Grumpy Old Men
Composer: Neil Berg
Author: Dan Remmes
Lyricist: Nick Meglin
Director: Glen Casale
Grumpy Old Men is the story of two aging men, Max and John, neighbors, who have been feuding for most of their lives. They are re-united in friendship through the love and compassion of their new neighbor across the street, the beautiful, eccentric, and charming Ariel. The 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret was presented by Warner Bros., and written by Mark Steven Johnson (Grumpier Old Men, Daredevil, Simon Birch, Ghostrider). It proved itself popular enough with the public to warrant a sequel, Grumpier Old Men (1995), which added Sophia Loren to the celebrated cast.
LATEST NEWS: Grumpy Old Men: The Musical premiered at The Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine in its U.S. premiere last summer. The LA premiere opened September 2019 to rave reviews at La Mirada Theater in Los Angeles, starring Hal Linden, Cathy Rigby and Ken Page. A national tour is in the works for 2020. Check out the most recent reviews below!
Press and Media
Grumpy Old Men: The Musical
Buck-ing Trends
At turns hilarious, while at others startlingly affecting, many of the best lines or crucial plot-twists delightfully take you off guard, making their impact lingering and lasting... it's unconventional but sincerely sweet, ensuring that by the curtain calls, odds are you'll be challenged to elicit a smile large enough for what you've just experienced! [Sep. 26, 2019]
Broadway World
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin, (Adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson), additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, musical direction by Benet Braun and direction by Matt Lenz. [Sep. 24, 2019]
The Show Report
In the early 90's, the little town of Wabasha, Minnesota was "put on the map" thanks to the movie "Grumpy Old Men," giving the area quite a boom in the ice fishing industry and a terrific boost of tourism in the frozen surroundings of the Minnesota Tundra. The popular comedy was about two lifelong neighbors who let pride and ego interfere with their better judgment, and starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. Rather than adhering to the "let bygones be bygones" philosophy, they spent the majority of their time at each other's throats. The musical by the same name, which mirrors the movie, had its U.S. premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse last summer. [Sep. 24, 2019]
Broadway World Los Angeles
The place: Wabasha, Minnesota. The time: the present, during winter months. Grumpy Old Men The Musical follows many old-fashioned musical storylines like The Fantasticks, White Christmas and others that deal with a community of family and friends who live in a small town ... where everyone knows everyone else's business. Now in its West Coast premiere at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Grumpy Old Men is a fun night out, with a splendid cast headed by special guest star Hal Linden and featuring audience favorite Cathy Rigby. [Sep. 23, 2019]
StageSceneLA
Wow! No matter your mood upon arrival, expect to exit the La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts with the broadest of smiles on your face when you see the feel-good musical that's been made from the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau movie smash Grumpy Old Men. [Sep. 21, 2019]
Broadway World
Cast Members John Battagliese, Neil Starkenberg and April Nixon take you backstage during rehearsals of the West Coast Premiere of TV legend & Tony winner Hal Linden, the beloved Cathy Rigby and Broadway's Ken Page starring in GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL! Go inside rehearsals in their second vlog in this new video! [Sep. 18, 2019]
NBC News Center Maine
Sally Stuthers & Hal Linden star in this performance of Grumpy Old Men at Ogunquit Playhouse. [Aug. 20, 2018]
Journal Tribune
Attention grumpy Mainers (including those from away): Heat got you down? Neighbors acting out? Family's aggravating you? Holding a grudge from high school years? Lonely at love? Feeling the need to move? Ogunquit Playhouse has the antidote for all of the above with the U.S. premiere of their new show, "Grumpy Old Men: The Musical." [Aug. 14, 2018]
Edge Radio
With a quaint confidence and abundance of charm, "Grumpy Old Men" shoulders its way into the 86th season at the Ogunquit Playhouse with a story both intimate and universal. The small tale in a big landscape can't help but move the onlookers who see parts of themselves in both the leading men and their family and friends. Based on the 1993 film that famously reunited iconic "The Odd Couple" duo of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, "Grumpy Old Men The Musical" doesn't so much divert from the original source material as it does layer it with song and dance, enlivening an already enlivened comedy to appeal to the live theater-attending crowd. [Aug. 14, 2018]
Boston & Beyond
This delightfully funny and very sweet musical based on the classic 1992 Warner Brothers film starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret is an entertaining inspiration for anyone over 50 or anyone who will eventually reach that landmark age, despite every hope and good intention to remain somewhere comfortably between age 20 and 40. [Aug. 14, 2018]
Boxing Over Broadway
The United States premiere of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, based on the 1993 movie, is now playing at the Ogunquit Playhouse, and it is a show filled with lively music, funny lines, great scenery, as well as a touching story. In short, this is a play not to be missed. The music written by Neil Berg with lyrics by Nick Meglin is memorable, and Dan Remmes has done an excellent job of adapting the movie for the stage. [Aug. 13, 2018]
Broadway World
Based on a film starring Jack Lemmon, Walther Matthau and Ann-Margret that hit movie theaters 25 years ago, Grumpy Old Men the Musical is currently playing at the Ogunquit Playhouse in what is touted as the US premiere of the production. [Aug. 13, 2018]
The Forecaster
Never mind the dry summer and the widely scattered showers. It's raining buckets every day in Brunswick, where Maine State Music Theatre wraps up its 2018 season with "Singin' in the Rain." And it's snowing a few miles down the coast, where Ogunquit Playhouse continues its 2018 season with "Grumpy Old Men," a warm-hearted musical that's set in wintertime Minnesota. The summer-long Ocean Park Music Festival wraps up this Sunday evening with the Downeasters Chorus of Yarmouth. [Aug. 13, 2018]
Playbill
Casting has been announced for the Ogunquit Playhouse's U.S. premiere of Grumpy Old Men the Musical, which will play the Maine venue August 8-September 1. Mark Jacoby Photo by Aubrey Reuben
Based on the hit film that starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret, the new musical was penned by Dan Remmes, with music by Neil Berg and lyrics by Nick Meglin. Matt Lenz directs a cast that features Ed Dixon as Max, Mark Jacoby as John, Tony winner Hal Linden as Grandpa Gustafson, Sally Struthers as Punky, Leslie Stevens as Ariel, Brenda Braxton as Sandra, Doug Eskew as Chuck Barrels, Kevin Massey as Jacob Goldman, and Laura Woyasz as Melanie Norton. [Jul. 25, 2018]
Broadway World
Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a grumpy ride! The Ogunquit Playhouse is proud to produce the U.S. premiere of the new musical-comedy, Grumpy Old Men the Musical on stage from August 8 to September 1 - just in time to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the hit film that starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. This hilarious new show was penned by Dan Remmes, with music by Neil Berg and lyrics by Nick Meglin. Director for the Ogunquit production of Grumpy Old Men the Musical is Matt Lenz. [Jul. 25, 2018]
