Coyote Ugly, the cult favorite film known for its bar-top dancing and catchy soundtrack, is strutting onto the theatrical stage. Producers Jamie Wilson Productions and Nederlander Studios have announced plans to premiere a musical adaptation of the 2000 film in London’s West End in 2027.
The creative team brings significant Broadway and West End credentials to the project. Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, known for hits like Hairspray, Kinky Boots, and Legally Blonde, will helm the production. The book adaptation will be handled by the film’s original screenwriter, Gina Wendkos, alongside Olivier Award winner Vikki Stone.
Music remains central to the adaptation, with Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren creating both the music and lyrics. Warren, who wrote the film’s memorable hits like “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” will incorporate these original songs while adding new material created specifically for the stage version. The theatrical rights have been secured from Buena Vista Theatrical Group.
Grammy winner Diane Warren brings her iconic songs from the film plus fresh musical material to the stage adaptation.
The original film, which grossed over $113 million worldwide, was based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s 1997 GQ article titled “The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon.” The story’s New York saloon setting, with its energetic bar-top performances, provides natural material for theatrical spectacle and Mitchell’s choreography expertise. The production aims to capture the authentic spirit of the iconic Coyote Ugly Saloon that inspired both the article and film.
Producers are framing the show as a “guilty pleasure” with broad appeal, potentially addressing concerns about declining youth interest in theater. The production’s combination of familiar source material and fresh creative elements follows the model of other successful film-to-stage transfers in recent years.
The musical promises to deliver a “wild theatrical experience” that captures both the “heart and heat” of the original film. With high-energy dance numbers expected to echo the movie’s signature bar-top routines, the adaptation looks to translate the film’s physical excitement to live performance. The film, directed by David McNally, became a cultural touchstone after its release.
This production represents a focused effort to bring Warren’s musical catalog to the stage through a story that already has proven commercial appeal and built-in audience recognition. The project brings together the impressive collaboration of Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman, who produced the original film that became an instant cult classic.
