Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:32am

I think that SA could make an awesome movie. If developed and directed properly, with a theatrical edge, I think that the transfer from stage to screen could be a success.

What do you all think?
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 10:32 AM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:33am

It's already a crappy stage show, I would think it would make an even crappier movie.

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:35am

It certainly fits the bill for what audiences will allegedly only buy in a movie musical these days, what with the songs taking place in the minds of the characters and not in real time.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:37am

thank you Fosse76 for that very insightful opinion

blah blah blah

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:39am

It can be a great movie.

Just don't let it be a musical.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:41am

ANY Broadway show can be adapted as a film. You just need a director with a proper vision. The vision can be either a straight transfer, or a twist (such as what Condon did with CHICAGO). The vision and its execution is what counts.

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:45am

"It can be a great movie.

Just don't let it be a musical."

Agreed - the original play would make a great screenplay.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 11:53am

I can't seem to grasp the idea of it as a movie and NOT a movie-musical..I think the score is perfect for the type of hype people are looking for today in movie musicals.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:12pm

SPRING AWAKENING THE MUSICAL would definately work as a movie, given the concepts it already uses on stage.

I'm opposed to it because the score is firmly rooted in our day and age, and I myself prefer movies that still have some impact even a decade later.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:25pm

Im a huge fan and I dont think it would make a good movie at all!

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:21pm

Truly a snowball's chance in Hell of transfering well to film. I can't see it working AT ALL, and honestly, I'm a fan of the show. So, take it for what it's worth -- Opinions matter ever-so-much on this board, as it stands.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:23pm

"If developed and directed properly, with a theatrical edge, I think that the transfer from stage to screen could be a success."

That is kind of a broad statement, couldn't you say that about anything really?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:25pm

Gee thanks Capn'... Of course ANYTHING can be turned into a movie but the question was can it WORK?
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 01:25 PM

[raphael06]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:37pm

The original play could. The musical as a movie, IMO, would be obnoxious and not translate the way it does on stage which would be detrimental to its success.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:53pm

I'd rather they made no movie of it, thana bad one. In any case, I just don't see it...the play and the musical are too expressionist / Brechtian. The characters are more types than fully developed people...it was meant to be that way, and it works in the theatre, but film is more intimate medium and I can't see it coming off without some unfortunate changes.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:58pm

It would be difficult because of the performance aspect of all the songs. They're not necessarilly plot-based songs with action involved. They more stop the plot to give insight and to allow the song to comment on the action, as opposed to push it. I find it thrilling in the theatre, but would it be weird for a plot-based movie to break out into music videos every 10 minutes or so?

But I agree with Kringas, it has everything that a movie needs today: hot young cast, rock music, sex.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:08pm

I totally agree with Raphael about this.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:35pm

I would love to see the play turned into a movie. The play, not necessarily the musical. I think the musical on film would seem completely dated ten or twenty years after it's made. The play would make a great movie, though. I'd love to see a darker version of the story, which I think was the play's intent.

~Steven

[pants2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:37pm

how did i know the second i came into this thread that there would be someone who was part of the "now that spring awakening won all those awards, since i refuse to like anything mainstream i don't like it even though i liked it before" group? how DID i know?

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:41pm

But I agree with Kringas, it has everything that a movie needs today: hot young cast, rock music, sex.

I think you misunderstood me. I meant that since its songs exist outside the world of the play (much like they did in the movie version of Chicago) audiences would be okay with that, since the oft-repeated meme about movie musicals is that no one will buy a movie musical where the characters just organically break out into song.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:46pm

If the musical were made into a movie, a lot of the energy in that theater would not there. I feel the energy in the theater is crucial to the show itself.

[pants2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:25pm

true, Becoz i knew you21, spring awakening live energy definetly plays a part in it's appeal, but for example, as much as the rent film was sort of uninspiring there was definetly moments in that which were high energy or exciting, and i think a show like spring awakening (IMO better than rent) could do the same, except with more good moments.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:57pm

I really enjoyed Spring Awakening, I thought it was a fun show with a lot of energy and the best lit stage I have seen possibly ever. That being said, I think I have to go with no on a movie version. The main problem I had with the Rent film was that it lacked the energy you find in the theatre and it really brought it down for me, I think a film version of Spring Awakening would suffer that same fate. The energy is most definately needed here. However, if Showtime were to decide they wanted to tape the show as is a la Death of a Salesman or Into the Woods, I wouldn't mind seeing it. That way there it preserves the concept, lights, and intent of the musical.

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:39pm

I agree-tape the stage version, but if they did, they better do it soon, before the original cast leaves. It would be interesting to see a movie of the original play, I think the musical is just too stage-y, and it would lose a lot of it's energy.

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 6:49pm

Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

No.