A stage musical adaptation of the cult classic Bill & Ted films will have a workshop at Emerson College in Boston this September, marking the first step towards its planned world premiere in 2027. The project reunites original co-writer Chris Matheson with new collaborators for a rock opera taking the story beyond the screen.

Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Rock Opera, based on the 1989 film Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, is scheduled for a workshop run at Emerson College from 12 to 20 September 2024. The musical is written by Chris Matheson, who co-wrote the original film, and features an original score by Jason Lytle, founder of the band Grandaddy.

The production is a collaboration between Freedom Theatricals, Radar Pictures, Emerson College, Berklee College of Music, and Boston Conservatory. A full world premiere is planned for Boston in 2027, with exact dates yet to be announced.

The musical’s storyline follows Bill and Ted as they turn their school history report into a live rock opera. Iconic historical figures from the films—including Beethoven, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, and Sigmund Freud—appear as their onstage band during the performance.

The Bill & Ted franchise began in 1989 with the release of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. The duo later appeared together on Broadway in Waiting for Godot. The series continued with Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), expanding into television shows, comics, and video games.

The creative team is led by music director Nathan Dame and music supervisor Jonathan Brielle. Production management includes Miller and Corey Brunish for Freedom Theatricals, and Ted Field, Anthony Tringali, and Michael Napoliello producing for Radar Pictures. Eric Paris is handling the workshop production for Emerson Stage with Showtown Theatricals serving as general manager.

Although the musical is generating attention, any transfer to the UK stage seems unlikely to occur in the near future, according to sources. The Boston workshop and planned premiere spotlight ongoing interest in adapting cult cinema for the stage, blending rock music with narrative comedy.