Ghost Has World Premiere in Manchester???

More mystery surrounding Ghost. In March, producers announced that the musical adaptation of the 1990 film, featuring a new score by the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, would open in the West End in 2010, though no detail was confirmed about where or exactly when (See News, 6 Mar 2009). Could it be that it doesn’t actually start in the West End?

Rather than open cold in London, we hear that the musical may instead have its world premiere at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, prior to a short UK tour that would culminate with the announced West End berth before the end of next year.

The original film of Ghost, a hit in 1990, starred Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore as Sam and Molly, a couple who are mugged walking home one night. Murdered in the attack, Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, and unwilling to leave Molly who remains in danger. With the help of a phoney psychic Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg on screen), Sam attempts to communicate with and save Molly.

Ghost is adapted by Bruce Joel Rubin, who penned the original screenplay, with music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Grammy Award winner Glen Ballard. It’s directed by Matthew Warchus and designed by Rob Howell. Amongst the other names mentioned in connection with the stage version in recent months is Laura Michelle Kelly, who’s been tipped to play Molly. However, with conflicting rumours that Kelly may reprise her Olivier Award-winning title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway, that’s no dead cert.