Musicals that BEG to be made into movies

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:57am

I'm doing an assignment for my theatre academy class, and in it we're supposed to name five musicals and then tailor them for the silver screen, detailing a few specific numbers and scenes that you would shoot, as well as who you would cast.

I already have mine (next to normal, The Scottsboro Boys, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, Spring Awakening and Ragtime), but what are yours? Essentially; name five shows that you would turn into movies, and then, if you feel like it, cast the lead roles.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:30pm

Miss Saigon is screaming out for the movie treatment, its such a cinematic show

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:42pm

In order:

LES MISERABLES
RAGTIME
MISS SAIGON
WICKED
AIDA


Personal choices, though they don't scream out for it: COMPANY, IN THE HEIGHTS, INTO THE WOODS, PARADE, SEUSSICAL (animated), and TABOO.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 1:13pm

1. Sunset Boulevard (With Madonna or Catherine Zeta Jones)
2. Miss Saigon (With David Hasslehoff)
3. A Little Night Music (With Meryl Streep and Colin Firth)
4. Love Never Dies (With Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum)
5. American Idiot (With Billy Joe Armstrong)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 1:18pm

Into the Woods
Cabaret (Sam Mendes)
Aida
The Book of Mormon
James Joyces The Dead

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 1:29pm

I just wanted to say thank you for not asking us to do your work.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 1:40pm

NEXT TO NORMAL

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 1:41pm

Spring Awakening
Into the Woods
Book of Mormon
Sunset Boulevard
In the Heights

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 4:08pm

I know there are non-musical versions out, but definitely Ragtime and The Light in the Piazza (an actual film, not a televised stage production).

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 4:10pm

Lion King
Sister Act
Priscilla
Catch Me if You Can
Billy Elliot
Mary Poppins

I really think these concepts could work on film!

[denali.fire]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 6:15pm

I found one of the best dvds was Into the Woods...Sweeney Todd is right up there too. Perhaps more productions ought to take the digital approach as did Memphis...then come out with the DVD for sale. Does that make sense to anyone else?
DF

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:23pm

Broadwaydevil - Not gonna lie, took me a second before I realized you were kidding.

As for the topic of stage-to-film movies; I think more shows should look into recordings. The only reason Legally Blonde is so well known is because it had the MTV recording and a lot of people ended up watching it online.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:27pm

I disagree about Miss Saigon. A helicopter is far less impressive on film than it is on stage.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 12:42am

Song & Dance

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 1:11am

MACK & MABEL
INTO THE WOODS
WONDERFUL TOWN
BILLY ELLIOT (the musical version, I know it's absolutely ridiculous to say since the story obviously works on film and I actually love the original movie, but I think the musical would work beautifully on screen)
FOLLIES (I think it could be a one in a lifetime film if it had the right budget and a really visionary director like Baz Luhrman or Darren Arronofsky at the helm, but this will never happen)

I completely disagree about SUNSET BOULEVARD. The Broadway show is a mediocre adaptation of one of the most brilliant films to come out of the Classic Hollywood period, on top of it the show is basically a replica of the film.
Also, I'm with CATSNY re a MISS SAIGON film, don't think it'd work without all the bells and whistles of the original production.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 1:55am

[title of show]

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 9:44am

My top picks for movie adaptations are:

Big River
Ragtime
Into the Woods
Sunday in the Park (believe it or not, and I want Baz Luhrmann to direct it, or even James Cameron in 3D!)

Shows I don't think would work on film:

Follies (but I have an inherent problem with this show)
Miss Saigon
Sunset Blvd. (It's been done, and you'll never beat it.)

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 10:36am

Debbie Does Dallas...oh wait

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 10:39am

I think Miss Saigon would work well as a film because the story is pretty intimate. Also, the actual helicopter wouldn't be that amazing, but I think a scene showing the fall of Saigon like history captured it would be pretty impressive.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 12:29pm

Not that anyone would see it I expect, but She Loves Me would work beautifully on film and could be a treasure!

I'd like Sunset Boulevard, but only starring Liza.

I've heard the Into the Woods film demo- please leave the show alone if it's going to be messed around with on film.

Follies- with a world class cast- yummy.

Assassins could be fun, if given a suitably stylish transfer.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 2:06pm

Miss Saigon is not about the helicopter. On film, "American Dream" can be an even bigger showstopper than landing the helicopter on stage.

That said, here's my five:
Miss Saigon
Into The Woods
Wicked
Sunset Blvd.
Next to Normal (I'd love to see Naomi Watts in this)

[Paul Bland4]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 4:06pm

City of Angels

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 6:45pm

Seussical as an animated musical would make a ton of money.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 7:18pm

Aside from Miss Saigon, I think La Cage Aux Folles would work as a film but I would base it on the Menier production rather than the grander original production.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 8:24pm

Jonwo - I'm not sure if you knew this or not - but La Cage was originally a film, way before it was ever adapted to the stage. It's a French film, albeit not a musical, but the musical is completely based off of the film.