Could this be a musical??? And would it be good?
If Marc Shaiman composes the score, the cast is good, and the director knows what he/she is doing I can see this having potential.
The movie, however charming, flopped terribly when it came out. So it definitely isn't going anywhere in the near future.
Would love to see this done!
David HP could reprise his role. I could see Hugh Jackman as Catch (f they want a really big name in the show) or Andy Karl would be fab, and maybe Kate Rockwell as Barbra. Kate Shindle or Leslie Kritzer would make a good Vicki
wow that's a lot of names from legally blonde...
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofuSherie Renee Scott as Barbra Novak.........
Why are you even talking about this??
The movie was a disaster
because it's fun. Not everything needs to be serious. It's a cute movie, and I think everyone just wants some more Marc Shaiman! ;D
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofuAndy Karl would make an amzing Catch.......... Sherie Renee Scott would be a good Barbra Novak
You took the words right out of my mouth Scarywarhol. The problem is that a source should be greatly improved to become a musical, but people would prefer to just transpose a movie onto the stage, rather than transform it.
Broadway Blog: Rediscovering Jerry Herman’s Mrs. Santa Claus
the movie was cute, and something about it felt very broadway to me....if they pumped up the laughs and energy, and added some catchy songs...it could really work!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Yes yes yes all that needs to be fixed is the tone, the plot and the dialogue. Get rid of all that and you might have something.
Really, isn't it just easier to start with something good?
Andy Karl as Catch is brilliant, brilliant casting.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/04
I love this movie, and thought from the moment I first saw it it would work even better as a musical.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/06
Me too, NS. Me, too.
the movie was cute, and something about it felt very broadway to me....if they pumped up the laughs and energy, and added some catchy songs...it could really work!
Yes, I really agree with everyone. It really could work. The reason why it flopped in the movies may be that no one really appreciates a really bubbly retro film anymore, and times have changed. The directors were trying to wake the dead. I see where you are going with this, and I agree that it would work a HELL OF A LOT better as a musical.
Either Norbert Leo Butz or Brian D'arcy James should play Catch and Sherie Rene Scott should be Barbara. This should be real cool.
"The movie, however charming, flopped terribly when it came out. So it definitely isn't going anywhere in the near future."
*hums the theme to Xanadu softly*
I also love this movie! I know that it flopped, but I think it came out before they started having success with musical films again. Now after the success of Chicago and Hairspray and others...I bet this movie would do better in theatres. They just had to get people warmed up to the idea of musical movies again. I really do think it would have a different reaction if it were to be released now.
As for on stage...love it! Love the Andy Karl idea...Hugh Jackman could definitely do it. Annaleigh would be cute as Barbara, too. I do think that Laura Bell could definitely do it, as well. Again...a lot of LB references. I bet Kristin Chenowith would do it and it would be adorable, too. Lots of options, I think.
hahaha Bestie. Totes right!
I LOVE 'Down With Love'. I mean, LOVE!
It would be wonderful to see it on the stage, but ONLY if Marc and Scott are involved. 'Cause well, duh.
lusciouslace -- DOWN WITH LOVE was released after CHICAGO and MOULIN ROUGE, so it was riding on the coat tails of Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor.
I also see this working immensley as a Broadway musical. Even the early 60's visual style of the film can perfectly be replicated on stage.
The film flopped because most audiences didn't 'get' it. It was simply a pastiche/homage to those early 60's bedroom comedies that were quite popular. Those Doris Day/Rock Hudson, Bobby Darin/Sandra Dee romance comedies.
Why would you think of casting anyone but Ewan as Catch? I mean, come on...
This movie is a guilty pleasure of mine.
I love every minute of it.
Me too!
I'm sorry but it just screams musical to me.
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofuI love this film. In my spare time, I design sets for the show. I cast Andy Karl as Catch and Orfeh as Vikki. Not sure for Barbara, but I was thinking about Tina Maddigan last week. Of course, the shows would be hard to pull off. But it's so fun and energetic and if it's marketed right and if Marc Shaiman wrote the score, this could be a hit!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I love the movie, but I don't know that it would be that great of a musical. The film is already a spoof of the late 50s/early 60s sex comedies, but the conventions of of those films (hearing their thoughts, the split screen conversations) don't really lend themself to the stage. And frankly, I've had my fill of stage musicals that lampoon or send up anything for a while.
I also love this movie! I know that it flopped, but I think it came out before they started having success with musical films again. Now after the success of Chicago and Hairspray and others...I bet this movie would do better in theatres. They just had to get people warmed up to the idea of musical movies again. I really do think it would have a different reaction if it were to be released now.
You know that the movie isn't a musical, right?
Here is the "Here's to Love" number from DOWN WITH LOVE. Marc Shaiman, who not only wrote the entire score for the film, also wrote this with Scott Wittman for the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05yaZFY2O8
Videos