DICK TRACY the stage musical

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 11:05pm

I was just listening to the soundtrack/Madonna album and I was thinking that it might make a great stage musical. Even if the only singer was the "Modonna" character, its a really colorful adaptaptation of a cartoon/comic strip (?) and they could have a lot of fun with the set/design and the original Sondheim songs are AMAZING! I'm addicted to "Sooner of Later" and "More" at the moment. Discuss. Updated On: 2/1/05 at 11:05 PM

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 11:30pm

By the madonna character you mean breathless mahoney. Also going bananas and what can lose with mandy patankin are great songs.

[Janos5303]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 12:48pm

Actually- there was a Dick Tracy stage musical- Disney produced 2 versions one at Disneyland and one at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando. They were directed by Robert Jess Roth who went on to helm Beauty and The Beast on Broadway and beyond. The show was quite fun and featured several of the film's songs plus new music. The highlight was a "Billion Dollar Baby" chase sequence- not the new Eastwood film but the old Phil Silvers vehicle also featured in Jerome Robbins Broadway.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 12:50pm

Favorite movie of my childhood.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 2:49pm

I was hooked on "Back in Business" when I was in HS LONG TIME AGO! It would be hot.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 4:55pm

I like Madonna's album based on the movie. She has some GREAT songs on there, some by Sondheim. Love "He's a Man" and others.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 5:16pm

Back in Business is a great song. Didn't Sondheim write them???

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 7:05pm

I wouldn't count a Disney theme park show a "stage show" exactly. But I think it would be a fantastic stage show. It could be the hit Sondheim's been lacking the last 20 years or so.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 7:05pm

No, most of the songs on the album are written by Madonna with one of her collaborators.

The CD album is not really a soundtrack (there is another CD that IS the Dick Tracy soundtrack, but it's mostly instrumental). The CD titled I'M BREATHLESS is really a Madonna album, with the subtitle "Music From And Inspired By The Film DICK TRACY". Madonna was allegedly so taken with the musical style of the period and of Sondheim's contributions that she penned some of her own songs, and recorded this concept album. Of the 12 tracks on the album, only three are written by Sondheim; most of the others are by Madonna and her longtime collaborate, Pat Leonard -- including "Back in Business".

Here's the breakdown:

1. HE'S A MAN (Madonna & Pat Leonard)
2. SOONER OR LATER (Stephen Sondheim)
3. HANKY PANKY (Madonna & Pat Leonard)
4. I'M GOING BANANAS (Michael Kernan & Andy Paley)
5. CRY BABY (Madonna & Pat Leonard)
6. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER (Madonna & Pat Leonard)
7. BACK IN BUSINESS (Madonna & Pat Leonard)
8. MORE (Stephen Sondheim)
9. WHAT CAN YOU LOSE (Stephen Sondheim)
10/11. NOW I'M FOLLOWING YOU (Andy Paley, Jeff Lass, Ned Claflin, & Jonathan Paley)
12. VOGUE (Madonna & Shep Pettibone)

I think it's to Madonna and Shep Pettibone's great credit that they were able to pen such great songs in a specific style and have them mistaken for Sondheim's work.

Updated On: 2/2/05 at 07:05 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 7:07pm

"what can you lose" is the best song i think....it would be a great bway show.....go mandy!!!

[BBBoy]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 9:47pm

"Back in Business" (at least the version used in the movie) was written by Sondheim. I found this quote on Sondheim.com

"Madonna had written a song called "Back in Business" for the montage sequence which followed the incarceration of Dick Tracy (when all the crooks come out and take over the city). However, no one was pleased with it and Beatty, with the pressure of a screening a month away, prevailed on Sondheim to write a new "Back in Business"."

I'm curious to hear what Madonna's version is like.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 9:51pm

I don't care what they say. Madonna is talented. My only complaint with "I'm Breathless" is that two songs shouldn't have been on there. "I'm Going Bananas" and "Cry Baby." They just aren't good.
The rest of the album is great though. I love me some early 90's Madonna...(Erotica and Bedtime Stories.)

[gravity87]

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

Come now we have to go to crappy movies for inspiration for musicals? There has to be some origonals left to be written. at least i hope there is

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 1:29am

I'm curious to hear what Madonna's version is like.

Wow, that's interesting. I haven't seen the movie in years, so I can't recall Sondheim's version. In any case, Madonna's version (with writing credits to Madonna and Patrick Leonard) can be found on the I'M BREATHLESS album, and the chorus goes like this:

You put me back, back in business,
This ain't no hit or miss, I'm gonna get my way.
'Cause you put me back, back in business,
You're my first witness, and I'm here to stay.

Updated On: 2/3/05 at 01:29 AM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 1:44am

right now i'm preparing what can you lose for my sondheim recital that i'm giving in march... it truly is a brilliant song!