The ‘Real’ Groundhog Day

It all started with a Pennsylvanian Dutch superstition. The superstition dictates that if a groundhog (an intelligent type of rodent belonging to the marmot family) emerges from its burrow on 02 February and sees its shadow, it will retreat and winter will continue for six more weeks. If it does not see shadow, spring arrives early. 

The superstition became a North American tradition later adopted across America and Canada, but Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania holds the most popular ceremony each year on 02 February. There’s even a groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil, though estimates place his accuracy for predicting weather at somewhere between 35% and 41%.

Writer Danny Rubin at the Groundhog Day ceremony, Woodstock:

In 1993, the film Groundhog Day set in Punxsutawney was released, written by Danny Rubin and the late Harold Ramis, and crowds at the annual ceremony rose from 2,000 to between 10,000–20,000. The film tells the story of a cynical weatherman called Phil Connors who travels to cover the ceremony on television, and becomes trapped in a time loop, re-living the same day over and over again… and so, the phrase ‘it’s like Groundhog Day’ came into being.  

In 2016, Groundhog Day the musical was staged at The Old Vic, with book by Danny Rubin, music by Tim Minchin and directed by Matthew Warchus. It was adored by audiences and critics, won an Olivier Award for Best New Musical, travelled to Broadway where it was nominated for seven Tony Awards. It returns this summer to The Old Vic by popular demand, with Andy Karl back in the role of Phil Connors, for which he won an Olivier Award.

And yes, we’ve heard all the jokes about it coming back again (and again and again).

From superstition to stage, that’s how a 135-year-old weather-predicting ceremony led to a musical about love, hope and transformation.