New Petula Clark Musical From Bruce Vilanch Could Be Headed to Broadway

From penning witty zingers for the Tony Awards to hosting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraisers, Bruce Vilanch is no stranger to the New York theatre community. In 2005, Vilanch even starred as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. When the Hollywood funnyman returns to Broadway, though, he hopes its as writer of the next great jukebox musical.

Think Mamma Mia! said Vilanch when describing his new musical Sign of the Times. In fact, please think Mamma Mia! -- because Mamma Mia! ran only 12 years, so please think of that!

Like other jukebox musicals -- productions such as Jersey Boys and Beautiful - The Carole King Musical -- Sign of the Times utilizes hit pop songs rather than an original score. In this case, the music of Grammy Award-winning, 60s British pop icon Petula Clark and other hit-makers of the day takes center stage.

When I was in college, and I was hearing Petulas music, every time I would hear one of her songs, Id say, What show is that from? the comedian shared during an interview on Party Foul Radio with Pollo & Pearl . They all sounded so theatrical, because they had big orchestras behind them.

Vilanch recalled a similar feeling when listening to ABBA years later, he told Podomatics No. 1-ranked LGBT podcast . Therefore it was not surprising, he said, when the quartets catalogue later became the foundation for the wildly successful Broadway hit Mamma Mia!

They had these big, Broadway pop arrangements behind everything, said Vilanch of ABBA, noting that, like the Swedish super-group, Clarks music also lends itself very well to a Broadway show. He said: It always had that feel from the beginning.

A six-time Emmy Award-winner, Vilanch has supplied jokes to a veritable Hollywood whos who, was the quirky center square for four seasons of Hollywood Squares, a long-time reporter and columnist for The Advocate and even cowrote Eartha Kitts campy 1980s hit I Need a Man. A featured writer on almost every major televised awards broadcast, hes served as head writer for the annual Academy Awards since 2010.

The hilarious blond equally known for his inimitable appearance is far more than champion of the one-liner though. Hes written successful stage productions stretching back more than four decades.

Vilanch cowrote Bette Midlers 1974 Broadway show Clams on a Half Shell and later inked her 1980 epic Divine Madness. The Divine Miss M again teamed with The Divine Miss V for The Showgirl Must Go On, Midlers 2008 residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Vilanch forged a similarly long-standing relationship with Diana Ross. After befriending the MoTown legend on the set of Mahogany, in which he had a bit part, he wrote An Evening with Diana Ross. The show played Vegas, Broadway and was later turned into a television special.

When approached by Richard Robins -- a big real estate guy in Chicago, who purchased Clarks musical catalogue -- to work on Sign of the Times, Vilanch was immediately interested. What emerged is the tale of Cindy, a young woman who moves to New York City in 1965 and (according to production notes) discovers unexpected friends, lovers, careers, and conflicts are all a subway ride away.

Based on an original story by Robins, and written by Vilanch, Sign of the Times features Clarks biggest hits including No. 1 single Downtown, I Know a Place and, of course, the song from which the production draws its name. Also included are smashes from contemporaries Leslie Gore (You Dont Own Me), Nancy Sinatra (These Boots Are Made for Walking), Dusty Springfield (I Only Want to Be With You) and more.

After debuting last summer with a successful five-week run at Goodspeeds Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, Vilanch says it could be only a matter of time before New York calls. To gain perspective on the process, he turned to modern musical theatre genius and Tony-winning Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda (who Vilanch calls Mr. Hamilton).

He said Hamilton took seven years; everything takes seven years, shared Vilanch, noting Sign of the Times is now in its third year.

Legitimate theatre, on the Broadway end, is like movies these days, Vilanch concluded, Things happen years down the pipeline. Hopefully the next year or so, itll end up on Broadway. Were working our way there!

LISTEN: Bruce Vilanch talks Sign of the Times, Personal Stories About Diana Ross, Bette Midler & More