A landmark of Black television is making its way to Broadway with an all-star team of Black creatives leading the charge. On June 3, 2025, producer Brian Anthony Moreland announced the development of Polly: The Musical, a new stage adaptation of the 1989 Disney film Polly and the novel by Eleanor H. Porter. Two-time Tony Award winner Debbie Allen, who directed the original film, will return to direct and choreograph the Broadway-bound production.
Joining Allen to bring this story to the stage are Emmy-winning writer and producer Lena Waithe and actor-playwright Michael Benjamin Washington, who will co-write the book. The music and lyrics will be handled by Grammy winner Siedah Garrett (Man in the Mirror) and rising musical theatre writer Joriah Kwamé (Little Miss Perfect).
Set in 1950s Alabama, Polly centers around a relentlessly optimistic young Black girl whose joy and positivity challenge the divisions of a segregated Southern town. Originally adapted for television by Debbie Allen in 1989, the film starred Keshia Knight Pulliam, Phylicia Rashad, and Dorian Harewood (The Notebook: The Musical) Barbara Montgomery (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Raisin), Vanessa Bell Calloway (Purlie Victorious, Dreamgirls), Brandon Quintin Adams (“Moonwalker,” “Mighty Ducks”), Ken Page (Ain’t Misbehavin‘, The Wiz, Cats), Brock Peters (Lost in the Stars, The Caucasian Chalk Circle), George Anthony Bell (Timbuktu), Michael Peters (Dreamgirls, Comin’ Uptown) Vickilyn Reynolds (Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk) and featured the final screen performance of Butterfly McQueen, best known for her role as Prissy in Gone with the Wind. A sequel, Polly: Comin’ Home, aired in 1990.
“The message of Polly is one that we need today more than ever,” Allen shared. “ That the power of a single positive voice can make change in the face of adversity and divisiveness; that the voice of a child could bring unity and hope — is what Polly is about. This musical, with its joy and its unbridled hope, will shine a light on a path for every audience to find unity in their community.”
Producer Brian Moreland added, “This team of creative all-stars is exactly what Polly needs to bring her story to the stage. With Debbie’s brilliant hands back on the steering wheel, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working together with them to share this experience with the world.”
A Legacy of Black Excellence
Debbie Allen’s return to the director’s chair for Polly is nothing short of full-circle. A Howard University alum, Kennedy Center honoree, and Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning icon, Allen has choreographed the Oscars ten times and directed for shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Empire, and Insecure. Her Broadway and Hollywood legacy spans decades—and generations.
Lena Waithe continues to blaze trails as the creator of The Chi, the screenwriter of Queen & Slim, and the producer behind A Thousand and One and Being Mary Tyler Moore. This marks another major step into theatre for the Hillman Grad founder, following her producer credit on Ain’t No Mo’.
Michael Benjamin Washington, a powerhouse in both acting and playwriting, brings a deep understanding of political and cultural storytelling, including his critically acclaimed Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin. His turn as James Baldwin on MGM+’s Godfather of Harlem further shows his range in capturing Black icons with nuance and fire.
Music with Heart and History
Siedah Garrett’s name is synonymous with hits like Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and “Love You I Do” from Dreamgirls, which earned her a Grammy and an Oscar nomination. Her work is featured in MJ the Musical and The Color Purple musical film adaptation. Garrett’s songwriting has always held emotional weight—and her theatrical work is no different.
Joining her is Joriah Kwamé, the emerging force behind the viral song “Little Miss Perfect,” and co-writer of “Top of the World” for Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Kwamé represents the next generation of musical theatre writers—a visionary voice continuing the legacy of Black storytelling on Broadway.
With a team like this, Polly: The Musical is shaping up to be a powerful blend of nostalgia, Black girl joy, and intergenerational storytelling with modern musical edge. General management will be provided by KGM Theatricals, and additional creative team members and casting will be announced soon.
Broadway better get ready—Polly is coming, and she’s bringing hope, harmony, and a whole lot of history with her.
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