Stage Entertainment USA and Sylvester Stallone are bringing Rocky: The Musical to the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. The stage incarnation of the Oscar winning movie brings together Tony Award winning writer Thomas Meehan (The Producers) with composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens, whose collaborations include the musical Ragtime.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show will be begin performances as early as February 2014. Direction comes from Alex Timbers, who's currently working in New York on the David Byrne-Fatboy Slim musical Here Lives Love, which garnered strong reviews from critics last week. Choreography comes from Steven Hoggett (Once) and dance choreography comes from Kelly Devine, of Rock of Ages fame.

"I couldn't be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage," said Stallone, who wrote the screenplay for the 1976 feature in which he starred, "The story of Rocky was very much like my life at the time - starting out with nothing, having to fight for roles and recognition.So I put those feelings into the body of a boxer and I had no idea there were so many millions of people that felt the same way." 

The story certainly lends itself well to the glitzy Broadway stage and the production received its world premiere in Hamburg, Germany, last fall where it opened to rave reviews and continues to play to packed houses. It stars actor Drew Sarich as Rocky Balboa, though it's unclear whether he will continue in the role in New York. After previews, Rocky will open at the Winter Garden Theatre in March, though exact dates are yet to be announced.

Drew SarichDrew Sarich Will Likely Play Rocky Balboa In Rocky: The Musical.

One of Broadway's larger venues, the theatre holds 1,500 and has previously occupied ABBA The Musical and Mamma Mia!