A stage adaptation of High Noon, based on the Oscar-winning 1952 film, will make its world premiere on Broadway in 2023. Oscar winner Eric Roth (A Star is Born, Forrest Gump) will pen the adaptation in his Broadway debut, with Tony winner Michael Arden (Spring Awakening, Once on This Island) set to direct.
The first Western play to premiere on Broadway in decades, the show will unfold in real time like the film, which follows a town marshal faced with confronting a group of killers on his own or leaving town with his new wife. The film, which starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1989.
Paula Wagner and Hunter Arnold serve as the show's producers, joined by consulting producers Karen S. Kramer and partner Steve Jaffe. Casting and additional creative team members, in addition to dates and theatre, will be announced at a later date
"When Eric Roth presented his vision for a stage adaptation of High Noon, I immediately saw the potential for a theatrical presentation of the iconic story about doing the right thing in spite of public opinion and external pressure," said Wagner in a statement. "More relevant today than ever, Stanley Kramer’s film continues to captivate audiences with a classic Western portrayal of a person standing up for what is right in the face of apathy and rejection."
"Today, we see our Constitution being challenged unlike any time in our history," said Karen S. Kramer in a statement. "The story of High Noon reminds us of what we stand for–truth, justice and the hard-fought values of our democracy. We are blessed that the future of High Noon is now in the capable hands of such talents as one of the esteemed voices of our time, writer playwright Eric Roth and the stellar producer Paula Wagner. The legacy of Stanley Kramer's High Noon is safely upheld with these two great artists. We look forward to the re-imagined story for future generations."
101 Productions, Ltd. will serve as general manager.
