A Bee Gees stage musical is on the way, with Universal Pictures’ theater division, Universal Theatrical Group, pacting to develop a production based on the life story and hit tunes of the 1970s supergroup. Barry Gibb, the sole surviving member of the Bee Gees, will executive produce.
UTG made the deal with Gibb, Yvonne Gibb (the wife of the late Maurice Gibb) and the estate of Robin Gibb for the rights to the band’s life story and music for a show that will chronicle the success of the three Gibb brothers, who as the Bee Gees shot to fame with tunes including “Stayin’ Alive,” “Too Much Heaven” and “Nights on Broadway.” The Bee Gees’ publishing and recorded music catalogs are already repped by Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Records and Universal Music Enterprises.
No creative team or title for the brewing production has yet been set. In its broad outlines, a bio-musical about the Bee Gees sounds could potentially follow in the successful footsteps of “Jersey Boys,” the behind-the-music tale of the Four Seasons that ran on Broadway for ten years, and “Beautiful,” the Carole King bio that’s been running for four.
Universal’s biggest success on Broadway has been “Wicked,” the longrunning smash. UTG also had a hand in “Billy Elliot” as well as more recent entries “Bring It On” and “Holiday Inn.” In 2016, UTG also added DreamWorks Theatricals (“Shrek the Musical”) to its portfolio.
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No timeline or final destination — Broadway or otherwise — has yet been set for the Bee Gees musical.
