Stand-by Joined: 2/1/16
With Groundhog Day opening, I've counted down my Top 10. Do you agree, and what would you add to the list?
https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Top-10-Screen-To-Stage-Musical-Adaptations-20160817
Featured Actor Joined: 6/15/16
Little Shop of Horrors is my vote for best screen to stage adaptation. It accomplishes what a lot of adaptations don't: it successfully translates what made the source material work into a different medium, understanding that theatre has different rules and needs than film. The fact that it also manages to improve upon the source in every conceivable way while still being true to its spirit is also a mighty feat.
A lot of writers have tried to do what Ashman and Menken did and most come up short.
MK, I'm curious whether you considered PROMISES, PROMISES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, NINE, SWEET CHARITY, CARNIVAL, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.
Updated On: 8/17/16 at 10:42 AMLeading Actor Joined: 8/11/16
Deleted - Sorry, I was stupid and forgot about the original movie.
Updated On: 8/17/16 at 11:03 AM
The musical is based off of the 1960 film of the same title directed by Roger Corman. It's pretty much the textbook example of a "B movie."
It's notable for, amongst other things, being one of Jack Nicholson's first prominent screen credits and being shot on a shoestring budget in just a couple of days.Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
missing:
Legally Blonde
Some like it Hot (Sugar)
The Apartment (Promises, Promises)
Billy Elliot
Hairspray
Kinky Boots
The Lion King
Monty Python's Spamalot
The Producers
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Light in the Piazza
Beauty and the Beast
Little Shop of Horrors
A Little Night Music
Understudy Joined: 11/12/14
Beauty and the beast
Cinderella
I would say American Psycho but that's more from the book.
SHE LOVES ME of course
Mr. Nowack said: "SHE LOVES ME of course
"
Though they claim its from the original play. Similarly a case could be made that My Fair Lady is closer to the Pygmalion screenplay than play and King and I is closer to the movie than book.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
Among the More Respected:
-- She Loves me (improved on a movie minor masterpiece)
-- Mame (improved on a dated play)
-- The Producers (improved on a dated, classic movie)
-- The King and I (Anna and the King, 1946)
-- A Little Night Music (does it get any more perfect than this?)
-- Nine
-- The Visit
Shows that I Don't Think Got Enough Respect:
-- Purlie
-- Sunset Blvd.
-- Darling of the Day
-- Shenandoah
-- Finding Neverland (I know the first 20 minutes dragged, despite some good songs, but I loved this and expect t it to live on in Summer Stock till long after I am gone)
-- The Happy Time
Less Said the Better:
-- Legally Blonde
-- Flashdance
-- Ghost
-- Promises Promises...has dated as badly as any show I can think of
-- Sugar
-- Raisin -- I thought it was one big bore, won the Tony in one of the 2-3 worst years for musicals
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/23/08
Would "The Sound of Music" count? A lot was taken from "Die Trapp Familie" (which is on YouTube, subtitled in English, if anyone is interested).
Broadway Star Joined: 2/23/08
The only thing The Visit took from that dreadful Bernhard Wiki film was the name of the lead. Thankfully, in many ways, the musical stays close to the play except where it makes its own unique diversions. It even includes details from the original script that didn't make it into Valency's first 'translation' of the play.
Little Shop of Horrors is both the best screen-to-stage musical adaptation and the best stage-to-screen musical adaptation.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
Mekroth said: "The only thing The Visit took from that dreadful Bernhard Wiki film was the name of the lead. Thankfully, in many ways, the musical stays close to the play except where it makes its own unique diversions. It even includes details from the original script that didn't make it into Valency's first 'translation' of the play.
Good point. I added it impulsively at the last minute, and clearly had not thought it through. good catch.
"
Full Monty
Sorry to break it to some of you but Legally Blonde is a masterpiece! They will study it in musical writing classes for years to show how to keep the excitement of a film in a musical adaptation.
Agree with everyone above:
A Little Night Music
Little Shop of Horrors
Lion King
Legally Blonde
The King and I
The Light in the Piazza
Billy Elliot
42nd street
Spamalot
Hairspray
.... And plenty more I'm sure I'm skipping... I hate when people say that movie-adaptations are going to be automatically awful! Sometimes they transcend the original!
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/16
I'm loving all of the love that Little Shop of Horrors is getting here.
I really feel like the show is under appreciated, It's such a nice little show.
I wish that it could have an Off-B'way revival.
Videos