The stage musical about the making of the classic film 鈥淛aws鈥 has speared its leading man - Jarrod Spector.
Tony-nominated Spector, whose Broadway credits include 鈥淏eautiful: The Carole King Musical鈥 and 鈥淭he Cher Show,鈥 will play Steven Spielberg in 鈥淏ruce.鈥
鈥淏ruce,鈥 based on 鈥淛aws鈥 screenwriter Carl Gottlieb's 1975 memoir 鈥淭he Jaws Log,鈥 will premiere at Seattle Rep, with previews beginning May 27 and an opening night set for June 8. It is named after the nickname given to the 25-foot mechanical Great White Shark stars of 鈥淛aws.鈥
The musical centers on a young Spielberg facing poor weather, dangerous water, hostile locals, an exploding budget, endless delays and a highly dysfunctional Bruce to make 鈥淛aws.鈥
In a statement, Spector said it is a 鈥渞eal honor to portray perhaps the foremost genius in all of filmmaking鈥 and that the musical is 鈥渁bout the group of brilliant artists who stared down every obstacle imaginable to somehow emerge with this genre-defying masterpiece. I just hope Mr. Spielberg doesn't mind that his singing voice sounds an awful lot like my own.鈥
鈥淏ruce鈥 has music by Richard Oberacker and story and lyrics by Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the team behind the 2017 Broadway musical 鈥淏andstand.鈥 It will be directed and choreographed by Donna Feore.
Spector grew up in Philadelphia, attended Princeton University and trained at Atlantic Theater Company. He made his Broadway debut as Gavroche in the original production of 鈥淟es Miserables.鈥 He played a record-breaking 1,500 performances as Frankie Valli in 鈥淛ersey Boys鈥 on Broadway.