FUNNY FACE As A Musical?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:34pm

Hey y'all,
Anyone know why they haven't made a musical out of the Audrey Hepburn movie "Funny Face?" There's room for lots of great musical moments, and it could be very enchanting. I think Laura Osnes and Matthew Morrison would be great in the Audrey and Fred Astaire roles. It could be tricky to interpolate the Gershiwn songs with other material, but based on their work on "Smash," I think this could work for Shaiman and Whitman.

Thoughts?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:36pm

I became obsessed with the film a number of years ago and cast it in my head with Sutton Foster, Taye Diggs and Donna Murphy.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:36pm

..... I like your conversation.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:37pm

It features one of my favorite songs of all time, "How Long Has This Been Going On?" ...so I am all for a stage version.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:39pm

Already, THINK PINK is my favorite moment in the history of theater. At least in my head.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 4:53pm

Brave Sir, you may or may not know but there is a Gershwin musical called FUNNY FACE from 1927, completely different story, but a few of the same songs, including "My One and Only" which Kad, as you probably know is the name of another musical which features "How Long Has This Been Going On', which was a trunk song from "Funny Face" you may or may not know is in My One And Only (replaced with "He Loves and She Loves" which is also in "My One And Only" as well as being in the movie of "Funny Face"

Now that I've unfurled my show geek fan, I like "Funny Face" very much but it works mainly because of the star power of Astaire, Hepburn and Thompson. Getting three leads together who could make it work would be a huge challenge and without performers as endearing and uniquely charming the vehicle itself could likely sink.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 5:33pm

Oh, I'm all for it. Especially with Robbie's cast. Thanks to BWW, I will forever associate this film with NYadgal.
Anyone Remember This?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 8:20pm

henrik, I think I saw something about that. I think the iconic dance scene in the black turtleneck could be incredible onstage. For me, I placed intermission between the reveal of her on the runway for the first time, and Act Two starting with a montage of the photo shoot. And of course, the story will have to expanded to be a 2 hour 30 minute musical!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 8:32pm

I would love to see the movie story on stage with an expanded Gershwin score (all the songs from the film, plus more).

Bring it!!!

And for some reason, I would love to see Beth Leavel as Maggie Prescott. Or even Martha Plimpton. Or even Jan Maxwell.

And I love the idea of Sutton Foster as Jo Stockton.

I'd love to see a really good, seasoned hoofer as Dick Avery, to go toe to toe with Sutton.

EDIT: The fashion atmosphere, plus the beatnik scene, plus New York and Paris ... yes, please!

Updated On: 8/13/13 at 08:32 PM

[justoldbill]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 8:44pm

FUNNY FACE as a stage musical. Why does this sound familiar?

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 8:49pm

I ADORE Sutton, and she looks beautiful, but...really? as a high fashion model? Sutton can play an awkward mousy girl who can turn into glamorous and elegant, sure, but i don't see her as having that french fashion model face like Audrey.

Jessie Mueller, perhaps, or Krysta Rodriguez?

I will buy a ticket now for Beth Leavel or Jan Maxwell. Yes, yes, and yes!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 8:57pm

The whole point of the character is that she is not a conventional beauty. They want someone different for a change. (Of course, then they cast Audrey Hepburn to play her.)

I don't know if Sutton could glam up enough, but I'd like to see her try.

And as others have pointed out here, Funny Face WAS a musical in the 1920s, but with a completely different plot. The songs were used for Tommy Tune's "My One and Only," but again, with a completely different plot.

I would like to see THIS version of "Funny Face." The Hepburn/Astaire movie. It's a great story and seems readymade for the stage.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 9:17pm

Krysta Rodriguez would be an an interesting choice! I'm still a little keen on Laura Osnes for some reason.

Also, Beth would be great at Maggie Prescott? What do you think about Kim Cattrall?

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 9:23pm

I meant that Sutton is too conventional. Even when playing sexy/glamourous characters there's still a "girl next door" quality to her beauty. Plus, she's late 30s.

Audra WAS gorgeous, but did have a quirky and yes, funny face. Her features were all off but they formed a beautiful picture.

Osnes would be great too, but she is also a conventional looker.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 9:30pm

Well, if they really want her to succeed (and be believable) as a high fashion model, she's going to have to be skinny, skinny, skinny.

Did I mention skinny?

Not implying that the ladies mentioned so far aren't, but you need someone the size of Jill Paice---who might actually be more of an interesting choice if Jill were more interesting. Maybe Jill could do it. Or maybe they should find a high fashion model who's always wanted to do Broadway and has talent (enough) as a singer and dancer!

As for Kim Catrall, I love her ... but Maggie Prescott needs to be someone that exudes NY Fashion Industry. Very New York chic. Kim Catrall has always struck me as more Beverly Hills chic.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 9:36pm

This has always been my dream of a movie musical transfer. The movie is divine and would translate beautifully.

In my head, I've always seen Natalie Portman as Jo Stockton, Michael Berresse as Dick Avery and Jan Maxwell as Maggie Prescott, with direction by Michael Blakemore and designed by Michael Yeargan, Catherine Zuber and Donald Holder.

Imagine the possibilities. I pray to the theater gods (whoever and wherever they may be) that this would happen someday.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 9:39pm

^ I love it.

I'd go see that production! Natalie should come back to Broadway, and she's a very interesting choice for this, too.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 10:08pm

HA, I can see the casting breakdown now "A Jill Pace type if Jill Pace was interesting."

Natalie would be great and in the right "interesting looking" direction. Let's make this happen. haha

[vf]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 10:39pm

Harriet Harris for Maggie Prescott! Laura Osnes would be great singing and dancing and she's definitely model thin. No one can replace Fred Astaire, though.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 8:46am

Just what we need - another "new" Gershwin show featuring songs that have been used in other Gershwin shows. Can we work in "Someone to Watch Over Me" for the leading lady in this one, too?"

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 4:24pm

I think add in a couple of Gershwin tunes, but add some original material that meshes well with the other Gershwin songs.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 3:32am

Updated On: 8/16/13 at 03:32 AM

[vf]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 4:37am

That's fantastic! It's such a shame that there's no film of Adele and Fred dancing together. She really looks like the star on that poster.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 11:45am

I love that, allmylife! Thanks so much for sharing it.

If they do a new musical (based on the film), they really should keep a few of those tag lines. They are priceless!

"Beauty, Mirth, Music, and the World's Best Dancing Chorus"

"Just Another Big Hit!"

"Gay and Tuneful"

Incidentally, I love that it was choreographed by Bobby Connolly, who did the musical staging and choreography for MGM's "The Wizard of Oz."

Updated On: 8/16/13 at 11:45 AM