BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 1:47pm

Big Ol' Eye Roll Updated On: 2/2/12 at 01:47 PM

[Matt2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:05pm

That's just what Broadway's been missing: a musicalization of an 80s movie! Thanks Mr. Zemekis!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:10pm

If there's a flying delorean on stage reminiscent of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang then count me in.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:10pm

*sigh*

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:32pm

There is so little information, it's hard to tell what it is they intend to do. It could be a musical or some sort of stage spectacle. Or may end up being nothing more than tossing an idea around. I don't care if the film is from the 80s or not depending on the material or the finished product. The only 80s films I can think of that we've seen as Broadway musicals were Footloose and Hairspray. Dirty Dancing only toured and Flashdance isn't a sure thing yet. But it's not as if those all closely resemble each other in style, story, staging or score.

My problem is, this is an iconic action film. Half the fun of the film is in all the editing sequences of the running around and chasing from location to location. Even the clock tower sequence will lose so much suspense and tension when you remove all those shots, angles and special effects and replace them with one perspective. And there are some properties specifically created for film that are so iconic in their original form (especially action films), live replication can simply never live up to the original that has been embraced worldwide for generations. Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, and ET are similar properties that have reached something of an untouchable status.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:43pm

They should get the British boy band "McFly" to write the score.

[Overkill]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:50pm

While I agree with everything Mister Matt just said, I'm actually kind of excited to see what comes out of this - being one of my favorite movies. I think it's possible to make a good adaptation, but we know those are few and far between. I just don't want it to be The Wedding Singer. They could use projected sets (is that the right term for it?) for the car.

There's only one man for Doc Brown: Brent Spiner

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:58pm

Why bother going to the movies anymore? Everything gets recycled as a Broadway musical these days.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 3:13pm

And while we're at it, why see a play or read a book anymore?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:27pm

I think the idea of adapting a property that juxtoposes two distinct time periods is a great idea. I just think Back to the Future is too effects driven and well known.

Personally, I'd like to Blast from the Past or The Truman Show. I think both could be musicalized in a really fun, smart way.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:33pm

^ To that point, I would have preferred Pleasantville.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:38pm

^Only if Paul Walker reprises his role and they add some nudity this time.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:04pm

Why bother watching television shows anymore? Things like THE ADDAMS FAMILY get recycled as Broadway musicals.

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:07pm

Or, Robbie, how about On A Clear....errrr, never mind.

And Taz, McFly can do it only if they collaborate with Huey Lewis.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:13pm

Ive always thought PLEASANTVILLE would make a beautiful musical. It could never work on stage though, for obvious reasons, but even as a movie musical I'd love to see it done.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:18pm

Yeah...the visual impact of Pleasantville wouldn't work all that well on stage. Though the mixing of black and white and color worked for City of Angels, the emotional peak of Pleasantville is when their faces obtain color. Could there be some sort of equivalent that doesn't involve color like that? I don't know. But yes...the material itself would sing beautifully.

[Bryan With A Why]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:29pm

"Oh my God," the American musical theatre canon was overheard saying, "they found me. I don't know how, but they found me."

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 6:29pm

I can almost hear the future "The Power of Love" marketing campaign.

Hope they can get some of the music from the film:

- Power of Love
- Back in Time
- Mr. Sandman
- Earth Angel
- Johnny B. Goode
- and of course elements from the iconic epic score

[gypsy4]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 6:37pm

Alan Menken should compose.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 7:29pm

Pleasantville could work on stage. The number "Come on Everybody" from "All Shook Up" started off lit and costumed very drab in blacks, whites, grays, and browns then slowly throughout the song everything changed to bright colors. Granted, this wouldn't be as effective as totally b&w film to touches of color, but it could "work" in a broad sense.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 8:46pm

I'm thinking they can musicalize all three and perform them in rep like The Coast Of Utopia.

[JenD512]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:18pm

I can't wait to see how they musicalize Biff driving into a manure truck.

Back to the Future has been my favorite movie ever since I saw it on opening weekend in 1985.

That being said, please let this never happen!

Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:18 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 2:38am

An early warning to Bob Zemekis: Using a non-Broadway composer can be the kiss of death (Meredith Wilson notwithstanding.) Go to Marc Shaiman instead.

[sueb1863]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 6:31am

Unless I'm reading the article wrong, it doesn't say anything about it being a musical. It could be a straight play adaptation.

That being said, while the movie is one of my all time faves as well, I don't see any screaming need for it to be turned into a stage show. It works perfectly as a film and a live version wouldn't bring anything new except another way to make money off the story.

I also can't see any practical way to pull off some of the high-speed stuff on stage. They could use rear projections and static models but it just wouldn't be the same.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 6:37am

"Using a non-Broadway composer can be the kiss of death (Meredith Wilson notwithstanding.) Go to Marc Shaiman instead."

Who was, at the time Hairspray opened, primarily a film composer who had not yet written a full Broadway score.