🎬 13: The Musical (2022)
Based on play/musical
13: The Musical is a 2022 Netflix film adaptation of the 2008 Broadway stage musical of the same name by Jason Robert Brown, Dan Elish, and Robert Horn. Directed by Tamra Davis, the film brings the coming-of-age story to the screen with an ensemble cast of young performers, including Eli Golden as Evan Goldman. The story follows Evan as he moves from New York City to Walkerton, Indiana, following his parents' divorce, and must navigate the trials of a new school while preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
The original stage musical holds a unique place in Broadway history as the only production to feature an entirely teenage cast and band. The 2008 Broadway run, though short-lived, launched the careers of several young actors, most notably Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies, who later co-starred on the Nickelodeon series Victorious. For the film adaptation, Jason Robert Brown returned to write new songs, expanding the original score, while Christopher Lennertz composed the incidental music.
The film version makes some adjustments to the source material, including the addition of new musical numbers and some character changes to fit the screen format. The cast was assembled between 2020 and 2021, with Debra Messing and Rhea Perlman joining the young ensemble in adult supporting roles. The film premiered at the Paris Theater in New York City before its Netflix release, bringing the story of teenage angst, friendship, and self-discovery to a new generation of viewers.
13 is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. It follows twelve-year-old Evan Goldman, who moves from New York City to small-town Indiana after his parents' divorce. As he prepares for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, he must navigate the complex social hierarchies of a new middle school. The show is unique in Broadway history for being the only production to feature a cast and band composed entirely of teenagers. It originally premiered on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, beginning previews on September 16, 2008, and officially opening on October 5, 2008. The production was directed by Jeremy Sams and starred Graham Phillips as Evan. Though it closed on January 4, 2009, after 105 performances, the show has since become a popular choice for youth and school theater productions. The Broadway cast notably included the professional debuts of Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies, who would later achieve wider fame.
