‘Easy A’ screewriter bringing ‘13’ musical to stage

LOS ANGELES — CBS Films is bringing Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown’s stage musical “13” to the big screen, the studio announced Tuesday.

Story follows a popular 13-year-old boy who moves from New York City to a small town in Indiana where his classmates look at him as if he’s from another planet. Anxious to be popular again, his scheme to win acceptance backfires and threatens to alienate his true friends.

“Easy A” screenwriter Bert V. Royal is handling the stage-to-screen adaptation, which will be produced by Laurence Mark. Bob Boyett, who produced “13” on stage, will also produce, while David Blackman will executive produce.

Mark most recently produced CBS Films’ comedy “Last Vegas” and his last musical feature was the award-winning hit “Dreamgirls.”

Jason Robert Brown wrote the music and lyrics for “13” and will do the same for the film. He won a Tony Award earlier this year for his score for “The Bridges of Madison County” and has previously won for “Parade.”

Dan Elish and Robert Horn wrote the stage musical’s book.

CBS Films’ VP of production Mark Ross and creative executive Winnie Kemp will oversee the project for the studio.