Annie (Modern Stage Version)

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 7:34pm

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.

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 7:36pm

I mean, considering how poorly the film was received, I can't imagine anyone would ever actually do it. 

 

That being said, I'm not personally opposed. Annie is a total guilty pleasure for me. I found the recent movie to be pretty cute. Wouldn't mind seeing it onstage. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 7:41pm

Hopefully they would address the many problems the remake had:

 

 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 7:45pm

Any thoughts on how the story and score would work on stage?

 

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 8:47pm

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

[Broadway kid 2]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:48pm

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

 

"

It would be 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 10:05pm

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

 

 

 

"

 

It would be 

 

"

 

It would  

 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 10:11pm

People want Grease 2 and Shock Treatment more.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:17pm

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.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:20pm

Don't forget Punjab and The Asp!

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 6:56am

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. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 11:12am

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

 

I did, though. I pointed out that the work had massive flaws, and linked to someone who enumerated them much better than I. They would be the first thing to fix if one was going to attempt to tackle such a venture. Further, 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.

 

If it's any consolation, your version of the film's framework sounds much better than what they came up with.

Updated On: 2/17/16 at 11:12 AM

[vdirects]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 11:14am

No.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 11:22am

The whole ethos of Annie is locked into the Depression era, IMHO.  

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:53pm

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]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 1:10pm

Can you really gauge a TV movie against a theatrical release?

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 1:59pm

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

[JRybka]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 2:13pm

They actually have a stage version of Grease 2 called "Cool Rider" I have the recording. 

 

I think an update of Annie may actually work if done right. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 4:19pm

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.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 4:43pm

The video I linked to basically relates my opinion better than I could. Could it work? Theoretically, yes. But grosses notwithstanding, the film is very poorly plotted and full of enough holes to sink a ship, things that the original Annie didn't have a problem with, and that any (highly unlikely) stage version of the remake would have to tackle.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 12:56am

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]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 5:41am

Scarywarhol said: "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. 

 

 

 

"

 

How do you see $134 million and change as a 'commercial disappointment'?

 

You have a point about the inflation thing, but I don't think that's either here nor there.

 

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.

 

I may not agree with the conclusions drawn by that video g.d.l.e.g.I. posted, but he at least made an attempt to offer some semblance of an answer to the question I posed.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 8:48am

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

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 8:58am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "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.

 

 

 

"

 

I see your broader point, but this topic was intended to be less about the actual viability or likelihood of something like this happening and more about the narrative logistics of adapting the film's modern approach and score in general.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 9:18am

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.