Get ready for some singing martial artists.
According to Entertainment Weekly, original “The Karate Kid” screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen is working on an adaptation of the 1984 classic into a stage musical.
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Kamen is writing the book for the play, with lyrics by Drew Gasparini, choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid and directed by Amon Miyamoto.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this little movie would reach across generations the way it has. And beyond my wildest dreams did I think what started out as a love letter to my devotion to Okinawan Karate and the man who taught me would become a full-blown Broadway musical,” Kamen said. “But here it is. Here I am. And here is hoping that what comes to the stage brings the same joy and relevance ‘The Karate Kid’ has brought to countless kids and their parents for the past 35 years. Go figure.”
Talking about bringing the story to live for the stage, Miyamoto said, “Many people love Broadway musicals for ‘escape,’ but I love them because they provide insight into how we should live our lives. I was inspired to do a stage adaptation of The Karate Kid because it tells a story we need in this on-going ‘Age of Division’ as our society becomes increasingly globalized.”
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He continued, “The sweet contradiction of ‘The Karate Kid’ is that the real nature of karate is, as the show says, ‘not for attack.’ Not to hurt, not to win, but to let opposing energies play out and come in grace to a conclusion that allows dignity and respect for all. I’m excited to show this dynamic with a visual and movement style unseen on Broadway. I want to introduce a new generation to this powerful story — through the immediate, visceral spell a good musical can cast through theatricality, music, and dance.”
The original film starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, and spawned three sequels, a 2010 reboot starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, as well as the YouTube Red series “Cobra Kai”.
