Stage Adaptation of THE WAR OF THE ROSES Coming to Broadway in 2015-16 Season!
Tony Award winning Producers Jay Gutterman, Cindy Gutterman, Cathy Chernoff, Carl Moellenberg and Wendy Federman just announced that THE WAR OF THE ROSES, the riveting stage adaptation by Warren Adler based on his original best-selling novel of the same name, will bow on Broadway during the 2015-2016 season.
Warren Adler’s THE WAR OF THE ROSES follows the explosive chandelier shattering storyline of Barbara and Jonathan Rose’s confrontational filled divorce drama gone terribly wrong. THE WAR OF THE ROSES is a clever dark comedy about the breakup of a marriage which leads to the ugliest divorce imaginable, one that is both frightening and revealing.
This iconic tale takes us from suburban bliss to a deadly territorial battle. Jonathan and Barbara Rose are, at first glance, the perfect couple. Jonathan has a stable law career; Barbara is an aspiring gourmet entrepreneur with a promising pâté recipe. Their large home holds the rich antique collection that originally brought them together, as well as the loving familial bond that intertwines them with their children, Eve and Josh. When Jonathan finds himself suddenly gripped by what is presumably a heart attack and Barbara confronts the loveless spell lingering between them, the sun-soaked sky that was once the Rose family union drifts into a torrential downpour. Their mutual hatred becomes the ammunition in a domestic warfare that escalates the unfolding chaos in the most unpredictable ways.
Originally published in 1981, THE WAR OF THE ROSES is Warren Adler’s best-selling novel. The now classic 1989 hit feature film starring Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito and Kathleen Turner further expanded the worldwide recognition of this title. Mr. Adler’s stage adaptation has already played to spectacular reviews and packed houses world-wide.
WARREN ADLER is a novelist, screenwriter, essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright whose works have been translated into over 25 languages worldwide. Following the success of The War of the Roses, Adler went on to sell film rights for 12 of his books including Private Lives and Random Harts. He has released 33 novels including the Fiona Fitzgerald mystery series, and written the stage versions of Windmills, Libido and Dead in the Water. His novel The Sunset Gang was adapted into a trilogy for PBS’s American Playhouse series, while the musical version received an Off-Broadway production with music scored by composer L. Russell Brown. Adler introduced the first digital reader manufactured by SONY in 2007, and has since converted his entire library to digital publishing formats published now under his own company, Stonehouse Press.
“We are thrilled to have our dark comedy about the perils of the married state in the hands of savvy producers and look forward to bring this cautionary tale to an ever widening audience,” Adler said of the announcement.
Jay and Cindy Gutterman are six-time Tony Award-nominated producers, winning three times; once this season with their producing partner Cathy Chernoff for All the Way starring Bryan Cranston, directed by Bill Rauch, and previously for both Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Mayer, and Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Alan Alda and Live Schreiber, directed by Joe Mantello. They have been nominated for eight Drama Desk Awards, winning twice. The Gutterman’s and Chernoff have combined on eight Broadway productions including All the Way, Evita, and Chinglish, as well as Glengarry Glen Ross and The Merchant of Venice, both starring Al Pacino. Additional productions include The Addams Family (Broadway and National Tour), David Mamet’s Race starring James Spader and Kerry Washington, The Seagull with Kristen Scott Thomas and the National Tour of Spring Awakening. Off-Broadway shows include the Obie Award winning musical Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Love Janis and Scent of the Roses starring Julie Harris.
Carl Moellenberg has won six Tony Awards for Spring Awakening, Hair, War Horse, Pippin, Death of a Salesman and All the Way. Carl has produced 35 shows on Broadway or National Tours. He will be active in the 2014-2015 season with 10 additional producing commitments at this point in time. Carl is the Chairman of Dominion Pictures, which is an integrated entertainment company spanning live theater, film, distribution and P & A.
Wendy Federman has won three Tony Awards with 14 nominations, four Drama Desk Awards with 15 nominations, and has produced 36 shows between Broadway, National Tours and London. She is attached as a producer to 10 new projects for the upcoming 2014-2015 season. Wendy has served on the boards of MCC, Bergen PAC, the Penguin Rep and Gilda’s Club NNJ. Wendy is an Exec Vice President of Dominion Pictures.
Additional members of the producing team for THE WAR OF THE ROSES will include Jonathan Robert Adler, Keith Knee and Al Hayes. Jonathan Adler’s production company is set to adapt another Warren Adler novel into a long awaited feature film The War of the Roses: The Children, the screenplay is being written by Alex McAuley.
Casting, creative team, theater, and a Broadway opening date for THE WAR OF THE ROSES will be announced at a later date.