Books or Movies you'd like to see adapted to a Broadway Musical- Page 2

[children&art]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:32pm

1984 was an off-Broadway musical a year or so ago, it ran in rep with Animal Farm.

[thibodeaux]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:39pm

a JRB adaptation of "American Beauty"?? I'm all for it. sounds excellent.

"The Hours" mentioned before would be incredibly interesting to do on stage, but I don't think any of the aforementioned should be in it. No one instantly comes to mind as the leading ladies who could pull it off, but. . .those don't really jive with me.

"Clue" would make a fun musical, I think.
But someone with Tim Curry's zaniness and perfect comic timing would have to play the butler.

Anyone want to try and tackle "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides?
a HUGE story but excellent.

Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho" or perhaps "Rules of Attraction"?
The latter could be amazing. . .well, they both could, really.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:42pm

jasonf, I agree that 1984 could make a greeat musical.

The fact Orwell's estate allowed an opera based on it to be produced is an encouraging sign.

EDIT: I see that it was at one point made into a musical. Thanks, children&art. Updated On: 1/3/06 at 05:42 PM

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:46pm

"Clue" would make a fun musical, I think.

It's already been made into one. :) Clue: The Musical! LOL First production I saw at a local theatre here, actually.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:50pm

There was a LOTR musical here in LA last year--I think it's in Chicago now. It's histerical--it is a spoof of course, of both musicals and LOTR.

There's a great old movie called "Trouble in Paradise" that would make a great musical--unfortunately the plot line is similar to DRS.

I agree with "Dream Boy". "The Hours" could be interesting--so much of it is internal it would almost have to be an opera. Also, "The Time Traveler's Wife".

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:10pm

musical theater whore that i am ....i NEVER knew that "applause" was "all about eve"!!! i need to see that show! DUH!
=)

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:21pm

jasonf, you have vote too for a Jason Robert Brown score to accompany "American Beauty" the musical. Now all we need is a librettist.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 7:00pm

Sellevision with Kristin as Peggy and Idina as Bebe!

Just kidding - but it would sure as hell make an interesting musical.

Trial by Journal, by Kate Klise, would work really well onstage...

...as would John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces, as I've said before.
Updated On: 1/3/06 at 07:00 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 7:12pm

One of my favorite films of the 1930's:

Dodsworth

Stephen Cole has scored it and it had an out of town tryout in Texas in 1994. But...alas...it has apparently died.

[Footlooser]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 7:23pm

I don't think it would work as a musical but I would LOVE to see a stage production of "Stand By Me"

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 7:47pm

I would say "The First Wives Club" but my prayers were answered and it's already under way.

Other's I would love to see:
"Moonstruck"
"The Life and Loves of a She-Devil"

[9Contini]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 8:00pm

I like to run though an author's or a director's works and figure how they could be turned into stage musicals. The best properties are those with strong stories (as opposed to atmospheric or meditative books/movies) with interesting character interaction and some compassion. Ironic,post-modern views of humanity rarely fly.
Some stories are almost too intense even as a serious musical play and would be better as operas. But even zany musical comedies need a grounding in coherence. (My only problem with DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS is that it achieves neither the cartoony insanity of THE PRODUCERS nor a reason to care about what happens to these "scoundrels.") (But Yazbeck's music is so good, all is forgiven..LOL)
I need to think about this and come up with some potential stories for viable adaptation!
Mark

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 8:05pm

I would LOVE to see Jason Robert Brown do "American Beauty"
So add my vote in there.

I would also like to see a musical of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".
I think that would be very interesting and has the potential to be very good.
Updated On: 1/3/06 at 08:05 PM

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 8:09pm

Wow, had no idea that American Beauty idea would be so popular! I've been brewing that one for a while -- I hope you're reading this JRB!!!

I didn't know that 1984 actually WAS done as a musical - anyone see it?

I actually think When Harry Met Sally could be done as a fairly good musical - maybe someone like David Yazbeck doing the score (he's already done two other movie-comedies...)

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:46pm

I work in an indie bookstore where it's just me and one other guy, and one of the sections I'm over is the Children's Literature. I was completely blown away by a novel called The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson. I thought I'd just read a chapter or two before bed, and ended up reading until well past sunrise to finish the book. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking what a beautiful musical it would be - especially if you could reunite the Secret Garden creative team.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:48pm

Has Anna Karenina been made into a musical? If it was well edited and written it could be the next Les Miz.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:50pm

Damon Runyon's "Lady For A Day" (Jerry Herman, please do the score!)

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE starring Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing and Eric McCormack

(Yes, Anna Karenina HAS been musicalized. It was ghastly)

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:26pm

"ARSENIC AND OLD LACE starring Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing and Eric McCormack"

There already is a musical version of the play, I've heard it's very bad, but if you cast those three in a revival it would be very good.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:45pm

Said it before, say it again:

PLEASANTVILLE.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:50pm

I second Pleasantville and First Wives Club. (When is the latter supposed to be debuted? Is Marc Shaiman overseeing this one?)

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:02am

I was actually working on a musical send up of "The First Wives Club" but it never got finished. Mine started with the funeral with a number called "You don't say!". I had a great song for Brenda in the second act and put even more hilarious parts in for Gunilla Garson Goldberg and Shelly too. The funniest part I had written was a song called "Munique's Mother" - Maybe I can still use it for something.

[musicman117]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:16am

JRB doing American Beauty - what a great idea. And as for a librettist, Alan Ball should write it.

Other Movies:
- As good as it gets
- I would really like to see a heartwrenching movie like Hotel Rwanda be musicalized.
- A League of their own

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:48am

These have to be the sorriest ideas for musicals ever suggested, every last one of 'em.



Harold Hill
River City, Iowa

Updated On: 1/4/06 at 12:48 AM

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:53am

Coming to America

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:53am

And there is a lot of "Sorry Musicals" that make it to broadway and run as well, Some really sorry ones run for YEARS too. Just a fact.