Next Up For Broadway: ‘Gilligan’s Island’?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 2:45pm

This would probably make a really cool show but an Alien?



Next Up For Broadway: ‘Gilligan’s Island’?

By MIKE FLEMING

Now that the Broadway season has ended with the Tony Awards, it’s time to think about what’s next. Broadway has embraced movie stars who turn shows into events in limited runs; how about taking a page from Hollywood and going the brand route? Producer Dianne Fraser has acquired stage rights to Gilligan’s Island: The Musical, and she plans to launch the show on Broadway, banking on the idea that the audience for the iconic TV show will want to see the characters brought to the stage.

It’s based on the classic 1960s series with a book that was written by series creator Sherwood Schwartz and his son Lloyd, with a score by Schwartz’s daughter Hope and her husband Laurence Juber, a guitarist-composer. Schwartz, who also created The Brady Bunch, passed away last year, but not before the show was road-tested in small theaters across the country. It’s very similar to the format of the original show, with Gilligan, the Skipper, The Howells, Ginger, Maryanne and the Professor stranded on an island. They’ve added another character: an alien.

Fraser, a longtime partner at Industry who was a producer of the Chicago-based show Working last year, said she was approached by the Schwartz clan and signed on with plans to bring the show to Broadway for 2013 or 2014. That’s all predicated on getting investors to climb aboard. “I’ve known the Schwartz family for many years, and for Sherwood, who died last July, it was his lifelong dream to take the show to New York,” she told me. “It’s not intentionally campy, it’s funny in a broad way and very true to the show. It’s amazing how even kids know about it because they’ve seen it on Nick at Night. It’s still Gilligan, the bumbling sidekick to the professor, saving the world. And yes, it’s all seven characters, plus an alien. The songs are very commercial.” She said they are working with Tony-nominated general manager Tom Smedes and they are looking to next land a director. “It’s the type of show where you can stunt cast with movie stars to play the Howells, Ginger, even the Professor,” she said. “Maybe an American Idol contestant to play Gilligan, to open up the show.”
Deadline

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 2:57pm

http://www.gilligansislandthemusical.com/

"From the creator of the iconic TV show, "Gilligan’s Island: The Musical" is written by the father/son team of Sherwood Schwartz and Lloyd Schwartz and its 19-song score is composed by the husband/wife team of Hope Juber and two-time Grammy winner Laurence Juber"

I guess it won't be this version, but it's been around for a while.

I've always thought Gilligan's Island could make a fine musical, but this was always the only incarnation, and as you can hear from the song clips.... not the best.

I just hate that they announce this at the same time of The Honeymooners. We just had The Addams Family. It really seems like TV on Broadway is going to become more popular...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:04pm

One of the greatest episodes of Gilligan's Island featured a the castaways performing a musical version of Hamlet.

They would be very wise to include it in this.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:06pm

I ask to be,
Or not to be,
That is the question
I ask of thee.

I was right with them until I got to the part about a new alien character.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:10pm

Saw a production of this like 5 years ago in South Florida with Barry Williams & Dawn Wells. Even though the Alien thing sounds crazy with the right cast the show is ALOT of fun.

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:13pm

I LOVE that episode. I remember watching it when I was seven. The next day, I went to school and told all the kids I wrote a new musical version of Hamlet and performed everything from memory. They of course, didn't get it... but I had fun. :)

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:13pm

I think unlike Addams family and the Honeymooners there is a whole arch here. 7 strangers crash land on the island and then get rescued. People can fall in love, there is a buddy story and some really great comedy potential...

That show you linked is sad. Give this show to Marc Shaiman please.

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:14pm

Christian Borle as Gilligan. Angela Lansbury and Christopher Plummer as Mrs. & Mr. Howell. I smell Tony

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:16pm

They obviously want Clay Aiken for Gilligan.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:16pm

I suppose having The Harlem Globetrotters land on the island would make the weekly nut too big?

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:17pm

Just wait until you hear who the new alien character is!

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:19pm

Norm Lewis for the Professor!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:41pm

I need to make my Broadway debut as Mary Ann. I would do it with Alf too.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 4:13pm

Gunsmoke the musical.

Think about it.

Posted: 6/11/12 at 4:14pm

Just revive Destry Rides Again.