The Danish Girl: Best-selling novel in development as a new stage musical

David Ebershoff’s seminal novel The Danish Girl is being adapted into a musical, led by a creative team including Georgie Rankcom and Nora Brigid Monahan.

Benson Drive Productions has today announced the first developmental workshop for a new musical based on the life of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender-affirming surgery. The project marks a major new adaptation of Ebershoff’s 2000 New York Times Notable Book, which previously inspired the 2015 Academy Award-winning film starring Eddie Redmayne.

A Focus on Authenticity

This new stage iteration aims to bring a contemporary perspective to Elbe’s legacy. Producer George Strus emphasized that the production is being built on a foundation of authentic representation, featuring a creative team largely comprised of trans artists to honor the history of the source material.

“Our musical works to continue to honor the great life of Lili Elbe with a majority-trans creative team,” Strus said in a statement. “We hope this production creates space for deeper understanding, empathy, and connection across audiences in London, New York, and beyond.”

The Creative Team

The adaptation features a book and lyrics by Nora Brigid Monahan, whose recent work includes a musical adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando. The score is by Alex Parker (The Railway Children, Am Dram), who also serves as Musical Director for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Entertainment. Direction is by Georgie Rankcom, currently UK Associate Director for the West End hit Oh, Mary!.

The musical’s narrative structure moves away from a traditional period piece, beginning in a modern-day art gallery. The story follows a woman examining the century-old portraits of Elbe and Gerda Wegener, searching for the truth behind their pioneering queer love and the relevance of their journey a hundred years later.

Development and Future Plans

The production begins its first private workshop in New York this week. Benson Drive Productions – whose recent credits include the Tony-nominated Illinoise and Oh, Mary! – is developing the piece with an eye toward future runs in both the UK and the US.

Further casting and production timelines are expected to be announced later this year.

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Main photo: The Danish Girl - Musical in development