Moulin Rouge on Broadway?

[logan0215]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 4:55am

This is way old, but I do remember rumblings about an adaptation of Baz Lurhman's Moulin Rouge to the stage. I had heard he wanted to adapt all of his "Red Curtain Trilogy" (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo+Juliet, Moulin Rouge) to the stage and wondered if anything ever came of this or is in the works as of now...
Updated On: 3/23/06 at 04:55 AM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 5:23am

I'd love to see this done, always have. But it'd cost so much money to reproduce (considering the film's budget and if they wanted to stay true to the image). I've not heard anything about it and frankly, I don't think it'll be done.

PS: It's spelled "Moulin"

[tim10086]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 5:27am

A minor detail!: Strictly Ballroom

[alterego]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:36pm

Good God I hope not, dreadful film. Strictly Ballroom was a stage play before it was a movie.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:48pm

Moulin Rouge on stage would simply not work.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:15pm

Wouldn't they have to pay a ton of royalties to use the songs? How would his Romeo + Juliet work on stage?

[alterego]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:18pm

A musical Romeo and Juliet has already been done on stage. It was called WEST SIDE STORY.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:30pm

I don't think they'd make his version into a musical, although I don't think his version would work on stage.

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:31pm

hahahahaha < alterego.
you got it.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:31pm

I'd like to see Moulin Rouge on stage. I think it would do very well, even without big names.

Manoel Felciano should be Christian. :)

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:45pm

If they can find a way to recreate the first 20 minutes of the movie on stage, then anything after that would be fairly easy to adapt to the stage, considering most of the most dramatic moments happen within the confines of the stage area anyway.

But yeah, royalties would be a bitch.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:06am

As a huge fan of the movie, I'm saying I don't think this will really work on stage. For one thing, REALLY HUGE elaborate sets will be needed to recreate the feeling from the movie, and that music just won't work on a Broadway stage. Unless they go more with Moulin Rouge CD 2, where it's all piano and pretty.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:20am

i would love to see this on stage and i think it would work...don't know if it would actually ever happen tho

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:09am

this is a joke ... right?

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:50am

"Wouldn't they have to pay a ton of royalties to use the songs?"

Yes, they would... which is why this will never happen. They could never afford to pay the royalties and clear all of those pop songs for an open-ended run.

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:10pm

First, I'd like to apologize for my spelling mistakes in my original post, don't know where my brain was but I believe I had started the discussion somewhere else and wanted to unleash it on here so was sort of rushed.

The idea of royalties doesn't seem to me as big of an issue, I mean if they got them for a movie I'm sure the artists are open to the idea of them being used on the stage. I don't think that would be as huge of a problem. Take shows like Movin Out, All Shook Up, Good Vibrations, and Ring of Fire. Yes, I know that the artists were probably involved with the project so more open to the idea, but on the same token, Ring of Fire features many songs written by Cash but performed and marketed by other artists, so they had to go through the same ringer. I really don't think if Baz wanted to bring this to stage (as I've heard he wants to) that royalties would get in the way, as it didn't with the movie itself.

Big elaborate sets? First of all, it's set in one major location and maybe 4 minisets aside from that (barring the opening scene). Seeing the influx of projection-based sets, I'm sure that could be integrated for the scenes flying over Paris. This is another bump I really think is not a be-all end-all. I mean read Wicked, would you ever think that the locations listed in there would have the ability of being created on a stage? NO. This is why we have stage designers people!

Broadway is supposed to be magical, and I think this movie has no lack of that with real-life parameters and I'd personally love to see this on Broadway.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:36pm

I think it would be like the stage versions of WIZARD OF OZ, GIGI, SEVEN BRIDES and SINGIN IN THE RAIN - i.e. completely inferior to the original film.

That doesn't mean it won't be done on Broadway at some point, though and I actually am in the camp that believes the royalty issue, though complex wouldn't be the chief hindrance. Almost every film contract in the industry includes clauses about subsequent stage production. Given the nightmare it was to secure the song royalties in the first place, I wouldn't be surprised if that clause was already part of the original negotiation.

And given the treatment most other movie musicals have received on the stage, it's also very likely they would use additional new songs.

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:28pm

I have always like the idea of MR on the stage.
and i would like to see Rachel York as Satine.
she would be STUNNING.

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:37pm

Hmmm

I haven't seen York live as of yet (will be seeing DRS with her soon) but she has the look! I would personally love to see Lisa Brescia, she has a Kidman-esque look and a powerhouse voice and I just love her altogether.

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:06pm

Rachel is beyond belief in person in EVERYTHING!!! seriously. there is a video..LEGAL...clip of her on here..go find it and ENJOY! if you love sheri..you will love rachel.
she is someone who needs to be out there originating roles all of the time! i would be shocked for anyone to post anything negative about rachel york.
the other thing is..she is REALLY versatile..she can do quirkey crazy christine colgate and then be unbelievably elegant and victorian in Scarlett Pimp.
i really admire her soo much..can you tell?!

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:38am

I like Rachel York but I don't quite see her as Satine, and if the movie is ever adapted as a stage musical they will probably try to get some big names (Rachel York is not quite there yet, I think). I would say Jane Krakowski would be a natural choice for Satine, Ruthie Henshall might be quite good in this role as well.
I believe the beauty of the movie is how cinematic it is; it's just visually astonishing. I wonder if the same impact could be effectively recreated for the stage. I agree that it runs the risk of being like the stage versions of The Wizard of Oz, Gigi, and Singin' In The Rain.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:40am

Rachel is amazing.

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 2:14am

I'm sure Rachel will be amazing quircky and cute from what I've seen of the clip, but Sherie just has this... something... I don't know what it is. Look at the different L5Y performers, Julia is a powerhouse but just doesn't have that thing that sherie does in ICDBTT, same with Lauren. Sherie just has this quirkiness and comic timing that absolutely kills me, like when she gets the letter stuck to her tongue.

I guess larger names would be nice for the lead roles, but in the case of a show like this I think the show will speak for itself and draw fans in, not the people in the roles as much. That's why I think Lisa would be perfect, she doesn't come across as the warmest character on stage and I think that having a bit of an edge as a cortesan is important, since I heard about the project I've just pictured her in the role. We'll see how I feel after DRS!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 2:34am

I think Rachel and Lisa are both a little old and a little robust to play someone dying of TB. Lisa Brescia could probably kick most actors playing Christian to the curb.

And since Satine does dance, it would be fun to have someone who's a triple threat. How about someone fresh like Meredith Patterson?

Posted: 3/24/06 at 3:19am

how about Kate Levering? WHERE is she these days? i loved her work.