open in 2020
A musical based on the "People's Princess," entitled simply Diana, will land on Broadway in 2020.
The 2020s will be a time of upheaval for the royal family, no matter what happens. Unless, somehow, Queen Elizabeth II lives until 104 and sees 2030, the next decade will see the rise of King Charles, and William and Kate become first in line behind him. Between the coming of the end of the Second Elizabethan Age, Will and Harry's marriages, and Netflix's The Crown, it's not that surprising that other mediums are looking into how to talk about her near 70-years-and-counting reign.
The theater first started with King Charles III, focusing on a Shakespearean take on the coming changeover. The latest is a look back on one of the most recognizable figures during Elizabeth's rule, Charles' chosen first wife, Diana Frances Spencer. And even better, it's a musical.
Directed by Christopher Ashley, the show originally opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego in the spring of 2019. It might seem like a strange subject matter, but Ashley is the brains behind the just-as-surprising 9/11-based musical hit Come From Away. It starred Jeanna de Waal (Kinky Boots) as the titular Diana and Roe Hartrampf as her unfortunate husband who will one day be King. The good news for them is both will be retaining these roles as the show makes the jump to Broadway next year. Hopefully, the musical will undergo some serious retooling between now and then though, as the reviews for the La Jolla show were less than kind.
