Blondie Taps into Susan's Groove

Wed., Jul. 11, 2007 6:37 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

One way or another, Blondie is getting into the groove.

Deborah Harry has penned a new tune for a stage musical adaptation of the 1985 cult classic Desperately Seeking Susan, which will be set to a series of Blondie's greatest hits, including "Heart of Glass," "Atomic" and "The Tide Is High."

Rosanna Arquette starred in the Susan Seidelman-directed film as bored housewife Roberta Glass, who becomes curious about what else life has to offer after reading in a New York tabloid a series of personal ads to and from a woman named Susan.

On a quest to get a glimpse of the object of her fascination, Roberta is bopped on the head and wakes up with amnesia and a whole new set of troubles when she's mistaken for the free-spirited Susan, who, of course, was played by a New Wave-era Madonna, the Material Girl's big-screen debut.

Aidan Quinn, Laurie Metcalf and John Turturro also starred in the cinematic love letter to the New York boho scene, which the New York Times named the best film of 1985.

British actress Emma Williams, who starred in the West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2003, will take on the role of Susan, while Guys and Dolls star Kelly Price will play Roberta, as she discovers the joy that comes from love and self-awareness and manages to foil a jewel heist in the process.

Other songs being prepped for the stage include "One Way or Another," "Dreaming" and Harry's new effort, "Moment of Truth."

Angus Jackson will direct and Peter Michael Marino is writing the book for the upcoming musical, which is scheduled to have its first preview Oct. 12 at the Novello Theatre in London if all goes according to plan.

Harry, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year along with the rest of Blondie, says that she hopes the show will eventually make it to Broadway.

Meanwhile, the 62-year-old punk-pop icon's first solo album in 14 years, Necessary Evil, is due out Sept. 25.

If Desperately Seeking Susan premieres on the Great White Way, Blondie will join ABBA, Elton John, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Johnny Cash, John Lennon and Duncan Sheik—some more successful than others—in the canon of pop and rock stars who have either had their songs adapted, or composed tunes, for the stage.

Sheik won two Tonys and a Drama Desk Award this year for his score and orchestrations for Spring Awakening, which won a total of eight Tonys, including Best Musical.