Leading Actor Joined: 3/3/08
As with most film to stage transfers, it will probably loose the magic of the original. Sometimes you just want to see the film plot onstage without rewrites (looking at you Little Mermaid).
They'll have to be pretty inventive with the structure of the show, or with the make-up, or with the use of doubles to make the Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire changes work.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
Christopher Sieber..this should be your new project!!!
I don't know... this screams Norbert Leo Butz to me. And Jackie Hoffman as the social worker anybody?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
Nope..It's totally Chris for me. He does a fabulous "drag" in Matilda...definitely my fav Trunch. But he also has this boyish charm that would work well in the regular loving dad portion of the role...remembering him from being the dad in that one season of the Olsen Twins sitcom among other things.
He deserves a role of his own again - not just a replacement.
No offense to Norbert - I am sure he would be wonderful too. I can just totally picture Chris doing this well.
Lyricist gets the ax. Menken & Fierstein are still attached.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/6/11
This can't happen. Robin Williams was TRULY the only person who could play this character. It would stink in someone else's hands. And as a musical? Geez tell the playwrights to stop being lazy and come up with the next Fun Home or Hamilton and then come back to me.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
While I am certainly not against original theater for sure and would like to see more of it, I am not sure I would say that Robin Williams is the ONLY person who could play Mrs. Doubtfire...as much was it is such an iconic role for him.
I would have thought that after hearing his brilliant work in Aladdin the movie - that no one else could possibly ever be the genie, being that Robin's genie was the core of the film and so unbelievably unique. But they managed to find someone to pay homage to his style and yet make it his own for Broadway and I would hope they could do the same with Mrs. Doubtfire.
I mean I think it's tricky = just not impossible.
Went to a reading a couple months back. Rob McClure and Kelli O'Hara starred. All star cast... I really enjoyed it. The plot has been changed quite a bit, but everything works so well... Harvey is a plot master. I think it's going to work well.
While I do think they should abort the Doubtfire film sequel without Robin, this seems fine, since it wasn't like Robin would have done it anyway... it does present the same issue School of Rock faces, though, which is how do you keep it familiar to audiences who want to come in and see what they know, and give the actor enough room to make it his own...
"The plot has been changed quite a bit". I'm curious to know more :)
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
I haven't seen the original movie in twenty years probably... so I can't get too specific on what exactly is different but in this version the two leads were America's sweethearts who starred in a big famous musical years before when they were younger and now it is getting revived without the Robin Williams character... can't remember any of the actual character's names. I'm surprised to see the comment about Zippel's lyrics not working because I didn't mind them, but then again... no one is Howard Ashman. I sort of feel sorry for anyone that has to work with Menken after he worked with Howard Ashman for so many years. Ashman is one of the all-time greats!
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
Wow that is nothing like the original. At all. Sounds awful.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
...so basically they're just using the name "Mrs. Doubtfire" to get people in the door?
The replacement of Zippel makes me sad, I truly enjoy his lyrics (especially for Hercules and Mulan). Will Glenn Slater replace him? I also like the quote that says "Alan Menken sh*ts beautiful tunes."
Bizarre alteration, can't see really how it fits with the plot of the original at all.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
"The replacement of Zippel makes me sad, I truly enjoy his lyrics (especially for Hercules and Mulan). Will Glenn Slater replace him? I also like the quote that says "Alan Menken sh*ts beautiful tunes."
I love his lyrics for Hercules. If it's Slater, I'm out.
I'm not too familiar with Slater's work, apart from Tangled, Sister Act (both of which I enjoyed) and The Little Mermaid (I found most of the new songs to be pointless, but I like She's in Love). Who else has Menken written with lately? Jack Feldman wrote new lyrics for Newsies, maybe he could work on Doubtfire?
So Mrs Doubtfire is no longer a disguise to get to see the kids but rather to star in a musical? Sort of Tootsie, no?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
This story actually screams musical to me. It would have to be different somewhat bc Robin was what made it amazing and you don't want comparisons if the material is too similar, but I think Chris Sieber is really great casting. And as long as they still have the Raptor Rap. Do you hear me Menken? Make sure the Raptor Rap stays in it!
Who else has Menken written with lately?
I did like the additional lyrics Chad Beguelin provided for Aladdin, I thought they were very close to the tone of Howard Ashman's work.
Updated On: 9/10/15 at 07:39 AM
Zippel can not catch a break re Broadway. Hit it big with City Of Angels but nothing really great after that.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
With tootsie getting a tryout this year with a possible broadway transfer, could this be dead?
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