Prepare Yourself for Red Dog: The Musical
It started out as a legend. Then it became a book. Next was the movie. Now, in a move to rival Cats, one pampered pooch named Koko is set to become the star of the musical adaptation of Red Dog. Good boy!
While most of our canine friends are content with chewing up TV remotes and leaving 'treats' around the backyard for us to step in after work, Red Dog is one mutt we all seem to love. The 2011 film, about a wandering dog that united an Australian outback community while searching for his owner, made over $21 million at the box office. It's now one of the highest grossing Aussie films in history, with its fair share of awards too (check out Koko’s acceptance speech below for Best Dog at the 2012 Golden Collar Awards).
Helping man's best friend make the leap from the silver screen to the lights of Broadway is Australian theatre producer John Frost, who is known for his work on Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical. The creative team behind the project is yet to be named and few details have emerged, so we can't tell you if Koko will be up on stage or if producers will go with a Wilfred-type-dude-in-a-dog-suit look.
In the meantime, check out the movie - it's the highest selling Australian DVD ever. Not doing so would be un-Australian.
WORDS: Jack Pilven