Live Stage
Lively McCabe's core business, we partner with both large intellectual property holders as well as distribution companies to develop and deliver a slate of stage musicals and plays to be licensed globally.
CLUE
Lively McCabe has partnered with Work Light Productions and The Araca Group to adapt the Hasbro board game and iconic 1985 Paramount film CLUE as a live stage play. Adapted from Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay by Sandy Rustin with music by Michael Holland and additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price, the world-premiere production directed by Casey Hushion premiered at the Cleveland Playhouse in January of 2020, with subsequent productions at La Mirada Theater and Paper Mill Playhouse. The dramatic rights are currently available for licensing via our publishing partners at Broadway Licensing, with CLUE currently holding the title of “Most Produced Play in High Schools” in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year. The US National Tour launches in February 2024, for tour dates please visit www.clueliveonstage.com.
CLUEdo
Based on CLUE, and adapted for British audiences by director Mark Bell (The Play That Goes Wrong) CLUEDO premiered in the UK in 2022 partnership with Kilimanjaro Theatricals (Josh Andrews & Stuart Galbraith). UK publishing and licensing will be handled by Broadway Licensing Group’s London office. For more information please visit www.cluedostageplay.com.
MYSTIC PIZZA
Lively McCabe has licensed the stage rights to the cult classic 1988 film from MGM and screenwriter Amy Holden Jones. Adapted by Sandy Rustin, with Music Supervision by Carmel Dean and directed by Casey Hushion, the musical features a hit pop score from the late 80s and early 90s, including songs originally recorded by Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, John Cougar Mellencamp, Debbie Gibson, Wilson Phillips, The Bangles, Belinda Carlisle, Rick Astley, Bryan Adams, among many others. The musical premiered at the Ogunquit Playhouse in September of 2021 and is now available for licensing via Concord Theatricals. West Coast Premiere at La Mirada Theater in January 2024 followed by a National Tour in 2025/26. For more information please visit www.mysticpizzaonstage.com.
MAY WE ALL
Lively McCabe has partnered with multi-platinum duo Florida Georgia Line, BMG, writers Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson & Eric Pfeffinger, and Music Supervisor Brian Usifer to develop this stage musical featuring music from artists including Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Old Dominion, and Miranda Lambert as well as the title song from Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw. The musical debuted in January 2022 at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, and had a commercial run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville in June 2022. The title is now available for licensing from Music Theater International (MTI), with major upcoming productions in 2024 including The REV, and The Hale Canter. For more information please visit www.mayweallthemusical.com.
PUNK ROCK GIRL
Lively McCabe has partnered with BMG to develop PUNK ROCK GIRL by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill) , with music from Blondie, Pink!, Avril Lavigne, Pat Benatar, Echosmith, Sleater Kinney, Bikini Kill, and featuring the title song by the The Dead Milkmen. With Co-Arrangements and Orchestrations from Rob Rokicki and Directed by Jennifer Werner, the musical premiered at The Argyle Theatre in January 2022 and is now available for licensing from our partners at Concord Theatricals.
Coming Soon!
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
Adapted from the iconic screenplay by Amy Spies, and featuring the title song made famous by Cyndi Lauper, this new musical features the greatest hit dance songs of the 1980s. Developed in partnership with Primary Wave Music, the show tells the story of high schooler Janey, a talented gymnast, who has always followed the orders of her strict Army colonel father and stayed out of the spotlight. However, when she moves to a new town and meets bold, supportive Lynne, she disobeys her father for the first time to enter a TV dance competition. Written by M. Dickson and Lauren Marcus, and directed by Jennifer Werner, this show will debut in 2025 with more information to come soon!
Always Something There…
An homage to the John Hughes films of the 1980s from Sandy Rustin (The Cottage, Clue, Mystic Pizza), ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE... is a contemporary, musical twist on a Peggy Sue Got Married/Back to the Future-esque story developed in partnership with Primary Wave Music. When Samantha Craig wakes up on the morning of her 45th birthday in her 18-year-old life, she has a chance to rewrite her past and land herself in the future of her dreams. With music supervision by Geoffrey Ko and directed by James Vasquez, this new musical features a hit score including songs made famous by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Wilson Phillips, Devo, Debbie Gibson, The GoGos, Air Supply, and Stevie Nicks, among many others. Debut production to be announced shortly and the musical will be published and become available for licensing in 2024.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
A soon to be Holiday season classic, this musical is a Kris Kringle origin-story set in mid-century New York City from writer Jeremy Desmon, Music Supervisor Jesse Vargas, and Directed by Paul Stancato. Developed in partnership with BMG, this Christmas musical, inspired by the title song by Louis Armstrong, also features both classic Christmas songs like "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and "Do You Hear What I Hear," as well as hit pop music from artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Nancy Sinatra, Shawn Mendes, American Authors, Rascal Flatts, and Imagine Dragons, among others. The show had a pilot production in December 2021 at the Timber Lake Playhouse and is preparing materials for publication in 2024.