Ben Huber and Jamie Ann Romero were part of the world-premiere cast that launched ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ for the DCPA Theatre Company in 2014. Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen for the DCPA NewsCenter.

The Big Bang Theory star will both co-star and produce film about an Elvis impersonator who turns to drag for money

Stage and screen star Jim Parsons will co-star and produce a feature-film version of Matthew Lopez’s Denver Center-born play The Legend of Georgia McBride, according to multiple news reports today. The film rights have been acquired by New Regency and Fox 2000, according to Variety.

Matthew Lopez

Lopez, whose play Zoey’s Perfect Wedding is now performing in the Denver Center’s Space Theatre through Feb. 25, will adapt the screenplay. Upon completion, Georgia McBride will become only the second DCPA Theatre Company world-premiere play to be made into a feature film, following HBO’s The Laramie Project.

The Legend of Georgia McBride is about a broke young Elvis impersonator and father who turns to drag to feed his growing family. The play was chosen by former Artistic Director Kent Thompson to be introduced at the Denver Center’s 2013 Colorado New Play Summit and was fully staged the next year under the direction of Mike Donahue — who is also the director of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding.

Jim Parsons, from his Instagram page.

Parsons, star of TV’s The Big Bang Theory and who will return to Broadway this season in The Boys in the Band, will play the role of Miss Tracy Mills, a veteran drag queen who coaches a young man named Casey in the art of drag. The role was originated in Denver by Matt McGrath.

The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for a 12^th season and has garnered a spinoff series called Young Sheldon. Parsons most recently starred opposite Claire Danes in the play A Kid Like Jake, which coincidentally will be presented in Denver by Benchmark Theatre, opening Friday (Feb. 16) at the former Edge Theatre in Lakewood.

Matthew Lopez: America could use a laugh right now

Parsons will produce the film with Todd Spiewak via their That’s Wonderful Productions banner, according to Variety. Eric Norsoph will executive produce and oversee the project, and Fox will distribute the feature film.

Matt McGrath in ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride.’ Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen.

DCPA Theatre Company Managing Director Charles Varin said because the play was originally produced by the Theatre Company, the Denver Center owns a small percentage of the property’s subsidiary rights. Most significantly, that means the film’s end credits will acknowledge that the work was developed and first presented in Denver.

“It’s exciting that Matthew is now getting recognized as an accomplished writer in many different ways — stage, TV and now film,” Varin said. “His time has come, and we are proud to have been part of his journey.”

(Pictured above and right: Matt McGrath originated the role of Miss Tracy Mills, who will be played in the film by Jim Parsons. The original cast in Denver also included Ben Huber, Jamie Ann Romero and Nick Mills. Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen for the DCPA NewsCenter.)

Lopez, the Denver Center’s Playwright in Residence for the 2014-15 season, is currently in London for the March 2 premiere of his highly anticipated two-part play The Inheritance at The Young Vic. The epic play takes a panoramic view of gay life in New York today in the aftermath of the AIDS crisis depicted in Tony Kushner’s sprawling Angels in America. Lopez posted the news on his Instagram account saying he was “happy and proud” for the news.

DCPA Theatre Company taking new plays to new level

Last year, The Legend of Georgia McBride  became the most-produced new Denver Center work since Quilters in 1982 and The Laramie Project in 2000. After Georgia McBride was fully staged in Denver, Lopez continued to fine-tune the script as it had subsequent stagings at the MCC Theater in New York City and the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. In all, 10 companies from California to Florida staged the pay in 2018, with at least four more slated for 2018.

“We couldn’t be happier for Matthew,” said Doug Langworthy, the Denver Center’s Director of New Play Development. “Georgia McBride was such a big-hearted success here, and I’m sure filmgoers will love it as much as our audiences did.”

John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. News reports contributed to this report.

Zoey’s Perfect Wedding: Ticket information
At a glance: The blushing bride. The touching toast. The celebration of true love. These are the dreams of Zoey’s big day…and the opposite of what it’s turning out to be. Disaster after disaster follow her down the aisle, from brutally honest boozy speeches to a totally incompetent wedding planner. Even worse, her friends are too preoccupied with their own relationship woes to help with the wreckage around them. Like a car crash you can’t look away from, watch in awe as this wildly funny fiasco destroys her expectations with the realities of commitment, fidelity and growing up.

• Presented by the DCPA Theatre Company
• Performances Through Feb. 25
• Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex
• Tickets start at $30
• Call 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE
• Sales to groups of 10 or more click here

Video: Director on how perfect Zoey’s Perfect Wedding is

Selected previous NewsCenter coverage of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding:

• The perfect union behind Zoey’s Perfect Wedding
• Mathew Lopez: America could use a laugh right now
• Perspectives: How is Zoey funny? Let’s count to three, no, five
• Time-lapse video: Creating your first look at Zoey’s Perfect Wedding
• Five things we learned at first rehearsal
• In your face: Fun with cake on the set of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter