NEW YORK -- Plans are afoot to put some old hit songs by Britney Spears into a stage musical about woke princesses, and the hope is that the result isn't 鈥淭oxic.鈥
The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. announced Thursday that it will stage 鈥淥nce Upon a One More Time,鈥 featuring Spears' tunes, including 鈥淥ops! I Did It Again,鈥 鈥淟ucky,鈥 鈥淪tronger鈥 and 鈥淭oxic.鈥
The musical will have an original story written by Jon Hartmere about classic fairy tale princesses - Cinderella, Snow White and Little Mermaid, among them - who are transformed after reading 鈥淭he Feminine Mystique,鈥 a landmark feminist text.
鈥淥nce Upon a One More Time鈥 begins performances at Sidney Harman Hall on Nov. 29. It represents a significant pivot for The Shakespeare Theatre Company, known for it's more stately offerings.
The temptation to use already proven, popular songs to fuel a musical is an old one and on Broadway has lately led to shows with music from The Temptations, The Go Go's, Tina Turner and Alanis Morissette.
Spears has been under the spotlight lately after the recent FX and Hulu documentary 鈥淭he New York Times Presents: Framing Britney鈥 looked at the circumstances that led to the establishment of her conservatorship in 2008 and has spurred sympathy for the singer.