Miramax Films, which earlier this week announced that it hadsecured film rights to one of Bob Fosse's classic stage musicals DamnYankees, has picked uprights to another - Pippin.

Pippin,which has never been filmed before, charts the life of the eponymous son ofCharlemagne who dabbles in sex, politics and war before realising that truehappiness lies in love

The musical opened on Broadway in 1972 and ran for five years. Itwas originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and written by RogerHirson, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, an Oscar winner for The Prince OfEgypt and Pocahantas).

The musical surge at Miramax follows the announcement in Feb thatthe studio would back a new film version of Guys And Dolls and of course follows in the wake of theglobal success of Chicago, another Fosse original which has now grossed over $300mworldwide.

Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein will oversee the project onbehalf of the company with co-president of production Meryl Poster and JenniferBerman, vice president of production and development.

Tim Schmidt, vice president of business and legal affairs, andCharles Layton, executive vice president, office of the co-chairman, negotiatedthe deal on behalf of Miramax.

Nancy Rose ofSchreck, Rose & Dapello negotiated on behalf of Schwartz, and Robert Harrisof Lazarus & Harris negotiated for Hirson.

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