TOOTSIE: The Musical

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 10:32am

Seems like things are moving ahead on this one. Tootsie has been one of my top five movies I've always thought should be adapted to the stage. Hoping this turns out well!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Development-Reading-for-New-Musical-Comedy-TOOTSIE-Set-for-This-June-20170522

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 10:56am

I adore this film. It's truly one of the only perfect comedies, because the situations are treated so carefully. It walks such a delicate line. Multiple moments could have derailed the film into a cheap "man-in-a-dress" story (a la BOSOM BUDDIES). Instead, it's a hilarious commentary on American society. 

I'm terrified it becomes a vehicle to get cheap laughs just because a man is in a dress.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 11:02am

Super excited for this as David Yazbek is involved.  Hit or miss are the shows he's work on but one thing always stands out - his music.  

TOOSIE is one of my Top 5 favorite films of all time and I STILL listen to the original motion picture soundtrack regularly as well as watch the Criterion Collection Blu-ray disc of the film at least once a month.  I hope AND expect they keep the timeframe of the film in the early 80s and evoke that era and pastiche to death the score.  Pulling some favors right now so I'm keeping my finger's crossed that I can attend the Invitation Only development reading. 

[green waver]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 11:06am

LYLS3637 said: "I adore this film. It's truly one of the only perfect comedies, because the situations are treated so carefully. It walks such a delicate line. Multiple moments could have derailed the film into a cheap "man-in-a-dress" story (a la BOSOM BUDDIES). Instead, it's a hilarious commentary on American society. 

I'm terrified it becomes a vehicle to get cheap laughs just because a man is in a dress.

 ITA. It brings to mind Sondheim's take on musicalizing Groundhog Day. As you probably know, he declined the job because he felt the film was perfect and couldn't be improved upon. Not that he was listened to.

 

"

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 11:16am

I'm assuming you've seen the linked interview, but I thought it too wonderful not to add here.  I only saw it a few years ago, but it made Hoffman such a different man in my head.

 

http://www.today.com/popculture/dustin-hoffmans-tearful-tootsie-interview-about-women-goes-viral-6C10578440

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 11:32am

dramamama611 said: "I'm assuming you've seen the linked interview, but I thought it too wonderful not to add here.  I only saw it a few years ago, but it made Hoffman such a different man in my head.

http://www.today.com/popculture/dustin-hoffmans-tearful-tootsie-interview-about-women-goes-viral-6C10578440"

 

I remember seeing that right after I had watched a "making of..." special feature on the DVD, where Dustin Hoffman and Sydney Pollack were fighting about the dialogue in a scene. It then occurred to me. These guys were fighting about the story. Not the jokes. They knew the jokes would organically come from the authenticity of the story. They weren't out to make a comedy. They were out to tell a story and the jokes were almost an afterthought, which is why it works so well. 

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 11:32 AM

[evic]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 1:30pm

Annaleiqgh Ashford for the Teri Garr role. Please not Christian Borle. But yes to Andy Karl 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 1:58pm

evic said: "Annaleigh Ashford for the Teri Garr role. Please not Christian Borle. But yes to Andy Karl "

YES to Ashford. I'd love to see Brandon Uranowitz. Don't feel too strongly about Yazbeck but I guess we'll see.

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 6:43pm

Brian d'Arcy James would be perfect!

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 6:57pm

Brandon Uranowitz would be fantastic and it would be a real star-making role for him.

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 06:57 PM

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 8:45pm

They have to keep this in early 80s, otherwise it loses relevance. But I'm concerned if the theme will resonate enough today. (Not saying women have completely equal rights in today's workplace, but things are better today than in 1980.) Though I never saw 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, I felt it was a similar theme from a similar era that today's audiences don't feel drawn to, and could have been why it had such a short run. 

That said it's one of my favorite films and one, like a few others, as I watch it I think how a scene could be set on stage or set to music. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 8:51pm

Santino Fontana or Will Swenson, for me.

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 08:51 PM

[Ludlow29]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 9:41pm

Some TOOTSIE trivia.  There are two scenes in the movie where Dustin Hoffman is auditioning against the backdrop of an off-Broadway musical.  The show is CHARLOTTE SWEET (set by Holmes Easley).  The set included a prop trunk, which was actually my mother's college  trunk.  By pure coincidence, one of the movie's producers was Dick Richards (my father's step-brother). - Michael Colby (librettist of CHARLOTTE SWEET; composer: Gerald Jay Markoe).

[James2]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 9:47am

Playbill says Santino Fontana is starring in the reading.

http://www.playbill.com/article/new-director-boards-tootsie-musical-ahead-of-june-reading

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 10:05am

I'm hesitant about this one. When a movie is so wonderful and iconic... how can you improve on it?

They did not improve on Waitress, the movie or Legally Blonde the movie and many others. I don't think this

Some material needs not to become a musical.

 

 

 

Updated On: 5/23/17 at 10:05 AM

[green waver]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 10:12am

Still think it's a bad idea, but if they must... How about Neil Patrick Harris and Billy Porter alternating as Michael/Dorothy?

Posted: 5/23/17 at 1:07pm

I think the role of soap ingénue April Page will be higher profile than one might expect considering the actress who portrayed her -- Geena Davis -- went onto become a Hollywood superstar & Oscar winner. 

[castlestreet]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 1:34pm

This is one I've been waiting for now for quite some time.  I am really hoping that it gets the proper treatment I think it deserves.  

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 2:55pm

I loved the movie and thought Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange were fantastic but not sure if this could be made into a good musical.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 5:00pm

I would think Norbert Leo Butz would slam dunk this. I wish he'd return in a musical. And I love Yazbeck's work, so I'm excited. 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 8:51am

Will it be ANDY KARL?? Could he get out of his GROUNDHOG DAY contract esp since he'll lose the TONY...? WOW he could finally win for this!!!!!!

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 8:58am

There are 100 much more intersting choices besides Andy Karl.  

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 9:17am

The NEW YORK TIMES disagrees!!!

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 9:20am

Skimbleshanks2 said: "Will it be ANDY KARL?? Could he get out of his GROUNDHOG DAY contract esp since he'll lose the TONY...? WOW he could finally win for this!!!!!!"

The article says Santino Fontana is doing the reading so please stop shouting.

 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 10:18am

SANTINO??? OMG........ I LOVE HIM!!

Gahhhhh new most anticipated musical ever!!