The beloved 1989 television movie Polly is making its way to the Broadway stage. Producer Brian Anthony Moreland has officially announced Polly: The Musical, a stage adaptation inspired by the Disney film and Eleanor H. Porter’s classic novel Pollyanna.
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Reuniting with the story she brought to life on screen over three decades ago, two-time Tony nominee Debbie Allen returns to direct and choreograph the musical. Allen, who helmed the original film, will lead an all-star creative team that includes Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe and Michael Benjamin Washington as book writers, and Grammy Award-winning artists Siedah Garrett and Joriah Kwamé as the musical’s composers and lyricists.
Set in 1950s Alabama, Polly centers on a spirited Black orphan girl whose relentless optimism challenges the norms of a segregated Southern town. The original movie, which reimagined Pollyanna with a majority Black cast, starred Keshia Knight Pulliam, Phylicia Rashad, and featured the final screen performance of Butterfly McQueen. A sequel, Polly: Comin’ Home, followed in 1990.
“The message of Polly is one that we need today more than ever,” Allen said in a statement. “That the power of a single positive voice can make change in the face of adversity and divisiveness; that the voice of a child could bring unity and hope—is what Polly is about. This musical, with its joy and unbridled hope, will shine a light on a path for every audience to find unity in their community.”
Producer Brian Moreland echoed Allen’s sentiment, adding, “This team of creative all-stars is exactly what Polly needs to bring her story to the stage. With Debbie’s brilliant hands back on the steering wheel, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working together with them to share this experience with the world.”
General management for Polly: The Musical will be handled by KGM Theatricals. Additional creative team members and casting announcements are expected in the coming months. The production is currently in development and eyeing a Broadway run.