NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Veteran producers have secured the rights to bring "Steel Magnolias" to Broadway for the first time, Daily Variety reported Friday.
Robyn Goodman and Roy Gabay, who will produce Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" on Broadway next season, will follow Simon's production with Robert Harling's beauty shop comedy whose film version thrust Julia Roberts into the limelight.
While Goodman and Gabay are the first to bring "Magnolias" to Broadway, an Off Broadway version in 1987 played for more than 1,000 performances.
In 1989, the film was released, starring Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Roberts, who received her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role.
Goodman and Gabay last partnered on the Broadway production of Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses" during the 2001-02 season.
Gabay's current Broadway production is "Golda's Balcony"; Goodman presents "Avenue Q."
Jason Moore from "Avenue Q" will director "Steel Magnolias."
