In Celia C. Pérez’s The First Rule of Punk, 12-year-old Malú starts middle school off on the wrong foot. But as the Mexican American tween disappoints her mom, butts heads with the school’s queen bee, and breaks the dress code, her dad reminds her that she’ll be fine if she follows the first rule of punk: being herself. Pérez’s heartfelt book received plenty of literary recognition and now it’ll be heading to the stage. This week, the Children’s Theatre Company announced it would be adapting the book into a musical.
“It’s such an honor to have The First Rule of Punk adapted into a musical by the nation’s leading multi-generational theatre, Children’s Theatre Company and to have BMG and their catalog of iconic artists involved with the production,” Celia said, according to Broadway World. “I am excited for this story to reach new audiences and look forward to seeing it come to life on a stage.”
The BMG catalog is expansive, and includes artists such as Blondie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and more.
Both Miriam Weisfeld, CTC’s Director of Artistic Development, and Peter C. Brosius, CTC’s Artistic Director, were drawn to the book’s energy. “It is a book that leaps off the page with its energy, wit, and truth,” Brosius said. “I cannot wait to partner with BMG and bring this book to theatrical life with the drive and power of the punk music world.”