Posted: 7/14/22 at 8:12pm
Is it too soon to suggest 'The Beanie Story' starring Lea Michele ?
Or 'The Lea Michele Story' starring Beanie ?
Posted: 7/14/22 at 10:17pm
There was a Mamas and Papas musical in Australia a few years ago, called 'Flower Children'. I think it premiered in 2011. There's mention in the below 2015 review of a production, that there was some kind of rights issue which may have been what prevented it from having a further life. (I don't know if this means that the creators did have the rights to make the musical, but just not to persist with further productions after a certain point; or if there was something more iffy going on.)
https://www.thebarefootreview.com.au/menu/theatre/119-2014-adelaide-reviews/1117-flower-children-the-mamas-and-the-papas-story.html
Posted: 7/14/22 at 10:37pm
Papa Denny Doherty wrote a musical about Cass Elliot. It played Off-Off-Broadway years ago -- in the 1990s, maybe? Wish I had seen it...
By the way, is "biomusical" a relatively new term? It makes me think of biology rather than biography, and leads me to imagine the opening of MENDEL!, the new biomusical starring Kelsey Grammer.
Posted: 7/15/22 at 1:03am
This reminds me of two sort of revue style shows that toured Canada in the last 10 years. One was of Leonard Cohen songs, and the other Joni Mitchell songs. Neither were biographies; instead the casts of young performers would sort of act out various vignettes while singing the songs. They featured good vocalists, but I found some of the scenes to be rather cheesey - young people falling in love & then in other songs having romantic troubles, breaking up & then getting back together etc. The "baby boomer" audiences that the shows were aimed at really went for them. When the Joni Mitchell one came back in 2019 I guess, I got my parents tickets & they enjoyed it. Definitely their generation's music.
Posted: 7/16/22 at 11:03am
Annie Lennox has a substantial catalogue of songs from both The Eurythmics and her solo career. She’s led an interesting life that could make a good bio musical, but I could also see a jukebox musical in the style of Movin’ Out with modern dance and lots of high tech, immersive design elements. It would definitely be a specific vibe.
Posted: 7/16/22 at 1:42pm
LALALand said: "David10086said:I've always said I would love to see a bio-musical on Mama Cass Elliott. She was a force to be reckoned with in the 60s, until her untimely death at 32 in 1974 from a heart-attack. She got her start at 19, competing with Streisand for the role of 'Miss Marmelstein' on Broadway, and then became a founding member of one of the most popular groups of the 1960s- The Mamas and The Papas (earning her name 'Mama' Cass Elliott'
. She then broke out on her own with great success in the early 70s until her death.
Chrissy Metz would be the actress to play her !
I would settle for a Mamas and Papas musical. Their music is very autobiographical.
"
According to an interview done in late 2021 with Michelle Phillips which I read on-line recently, there is a musical feature film in the works on the story of the 'Mamas and the Papas'. As the last living member, she's involved with it as a consultant and sad she's pleased with the direction they are going with this so far. She gave no info on when they expect it to be ready to go in front of the cameras, or who is being considered in the lead roles (I guess they weren't that far along?). Too bad they're not thinking of this as a stage musical.
Posted: 7/16/22 at 2:19pm
pmensky said: "Annie Lennox has a substantial catalogue of songs from both The Eurythmics and her solo career. She’s led an interesting life that could make a good bio musical, but I could also see a jukebox musical in the style of Movin’ Out with modern dance and lots of high tech, immersive design elements. It would definitely be a specific vibe."
YES !!! You would find me happily walking across broken glass to see any show related to Annie Lennox.
Posted: 7/18/22 at 3:56pm
How about Fleetwood Mac? Lots of music not only from the group but also solo music from the individual band members. Plenty of storylines including the breakup of two couples in the band, drug issues and Buckingham getting fired from the band recently.
Posted: 7/18/22 at 8:39pm
Theatrefanboy1 said: "In terms of music based musicals. Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, and possibly even Loretta Lynn. I would also find a catalogue of Celine or Dianne warren a fun night out
I think a James Dean musical or Marilyn Monroe or Sinatra or cleopatra interesting. With James Dean I would probably explore the ideas and rumours of his sexuality"
We have a very fine Loretta Lynn movie bio, Coal Miner's Daughter.
Posted: 7/19/22 at 11:26am
I actually think the Carpenters could be a really inspired idea.
The first thought might be they could be a little too old school, that many in the younger generation wouldn't know who they are, or that maybe their music is a little too old-fashioned for some.
But after coming across some reaction videos on YouTube lately and seeing how many of their songs pop up, and are being reviewed by younger men, younger women and younger couples, it is so heartwarming to see the love Karen gets. And it's understandable. She had a beautiful and rich voice that just took you to amazing places though her storytelling in song. One of the best voices we've ever had the honor of experiencing.
Just seeing these younger YouTubers hearing her for the first time, and their jaws just drop as she starts the song and they hear her for that first time. By the end of the piece they're thanking their viewers for recommending the Carpenters and to please suggest more, because they want to hear more of their songs.
One YouTuber even acknowledged that some might see their songs as a little corny (sappy?), I can't remember his words, but he said they really aren't. They are just full of emotion and love. And for some young man in his early 20s to recognize the brilliance of their music is so nice to see. You'll watch young couples listening to them for the first time, the young woman who is listening to her has tears filling her eyes, while he sits there just shaking his head at how great Karen is.
And when you consider Richard's brilliance in arrangement and vocals and harmonies, this is something else these YouTubers call attention to, not knowing that he was responsible for their sound. They'll say things like, 'Wow, the harmonies are amazing,' or 'Listen how great it is when that instrument comes in at that moment.' I know Richard is approaching 80, but bring him in as a consultant and part of the arrangement team.
Bring in their life stories, with her struggles with body image and anorexia, and his struggles with drugs. Their relationship with one another, and with their parents. Their mother's favoritism toward Richard. There are so many dynamics you could bring into this to make it so universal to even younger generations.
You could also have a Herb Alpert character (their ties to A&M records) and even John Lennon who stopped her in a restaurant in LA and said: "I want to tell you love, I think you've got a fabulous voice." She was in such disbelief that she had to confirm with the friend she was with if he had really said that, and if her friend thought John really meant it. Paul McCartney was even on record as saying she had one of the best voices he had ever heard.
I mean, there could be a lot to work with here.
Call it Yesterday Once More.
Posted: 7/19/22 at 11:34am
There was talk of a 'Dionne Warwick' bio-musical happening on the West End, then it turned into a made-for-HBO movie, then it was a stage musical again eyeing Broadway, then it was going to be at Netflix (I lost track after a while). This was all being discussed around 2017 - pandemic. Not sure where it stands now (if it's still standing) but if they all got their act together, it would be a worthwhile project for the Broadway stage. I believe the working title was 'Don't Make Me Over'.
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