Best Picture nominee 'Coda' to be adapted into musical

The 2022 Best Picture nominated film, ‘Coda’ is set to become a stage musical.

The film will be turned into a live production by the Tony award-winning company Deaf West Theatre. The non-profit is best known for acclaimed productions of Big River and Spring Awakening.

Coda tells the story of a 17-year-old girl, played by Emilia Jones, who is the only hearing member of a deaf family. She is determined to chase her dream of being a singer via a school choir club. The film, a remake of French drama La Famille Bélier, also stars Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and Troy Katsur, who could become the first deaf actor to win a best-supporting actor Oscar this weekend.

DJ Kurs, the artistic director of Deaf West Theatre, called the stage production an opportunity “to bring the story full circle by bringing it back to members of the deaf community and by making the music accessible through our signed and sung live adaptation of the movie”.

Working with Vendôme and Pathé, the team are currently looking for stage directors and writers.

USA Today reported deaf viewers' varied reactions to the film. They praised the casting and performances of deaf actors, and found the depiction of deaf characters as self-sufficient and sexually active people to be in welcome contrast to previous depictions on screen. Delbert Whetter, vice-chair of nonprofit RespectAbility, said, "After seeing so many stories where people with disabilities are depicted as helpless, forlorn souls needing to be rescued, it is so refreshing to see a story with Deaf characters that are small business owners and leaders in their fishing community, with depth and nuance that rival and even exceed that of their hearing counterparts in the story."

Deaf writer Sara Nović also said, "I liked that these characters were sexual beings—deaf and disabled people are often neutered or virginal in movies and books, and that's extremely boring and inaccurate."