Annie (Modern Stage Version)

Hi, everybody. I was listening to the soundtrack for the new modernized film version of Annie, and started wondering what its story might look like as a stage production, so I decided to come here and ask people for their thoughts.

Hopefully they would address the many problems the remake had:

It would be bad... just like the movie.

Broadway kid 2 said: "icecreambenjamin said: "It would be bad... just like the movie.

"

It would be 

"

It would  

Is anyone going to bother answering the question as to how they think the film's modern approach and songs would work on stage?

If not, I'll share my own ideas:

- Act 1 -

Overture

Maybe

It's the Hard-Knock Life

Tomorrow

NYC (modernized and sung by Will)

I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here

You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile (sung by the Ensemble and Grace as she and Annie go shopping)

Moonquake Lake (repurposed in similar fashion to "You're Never Fully Dressed" as it appears in the original stage show, with Annie's friends pantomiming the song)

Little Girls

The City's Yours

Easy Street

Why Should I Change a Thing? (added from the 2000 Australian production that starred Anthony Warlow; modernized and sung by Will)

- Act 2 -

Opportunity

Something Was Missing

You Make Me Happy (added from the '97 Broadway Revival; repurposed and sung by Grace and Annie)

Easy Street (Reprise sung by Guy solo)

Who am I?

I Don't Need Anything But You

Tomorrow (Reprise)

There are only really 18 lyrical songs that would work within the modern context, which isn't really quite enough, but I did what I could.

No word of a lie - I once saw a production of Oliver that was Americanised and Modernised. The songs were given the same kind of treatment that the songs in Annie (2014) was given. Over-produced and Auto-Tuned to hell and back.

It was about as God awful as I imagine a stage version of Annie (2014) would be. 

No.

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "DigificWriter said: "I don't think the film did well enough commercially for anyone to express interest in presenting that version (or, for that matter, a variant based on that version), but I could very easily be wrong.

"

It made more money than either of the previous two film versions, so it wasn't as unsuccessful as you think it was.

Mr. Nowack said: "Can you really gauge a TV movie against a theatrical release?

"

Even if you ignore the telefilm, it's still the highest-grossing film adaptation of the musical, so it wasn't unsuccessful in the ways that matter.

Updated On: 2/17/16 at 01:59 PM

I personally think that the modern context and musical updates for the new movie worked, but there aren't quite enough songs in the script to make things work in terms of theatrical staging, which is the biggest issue I personally see.

Others' mileage may vary, though.

DigificWriter said: "

Even if you ignore the telefilm, it's still the highest-grossing film adaptation of the musical, so it wasn't unsuccessful in the ways that matter.

"

It it was a disappointment for the studio commercially and it certainly would not beat the original film adjusted for inflation; and THAT was considered an underwhelming return. 

Updated On: 2/18/16 at 12:56 AM

DigificWriter said: "I also don't personally see how the film's reception has any true bearing on how its narrative  approach and musical structure would work theatrically on stage."

Well, for one thing, the film's reception might indicate the level of interest in someone reworking it for the stage. That's one way it might have a bearing.

Updated On: 2/18/16 at 08:48 AM

I must admit, being a producer, that my first thought before reasoning out the logistics of such a project is, "Would anyone care enough to see it?" Others may take a different view.