Groundhog Day the Musical becomes available for licensing from MTI

Theatre licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has announced that the rights to perform Tim Minchin’s Groundhog Day the Musical are now available for licensing worldwide.

Some international restrictions apply, including in Australia where the show is currently running at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, starring the show’s West End and Broadway lead Andy Karl as weatherman Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray in the hit movie on which the musical is based.

The Australian production has been getting great reviews, with Tim Bryne in the Guardian giving the show four-stars and saying that it’s “Easily as funny and considerably darker than the 1993 film”.

Groundhog Day had its world premiere at The Old Vic in London in 2016, winning two Olivier Awards for Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Andy Karl, plus the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical and four BroadwayWorld UK/West End Awards including Theatrical Event of the Year.

The show also opened on Broadway in 2017 scoring seven Tony Award nominations, although closed quickly. The Old Vic then staged a hugely successful return production in 2023, also starring Andy Karl.

There are continued rumours that Groundhog Day will return to London’s West End at some point.

Groundhog Day has a book by the movie’s original co-screenwriter Danny Rubin, and music and lyrics by Olivier Award winner Tim Minchin (Matilda the Musical).

MTI’s President and CEO Drew Cohen said in a statement:“Groundhog Day is one of my favorite films and the musical is a fantastic re-imagining of the source material. Danny Rubin’s book retains the story’s humor and warmth, while adding exciting new elements for the stage, and Tim Minchin’s brilliant songs really bring the characters and their challenges to life in this medium. Having all lived our own versions of Groundhog Day in the past few years, audiences connect with this story more than ever. This is one musical comedy that we hope customers will license over and over and over again.”

You can read the Groundhog Day libretto vocal book here.

MTI is one of the world’s largest theatrical licensors, and is owned by West End and Broadway impresario Cameron Mackintosh.

Links:

MTI - Groundhog Day