Get ready for the Broadway musical version of "The Wall"

Aug. 05, 2004

Broadway putting up 'Wall'
By Ian Mohr

NEW YORK -- Miramax Films has pacted with Casablanca Records head Thomas Mottola to develop and produce a Broadway musical based on Pink Floyd's seminal rock opera "The Wall."

Roger Waters, who co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 and conceived the 1979 concept double album, will write the Broadway show's book and arrange and orchestrate music for the stage production.

The album, which includes such Pink Floyd hits as "Comfortably Numb" and "Hey You," follows the journey of disillusioned rock star Pink, who looks back at the experiences that forged his neuroses.

Rights on the project were sold by Waters to Miramax and Mottola, the former Sony Music head and founder of the management and production shingle the Mottola Co.

Mottola initiated the "Wall" deal, bringing Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein into the fold. Weinstein has experience as a producer on the Great White Way, having been credited on such shows as "The Producers," "Gypsy" and Baz Luhrmann's "La Boheme." He also is bringing another rock 'n' roll project to Broadway with "All Shook Up."

Weinstein will oversee production on "Wall" for Miramax along with the mini-major's vp business and legal affairs Timothy Schmidt and director of creative affairs Heidi Herman.

"I am thrilled to be involved with bringing 'The Wall' to Broadway and to give new generations the opportunity to see this legendary show," Weinstein said. "I am also delighted to be working with music geniuses Tommy Mottola and Roger Waters, who are sure to make the music rock again."

Said Mottola: "There are few projects as timeless as 'The Wall.' Even after two decades since its first release, 'The Wall' continues to break through every generational, socioeconomic and political boundary. When I first thought of bringing this event to Broadway, I knew I could not do it without the visionary talents of Roger Waters and of course my dear friend Harvey Weinstein and the wealth of experience of his Miramax team."

Pink Floyd's "Wall" album, which is certified 23 times platinum and sits in third place on the list of best-selling albums ever, was adapted into a 1982 film released by MGM and starring Bob Geldof. Alan Parker ("The Commitments") directed the "Wall" feature from a script by Waters.

Pink Floyd's theatrical live performances of "The Wall" became the stuff of rock legend, and an $8 million production was staged in Berlin in 1990.

Said Waters of the planned Broadway show, "Now I can write in some laughs, notable by their absence in the movie."

Schmidt and Charles Layton brokered the deal for Miramax. Larry Shire and Gil Karson negotiated on behalf of Mottola. John Breglio, Mark Fenwick and Tony Russell repped Waters in the deal.