13 Going on 30: The Musical review – Jennifer Garner romcom returns with goofy charm

<p><strong>Manchester Opera House<br></strong>The stage version of the 2004 film has bright choreography and a likeable lead performance by Lucie Jones, even if the songs are a bit underpowered</p><p>The adaptation of movies into musicals continues apace. The latest addition to this booming subgenre is 2004 romcom 13 Going on 30, with a book by the original screenwriters, Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, and the backing of star Jennifer Garner as executive producer.</p><p>As with the film, how much you enjoy it will probably depend on how much you surrender to your teenage self. The setup is swiftly established. After being humiliated by the popular kids at her 13th birthday party, Jenna Rink rejects her adoring best friend Matty and instead wishes to be “thirty, flirty and thriving”. The next thing she knows she has a grown-up New York apartment, a hot boyfriend and a job editing her favourite fashion magazine. But is this dreamlike adult existence all it seems?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/oct/01/13-going-on-30-the-musical-review-jennifer-garner-romcom-returns-with-goofy-charm">Continue reading...</a>