Flashdance sets its sights on Broadway

Matt Willis (Nick) & Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Alex) from the 2010 London production

The New York Times reports that a re-vamped version of the musical Flashdance, based on the 1983 movie of the same name, and which premiered in London in 2010, will arrive on Broadway in the Fall of 2012, directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.

Flashdance is set in Pittsburgh USA, and tells the story of the 18 year old girl Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. The musical features the Academy Award-winning title song "Flashdance - What a Feeling."

The musical has a score by Robbie Roth, lyrics by Roth and Robert Cary, and a book by Tom Hedley - who collaborated with Joe Eszterhas on the screenplay for the movie.

Flashdance premiered in London's Westend, where it opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 14 Oct 2010, following previews from 24 Sep 2010. The show closed after a four month run on 16 Jan 2011.

The London production opened to mixed notices: Clumsy (Telegraph); Brims with physical energy (Guardian); Lacks a real imaginative freshness (Standard); A slick and brilliantly-crafted production (londontheatre.co.uk).

Flashdance is based on the 1983 Paramount Pictures film which was directed by Adrian Lyne and starred Jennifer Beals as 'Alex.' Though not a hit with the critics, the film grossed over $100 million at the box office.