JUDY GARLAND MUSICAL

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:21pm

Just wondering if anyone knows why there hasn't been a full-out JUDY musical (a la FUNNY GIRL). God knows there is plenty of familiar Judy songs to make a book musical out of. I remember when I saw BOY FROM OZ and watching the Judy character sing thinking there is definitely a show to be written.

Pam Gem's wrote a show in the 80's (JUDY) but it was very disappointing.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:26pm

ummm... there is a judy garland musical... there are a few actually...

http://musicals.itgo.com/

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:28pm

I think there should be a musical based off the first half of the movie "Me and My Shadows: Life with Judy Garland"
Not only could you use all the songs (the movie spans her entire life) but that could also leave room to write some songs in JUST for the show itself.

I'm sick of these Mamma Mia, Movin' Out, All Shook Up, etcs....

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:31pm

Sorry Cats.. I suppose I thinking about a big money production. There have been some attempts but I'm just surprised nothing significant has ever taken off i.e Broadway/West End.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 3:34am

I think Caroline O'Connor was currently doing one Judy Garland musical now in Australia too called 'Over The Rainbow'

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 1:16pm

I think Randal Myler who has put together tribute shows like "Love, Janis" and "Lost Highway" would be up to the task. It's time for a Judy tribute that is substantial and not a drag show. Of course, any show would have to contain the songs Judy sang, not an original score like "Funny Girl."

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 1:36pm

But where do you find someone to portray her so realistically that you don't constantly find yourself making comparisons?

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 2:31pm

A former collaborator of mine wrote an excellent musical in which Judy was one of the lead characters. I hear he's getting a production mounted in Hawaii!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 3:04pm

Judy Garland may be one of those larger-than-larger-than-life people and perhaps would not work onstage.

What part of her life would be dramatized?

Maybe there's a play there like the last Arthur Miller play about Marilyn Monroe who barely appears in it. The show would be about Judy Garland and her effect on people, but not directly portray a character named Judy Garland.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 4:41pm

What about doing a classic Garland film role as a musical? I'm thinking about a reworking of I Could Go On Singing" with a very GARLANDESQUE character! You could build a storyline and augment the score with other classic songs.

I just pulling this out of my ass so please bear with me!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 4:50pm

Like they said- Caroline O'Connor is currently touring Australia with "Over the Rainbow" and a few years ago there was a "Young Judy" show that detailed her life up to Vincente Minnelli. But, by all means, there's always room for more.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 6:27pm

Are there any recordings of the JUDY musicals mentioned? I'd be interested in hearing someone else try to capture Judy's style.