Guess they've run out movies to adapt. Hope THAT GIRL is next..
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166900-Tony-Winner-Michael-McGrath-Will-Play-Ralph-in-Musical-Adaptation-of-The-Honeymooners
Alan Menken had a version he wrote years ago but it never went anywhere.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Ah. That explains his remark last night. I was hoping for a musical of Don't Drink the Water.
Stand-by Joined: 5/29/09
Guess they've exhausted the movie-to-stage catalogue... now they are turning to TV. What's next? "Leave it to Beaver?" Oy...
Never was a fan of the Honeymooners so I'll hold off for "Facts of Life the musical" or "Golden Girls Live!"
In all reality, I am shocked no one has created an all-new musical based on Ed Sullivan. Seems to me there's a story there ripe for the telling - and imagine the production numbers based on his variety show.
I'd love a musical based on "The Big Bang Theory" myself.
As for movies, what about "The Fantastic Voyage"?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
I hope they take into consideration that the times have changed. Part of Ralph's character was that he was always threatening Alice "Pow, right in the kisser" or "Straight to the moon." I'm sure somebody will find offense in today's society.
I use to have the demo of Menken/Ashman's take on The Honeymooners. It had some really nice songs, especially a nice one for Alice, "To The Moon" I think it was called, that was very Part of Your World/Somewhere That's Green.
I'm really interested to see what direction they take this in. And I'm SO glad they cast someone like Michael McGrath and not Jim Belushi. Although, and it's going to be said more than once, we all know Nathan Lane would be the ideal choice...
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
I really like McGrath's casting! Seems like a great fit.
Once War Horse closes, I hear Joey has "Mister Ed: The Musical" lined up as his next gig.
The Incredible Hulk with Nathan Lane.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/04
Casting ideas for the other "Honeymooners" parts, including Danny Burstein and Jan Maxwell.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/06/the_honeymooner.php
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Sorry, but Alice should be younger, and a babe. After all, The Honeymooners created the "fat/shlumpy guy with a hot wife" sitcom cliche', as seen in King of Queens, According to Jim, Still Standing, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Flintstones (of course) and Family Guy.
TV Shows that should be Musicals--
Small Wonder:The Electrifying Musical
Charles in Charles: The Musical
Just the Ten of US: A Musical Comedy
Stand-by Joined: 12/27/08
The Honeymooners has already been a musical, sort of. The show was revived in the late 60s, in color, with musical numbers. I have only a faint memory of it. I couldn't find a clip online.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
That was Gleasons' Variety Show. Each week had a short Honeymooners sketch, as well as Reginald Van Gleason, Joe The Bartender, and other Gleason characters. Art Carney was on hand to play Ed Norton, but the origin al wives were not. Sheila McRae played Alice.
They did full one-hour mini-musicals based on THE HONEYMOONERS characters in the later years of THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW. Some of these - a series of episodes following the gang on a trip to Europe - were in syndication until the late 1970s but are apparently no longer available. The songs were written by Lyn Duddy and Jerry Bresler.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
Im not so sure that Alice is supposed to be a beautiful babe. The part was originally played by Pert Kelton, who got caught up in the Joe McCarthy nightmare and couldn't be hired for the part when it went full time (she did, however, occasionally play Alice's mother). When Audrey Meadows submitted her photo shot to Gleason, his original reaction was that she was too pretty. Audrey frumped herself up for the audition and got the part. While she's not the schlump that Ralph was supposed to be, I don't think the idea was for Alice to be a beauty contest winner. Somewhat attracitive, yes; great beauty, no.
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