Musical Version of Little House on the Prairie to hit Minneapolis Stage

According to a recent press release, the internationally-recognized Guthrie Theater of Minneapolis is planning to stage a world premiere musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House On The Prairie" books.

Set in the late 1800's, the "Little House" books tell of Laura Ingalls Wilder's pioneer life in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas and South Dakota.
The books have been the basis for several stage and television productions, the most well-known of which is the "Little House On The Prairie" TV series starring Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon.

The staging of "Little House On The Prairie" will continue the Guthrie's goal of developing new works that speak directly to the community. "The work of Laura Ingalls Wilder has a deep and powerful connection to the people of the Midwest," Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling said.

The Guthrie production will be directed by Francesca Zambello, an internationally recognized director of opera and theater who is currently directing Walt Disney's "The Little Mermaid" on Broadway. Lyrics and music will be provided by Donna DiNovelli and Rachel Portman. Portman is best known for her film work; she received an Academy Award for her score of Emma and Academy Award nominations for both The Cider House Rules and Chocolat.

"There is no better place to develop this musical than the Guthrie in Minneapolis," director Zambello said. "I wanted to make a musical from these poignant stories the moment I rediscovered them as an adult. Reading of the exuberance of these characters as they encountered the immense power and force of the Prairie speaks to our history as a country and a people. It did in the 1880's and it does now."

Laura Ingalls Wilder spent about two years living in Minnesota as a child, as chronicled in her book, "On The Banks Of Plum Creek."