NEW YORK — Antonio Banderas is ready to play Picasso again — this time on stage.
Following his performance as the famed Spanish artist for the 2017 National Geographic miniseries, “Genius: Picasso,” Banderas will do it in a planned musical.
A biographical musical is in the works with “Wicked” writer Stephen Schwartz providing the songs, and playwright Caridad Svich helping to pen the book, according to Spanish newspaper Sur.
Picasso was considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century. The Cubist art pioneer died at age 91 in 1973.
Gordon Greenberg is reportedly at the helm of the project. The New Group’s artistic director directed the Broadway adaptation of Irving Berlin’s film “Holiday Inn” in 2016 and a West End revival of “Guys and Dolls,” that won raves and garnered six Olivier Award nominations.
The unnamed project is reportedly a collaboration between Banderas’ Malaga theatre company Teatro del Soho Caixabank and London-based theater company Trafalgar Entertainment.
Earlier this month, Greenberg, Schwartz and Svich joined Banderas in his and Picasso’s hometown, for a research trip, which was shared on Instagram.
Banderas made his Broadway debut in 2003′s “Nine” — winning a Drama Desk Award for outstanding actor in a musical.
In June, “The Mask of Zorro” star announced a partnership with musical theater czar Andrew Lloyd Webber to create Amigos Para Siempre, a venture to produce Spanish language theater, musicals and live entertainment shows — including some of Webber’s best-loved works — for major Spanish-speaking markets.
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