George Orwell's '1984' Gets A Broadway Revamp

George Orwell's hit novel "1984" is all set to hit the Broadway in June. This will be the first production of the 2017-2018 Broadway season. Already the stage adaptation of the dystopian classic completed four successful runs at various theaters in the U.K. so far and in Los Angeles last year. At the New York's Hudson Theatre (the newly restored Broadway venue), the stage adaptation of "1984" will have a limited engagement showcase on June 2, 2017. However, the team is yet to finalize the casting. Variety reports that the musical will open the 2017-18 Broadway season. "1984's" first stage adaptation was created by Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and the Almeida Theater.

A report on The Hollywood Reporter states that "1984" is having a great demand in the market as many are comparing the development of the current political movements to the totalitarian state of Oceania portrayed in the book. In Amazon, it currently holds the number one spot on the best-seller list. What has attracted the readers is Orwell's futuristic vision of the Airstrip One Province (an updated version of the Great Britain), where a tyrannical government filled with surveillance and public manipulation overrules.

Orwell's "1984" had an on-screen adaptation in 1949 featuring late actor John Hurt playing the main role as Winston Smith and Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton appearing in key roles. The big screen adaptation was directed by Michael Radford. TIME stated that publishers Penguin Books is planning a reprint of 75,000 copies of "1984", to keep up with surging demand. It also opined that the sudden rise of demand aggregated after President Donald Trump's adviser Kellyanne Conway released a statement regarding the inauguration crowd, the situation actually falls in line with "1984's" fictional ideas.

Looks like the Broadway is rightly trying to cash in on America's current demand for plausible dystopian fiction.

TagsGeorge Orwell, Broadway, 1984