While the transformation of numerous productions from stage to film has yielded mixed results over the years, the move to re-imagine successful movies as stage productions has become a more recent phenomenon.

Few of them, it would seem, have worked quite as effortlessly as 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Remembered by most for its 1967 silver-screen outing with Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore amongst others, of a small-town girl getting to grips with 1920's life in New York, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' would make its Broadway debut in 2002, picking up seven Tony Awards since.

And now, it is ready for its Limerick debut, courtesy of the Limerick Musical Society. "It has only just become available; the procedure is that there needs to be a certain time after a production has finished at Broadway before it becomes available. This ran until 2006, so this will be the first Limerick performance," explains director Richie Ryan.

As Artistic Director with LMS, Richie is constantly keeping an eye, and indeed an ear, out for new productions coming on stream: "I remembered the film, and the main number from it from years ago, so from when it first came out as a stage musical, I was watching its progress."

While Ryan is thrilled at landing the production, he does admit that it isn't exactly the easiest musical to put together. "It's a very difficult show, and it is unlike many of the traditional shows – there are twenty-eight set changes in it, going from interior to exterior, apartment to lobby etc, but I think we've done a super job on the set, and we've got Gerry Maher doing lighting."

Attention to detail has been paramount to the development of this production, and no corner has been left unturned, as Richie adds: "The costumes are coming in especially from Birmingham. I had to go over there to make sure they are the right ones; they're extremely colourful, and it turns out they were the same ones that were used on the West End."

While Richie easily admits that it is "a tricky production", a young and energetic cast have made it an easier proposition. "If you look at their background, they've all been involved in musicals before, but generally not in lead roles. This show is a showcase in a way for the young talent that is there."

For a youthful cast, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' works a treat, according to Richie. "We are very lucky with this one. It depends on the show you choose; if we decided for a more traditional show like 'Carousel', it would have been a different story. We are a young, vibrant company and Limerick deserves to see this type of musical."

Indeed, Limerick Musical Society is just progressing beyond its infancy, having been initially established as an amateur company in 2000. Inherent to the company's ethos has been the development of young talent, which is very much evident in those with principle roles for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'.