Aug. 25 (UPI) — A stage musical based on the 1984 film classic, The Karate Kid, is set to begin performances next year in St. Louis, the project’s producers announced Wednesday.
The limited, pre-Broadway engagement is to kick off May 25 at The Ross Family Theatre at The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.
The show is slated to run through June 26. It features a book by Robert Mark Kamen, and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The musical is based on the film and Kamen’s own original semi-autobiographical story.
Amon Miyamoto is directing and the choreography will be by Keone and Mari Madrid.
The movie starred Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, William Zabka and Elisabeth Shue. It started a five-film franchise and Cobra Kai, beloved Netflix sequel series that is going into its fourth season with most of the original cast.
“When I was a young man, my life was forever changed by traditional Okinawan Karate and the instructors who taught it to me,” Kamen said in a statement.
“The Karate Kid is my love letter to both those masters and their practice. Karate teaches, above all, to follow your dreams no matter what obstacles are put in front of you, and that is the spirit with which all of us are approaching this show. I am particularly pleased to have Amon guiding us forward with such wisdom, positivity, and passion.”
Macchio retweeted a news report about the project with the caption, “… and the beat goes on…”