The Beatles’ ‘Backbeat’ Stage Production Gets L.A. Warm Up Before Broadway

Broadway is musical theater’s biggest stage, and even someone as major as the the Beatles could use a little seasoning before playing there. Organizers have revealed that the stage production of the Beatles-themed ‘Backbeat’ will premiere stateside in Los Angeles early next year before making it to New York.

Billboard reports that the production, which is based upon the 1994 film about Stu Sutcliffe and his life with the group in their formative years, is set for Jan. 16 – Feb. 24 run at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. ‘Backbeat’ has already enjoyed a well-received response when it played on London’s West End from fall 2010 into early 2011.

Prior to the L.A. string of shows, ‘Backbeat’ will get a look for those north of the border in Toronto. It’s scheduled to run July 21-Sept. 2 at the city’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.

‘Backbeat’ is expected to include a number of the songs the Beatles covered while performing in Liverpool and Hamburg such as ‘Long Tall Sally,’ ‘Twist and Shout,’ ‘Good Golly Miss Molly,’ ‘Please Mr. Postman,’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.’ Casting for the Los Angeles production is currently taking place. Details on the expected Broadway production have not been nailed down.