The Old Globe will close its 2026 season next September with the pre-Broadway engagement of “Begin Again,” a new musical based on John Carney’s 2013 film about a washed-up New York record producer who discovers a struggling young singer. The musical will feature an original score by Pat Monahan, lead singer for the Grammy-winning rock group Train.
The movie “Begin Again,” which starred Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightly, was written and directed by Carney, the Irish filmmaker behind the similarly themed movie “Once,” which was also adapted into a Broadway musical.
“Once” was about a creatively stuck Irish busker and a Czech immigrant woman who find companionship and healing making music together in Belfast. Carney also created the film “Sing Street” and the Amazon Prime series “Modern Love.”
Irish filmmaker John Carney’s 2013 movie “Begin Again” will be adapted in a musical that makes its world premiere at San Diego’s The Old Globe in September 2026. (Dave Cleary)
“Begin Again” is set in New York City, where record producer Dan is on the brink of burnout when he encounters the talented and unsigned young singer Gretta performing at an open-mic night. He’s hoping for a professional comeback and she’s heartbroken after a breakup. Together, Dan and Gretta collaborate on new music that helps them both pick up the pieces of their lives.
Barry Edelstein, artistic director for The Old Globe, said he’s thrilled by the veteran Broadway team coming together to create the “Begin Again” musical, which he describes as a story about “personal transformation through music, creativity and the magic of New York City.” Edelstein said he’s also excited about composer/lyricist Monahan, who “brings a sound to the Globe that our audiences haven’t heard here before.”
Monahan is the frontman for Train, a San Francisco-born band which has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks. The band is best known for the songs “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister.”
Jenna Clark Embrey, a veteran Broadway dramaturg, will adapt John Carney’s 2013 movie “Begin Again” into a musical that will make its world premiere at San Diego’s The Old Globe in September 2026. (Grace Brown)
“Begin Again” will be adapted for the stage by Jenna Clark Embrey, who has worked as a dramaturg on nearly 100 shows on and off Broadway, including Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “The Hot Wing King.” She serves as the literary manager for Lincoln Center Theater.
The musical will be directed by Lorin Latarro, a director and choreographer who choreographed the current Broadway production of “Chess” and the current West End production of “The Producers.”
Brian Unsifer will serve as music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator for “Begin Again.” His Broadway credits include “Chess,” “Swept Away,” “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “A Beautiful Noise” and Disney’s “Frozen.”
Show choreographer is David Neumann, whose credits include “Swept Away” and “Hadestown.”
The musical is produced by special arrangement with Stephanie Kramer, Tamar Climan and Nicole Kramer. Casting will be announced at a later date.
“Begin Again” will run Sept. 6 through Oct. 11, 2026, in The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. Tickets will be available by subscription only at theoldglobe.org.