Best screen to stage musical adaptations

[mkmswain]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 10:27am

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

[curel1]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 10:35am

Legally Blonde

[Kad]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 10:36am

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.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 10:42am

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 AM

[Oak2]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 11:03am

Deleted - Sorry, I was stupid and forgot about the original movie.

Updated On: 8/17/16 at 11:03 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 11:04am

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.

Updated On: 8/17/16 at 11:04 AM

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 11:27am

Beauty and the Beast

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 11:46am

missing:

Legally Blonde

Some like it Hot (Sugar)

The Apartment (Promises, Promises)

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 12:02pm

Billy Elliot
Hairspray
Kinky Boots
The Lion King
Monty Python's Spamalot
The Producers

Updated On: 8/17/16 at 12:02 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 12:08pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The Light in the Piazza

Beauty and the Beast

Little Shop of Horrors

A Little Night Music

[jomilo21]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 12:12pm

 Beauty and the beast 

 Cinderella 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 3:00pm

I would say American Psycho but that's more from the book.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 3:29pm

SHE LOVES ME of course

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 3:55pm

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. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 4:29pm

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

[degrassifan]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 3:27pm

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). 

[Mekroth]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 10:17pm

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.

[hork]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 11:49pm

Little Shop of Horrors is both the best screen-to-stage musical adaptation and the best stage-to-screen musical adaptation. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/19/16 at 2:19am

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.

"

 

[jessepp]

Posted: 8/19/16 at 4:07pm

Full Monty

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 8/20/16 at 6:31pm

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!

 

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 8/20/16 at 7:12pm

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.