If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
KMadd25
Swing Joined: 10/30/19
#1If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 8:27pm
In the past several years, I feel there have been more and more shows that aim for a teen audience. With this in mind, I don't think it is entirely implausible that some popular YA books/series may eventually get adapted into musicals. Do you have a book or series (either YA or not) you would love to see as a musical? Who would you cast in it?
BwayLB
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
#2If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 8:32pmI would love to see Love Simon as a musical.
KMadd25
Swing Joined: 10/30/19
#3If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 9:00pm
I don't know a ton about the story of Love Simon, but from what I do know, I think a lot of people would find it enjoyable. I wonder if a DEH sort of vibe might work for it? Maybe not quite as dark as DEH . . .
BwayLB
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
#4If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 9:06pm^ Its not supposed to be as dramatic as DEH. But Pasek and Paul would be perfect for it
#5If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 9:38pmLove Simon could work well... I’d love if they commissioned a half original half jukebox score from Fun/Bleachers, because the use of that anthemic “neon pop” sound really defined the film’s marketing.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#6If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/29/20 at 10:45pm
I *could* finish my musical based on The Fault in Our Stars musical if John Green's agent would return my emails...
#7If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 9:54am
Only true YA adaptions I can think of in recent memory are Be More Chill and The Lightning Thief; doubt people will be lining up to throw money at this trend anytime soon after those financial mis-fires.
Updated On: 10/30/20 at 09:54 AM
#8If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 6:49pmI'd love to see What if it's us? as a musical. The book is entertaining, cute, funny and full of musical references (like its title). I think a good musical could come out of it.
bwayobsessed
Broadway Star Joined: 5/28/13
#9If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 7:14pmI’ve always thought Holes would make a fun musical. The three different timelines interwoven would be fun. The set designers job would be hard tho...
#10If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 8:44pm
jpbran said: "Only true YA adaptions I can think of in recent memory are Be More Chills and The Lightning Thief; doubt people will be lining up to throw money at this trend anytime soon after those financial mis-fires."
Be More Chill. No "s."
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#11If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 8:53pm
bwayobsessed said: "I’ve always thought Holes would make a fun musical. The three different timelines interwoven would be fun. The set designers job would be hard tho..."
Louis Sachar adapted the novel into a straight play.
#12If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/30/20 at 10:52pm
joevitus said: "jpbran said: "Only true YA adaptions I can think of in recent memory are Be More Chills and The Lightning Thief; doubt people will be lining up to throw money at this trend anytime soon after those financial mis-fires."
Be More Chill. No "s.""
Yep, typo.
#13If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/31/20 at 12:03am
I'd love to see a musical version of Holes, as long it maintains the sophistication of the story and doesn't go the route of Be More Chill & Lightning Thief.
I didn't know Sachar adapted it into a play. It's interesting to me because I think the show could really work beautifully if it was musicalized, but I don't necessarily think the stage is the optimal medium for it. This isn't necessarily to say that they should make a movie musical, or that the play is bad (I've never seen it). I guess I just feel like, the medium of live theatre doesn't seem to have a lot to offer to this already-flawless story, unless it were to be musicalized, so I'm surprised it was adapted as a non-musical.
And I don't say that lightly - I think the mentality of "every stage adaptation of a well-known property has to be a musical" is idiotic and has led to tons of inert, lifeless, boring musicals that might have made decent plays. But in this case, with this material, I feel like musicalization would be the best way to do it onstage.
Let's hope it still happens someday, and please, for the love of God, give the project to someone with imagination and depth, and keep it far away from the likes of Stephen Brackett, Joe Tracz, Joe Iconic, Pasek & Paul, etc. etc.
#14If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/31/20 at 11:45am
I just wanna put my two cents in that Love Simon would translate so well to a musical.
Not YA, but I also feel like in the right hands Room could be a really powerful and understated musical. I'm thinking reuniting Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron for this one.
ImaginaryManticore
Understudy Joined: 7/18/19
#15If YA Books Were Musicals . . .
Posted: 10/31/20 at 6:45pm
It would need the right writer to make it work, but On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give) was the first that came to mind. It's about a teenage girl who's an aspiring rapper.
And okay, this is an anime movie, not a novel, but ever since I saw Your Name I've thought it would make an incredible musical.
Videos