The much-buzzed about stage adaptation of First Wives Club will indeed receive its world premiere at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre. Tony winner Faith Prince, Christine Sherrill and Carmen Cusack will lead the Broadway-bound production, which will begin previews on February 17, 2015. Directed by Simon Phillips, the tuner has a book by Linda Bloodworth Thomason and songs by Motown’s Holland-Dozier-Holland. Opening night is scheduled for March 11.



Prince will play Brenda, who was portrayed by Bette Midler in the hit 1996 film. She received the Tony for Guys and Dolls and nominations for A Catered Affair, Bells Are Ringing and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. Other Great White Way credits include Annie, The Little Mermaid, Little Me, The Dead and Noises Off. Screen credits include Melissa & Joey, Drop Dead Diva, Huff, Spin City, Our Very Own and Picture Perfect. Sherrill will star as Elise, the role created on screen by Goldie Hawn. Stage credits include Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Title of Show, Million Dollar Quartet, Annie and Singing in the Rain. Cusack will play Annie, Diane Keaton’s role in the movie. Theater credits include Wicked, Bright Star, Carrie and South Pacific.



First Wives Club is based on both the movie and the original best-selling novel by Olivia Goldsmith, and adapted from an earlier version of the musical by Rupert Holmes, with additional material by Phillips. Three former college friends reunite to find that they have more in common than their alma mater. Ditched by their respective husbands for younger women, they band together to settle scores with the men who did them wrong. First Wives Club will feature new songs and classic hits like "Reach Out…I'll Be There," "Stop in the Name of Love" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).



Additional casting and creative team will be announced later.