by This is really happening.
Fran Drescher, who starred as The Nanny for 146 episodes from 1993-99, is developing the sitcom into a Broadway musical, co-writing the book with her series co-creator, Peter Marc Jacobson, with music and lyrics from Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger. Bloom and Schlesinger, of course, won an Emmy Award last year for their work together on Bloom’s CW series, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) will direct.
“We are SO excited to be working on the Broadway musical The Nanny,” said Drescher and Jacobson. “We’re equally excited that the wildly talented Rachel Bloom will be writing the lyrics and music with the fantastic Adam Schlesinger, and to have the brilliant Marc Bruni directing. Nobody is cast yet – we’re plotting – but we feel confident we will find a fabulous actress who is funny, charming and has a great voice.”
“Of course I would do it myself,” Drescher added, “but we’d have to change the title to The Granny.”
Bloom said: “The Nanny was a fundamental part of my childhood because it was the first time I saw an openly Jewish female protagonist on television. The story of Fran Fine, however, is a universal one that has touched the hearts of people of every race, religion and orientation. I am so proud to be using the characters established by The Nanny to tell a new story about one woman’s journey to becoming proud of who she is and what makes her different.”
