Stage musical of Dublin soul saga ‘The Commitments’ to open in London in October

LONDON – London’s West End is developing an Irish lilt.

The Tony Award-winning Dublin-set musical “Once” is a hit, and on Tuesday producers announced a long-awaited stage version of the Irish soul saga “The Commitments.”

Roddy Doyle’s 1987 novel about a bunch of working-class Dubliners who form an unlikely soul band was made into a successful 1991 movie. But a stage adaptation has been a long time coming.

Doyle says it’s partly because the huge success of “The Commitments” made it “something of a monster” from which he needed a break.

And, he admits, he never really liked musicals. He changed his mind after seeing shows such as “Jersey Boys,” in which “the music actually drove the story.”

“The Commitments” opens at the Palace Theatre in London on Oct. 8.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles