Favorite Biography Musical?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 11:49am

What is your favorite musical based on a true story, but not necessarily based on a book about the event?

 

For me, it's Parade.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 12:19pm

Ditto on PARADE

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:04pm

That's a very odd stipulation in the question.  Is it because you want to eliminate Hamilton as a response?  Or Fun Home?  I guess my answer would be 1776, if I had to be that specific.

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:07pm

Well, I think it's a separate genre. American Psycho's also a movie, but the musical is credited as an adaptation of the book. A Christmas Story was inspired by a collection of Short Stories by Jean Shepherd, but the musical is based on the film adaptation.

I guess I could allow musicals based on documentaries (Grey Gardens, Hands on a Hardbody). Really, I was excluding dramatizations of the true stories.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:09pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "Well, I think it's a separate genre. American Psycho's also a movie, but the musical is credited as an adaptation of the book. A Christmas Story was inspired by a collection of Short Stories by Jean Shepherd, but the musical is based on the film adaptation.

I guess I could allow musicals based on documentaries (Grey Gardens, Hands on a Hardbody). Really, I was excluding dramatizations of the true stories."

[ilovebabyv]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:00pm

MATILDA!!!! I can't believe the things that girl could do! What an inspiration to young girls everywhere.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:05pm

^i don't know of that was a joke, but Matilda isn't a true story. 

I'll also say Parade and Fun Home and I'll include Boy From Oz

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:16pm

Thanks for allowing documentaries, Alex. That was very nice of you. I don't know how you can write a play about a true event but not "dramatize" it. Grey Gardens is a dramatization. It takes inspiration from original story, and follows the timelines/character maps, but blanks are for us to fill in.

Based on somewhat confusing premise of your question, I'm not sure if Gypsy, Kinky Boots, and/or The Sound Of Music qualify or not. If they do, my answer is Kinky Boots.

[zjb8]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:40pm

Does Bombshell count? I think it should definitely cout because that's my pick! 

[marcslope]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:48pm

"Fiorello!", maybe? And it may not be my favorite, but "Ben Franklin in Paris" is really awfully good, and worthy of staging.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 9:53pm

I still say 1776. Not because of the dramatization of the historical event, but because of the biographical elements of John Adams. 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 10:39pm

Phantom of the Opera is my favorite autobiography musical 

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 11:05pm

broadwayguy91 said: "Phantom of the Opera is my favorite autobiography musical "

i don't think that's based on a true story

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 11:08pm

gypsy101 said: "broadwayguy91 said: "Phantom of the Opera is my favorite autobiography musical "

i don't think that's based on a true story

 

"

note the word "autobiography"...if you still don't get the joke...

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 12:49am

I'm surprised no one's brought up Evita yet. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:19am

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:23am

I'm honestly still confused by this topic. "Non-dramatized" biographies mean nothing in live theater. And a lot less so in musical theater. So while we can come up with amazing examples as our personal favorites, none of them fill into this criteria. An easier approach would have been listing the shows AlexKulak2 thinks qualifies and asking us to pick one.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:58am

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES is a heavily-dramatized account of his life. Love that show! 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 9:20am

I have an unrelated question. Would you consider Bright Star ???????as a vehicle for Carmen Cusack?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 11:34am

Since she was so intimately involved with the show's development I would say YES, but it isn't a star vehicle because it wasn't billed as such and (love her tho we may) Carmen has not achieved star level yet.

[kofler22]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 12:23pm

Mame!!

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 3:45pm

FELA

[bandit964]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 3:46pm

Will Rogers; also a very unique way of telling his story.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 8:57pm

ASSASSINS

(But I'm surprised nobody has mentioned FUNNY GIRL.)

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 1:28am

How about A Chorus Line, based on many true stories?