The Stage

West End producer to make spoof porn musical

Published Wednesday 28 July 2004 at 11:25 by Jeremy Austin

Exclusive: Debbie Does Dallas, the notorious seventies porn film, is to be developed into a new musical by West End producer Mark Goucher.

The show, a tongue-in-cheek musical take on the movie, has played Off-Broadway in the New York International Fringe Festival in 2001, and in 2002, when it gained a cult following. It has also been performed in Australia. A British version would have the book rewritten but would feature the original songs, composed by Andrew Sherman with additional music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Jonathan Callicutt.

Said Goucher: “I am looking for someone to come in with me and co-produce it. Ideally I would like to workshop it in a studio space at a regional theatre.”

Released in 1978, the movie starred Bambi Woods as Debbie Benton, a small-town girl who achieves her dream by being accepted as cheerleader for the Texas Rangers but whose parents will not pay for her to get to Dallas. With her friends she forms Teen Services, an odd-job crew who work for cash but who realise there is a more lucrative market.

Adapted by Erica Schmidt, the stage version that was performed in America and Australia is reported to have kept the humour and irony of the film but has toned down the sex scenes.

Additionally, Goucher is making plans to bring regional hit Footloose into the West End after its tour in September and October. He is also taking on the road West End hits Journey’s End, Round the Horne… Revisited and High Society. All three tour from September. The Reduced Shakespeare Company tours again from August as does Fame - The Musical.