About the work
Freaky Friday is a musical by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics) with a book by Bridget Carpenter, released by Disney Theatrical Productions in 2016. It is based on Mary Rodgers's novel and the well-known Disney film adaptations.
Plot
The stressed mother Katherine and her rebellious teenage daughter Ellie no longer understand each other at all. Through a magical mishap with a broken hourglass, the two swap bodies one Friday: the mother is stuck in the daughter's body and vice versa. As they must get through a turbulent day in each other's lives—school, work, wedding preparations—both learn to see the world through the other's eyes and arrive at new understanding and respect for each other.
Cultural significance
Freaky Friday comes from the team behind the Pulitzer-winning Next to Normal (Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey) and combines the familiar body-swap material with pointed, modern music. As a contemporary family musical about the mother-daughter relationship, it was designed for mid-sized stages, schools, and regional theatres, where it enjoys growing popularity.