Pleasantville the Musical

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:06pm

This was discussed in a earlier message but I think this movie wold make a GREAT musical...Only thin that would be a problem would be the color changing.

With that I think The Little Rascals should be a musical.
Why hasn't the Newsies been brought to the stage.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:10pm

It would make for a good musical. The color changes actually wouldn't be too hard. They could use make-up so everyone appeared more washed out. And use black and white/grey clothing for the first part.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:18pm

I think the color change is actually something that would make it beautifully suited for adaptation- how theatrical is that shift?

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:22pm

Ooh, I'd have to agree with that. I don't particularly love the movie but I can see this being beautiful as a stage musical - and the color/black & white changeover could be done quite brilliantly! Never underestimate the power of theatrical effects.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:28pm

*broadwayguy2 breaks his silence to tell about black and white staging*

You do NOT need black and white make up, costumes, and sets to create a black and white scene of that scene. THAT would be in appropriate. a monochromatic design is one thing... and I have done shows that did that for effect.. but you still have the actors natural skin tone.. that ruins a GENUINE "black and white movie" effect. To create a black and white movie effect, you use full color sets, costumes, and makeup, and rely on the lighting designer to create a realistic black and white effect via the use of grey and brown lighting gels.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 1:31pm

I would love to see Pleasantville come to the stage.

If City of Angels could put color and black & white side by side, then why not. Theatrical and lighting design and technology has moved on since the early 1990s. So, I can't see why this show would not be possible.

Posted: 2/21/05 at 2:02pm

I can't imagine why Disney would attempt to bring Newsies to Broadway-- it was a notorious flop as a movie. With all the successful properties they own, why try to devolop something that the public has no interest in seeing?

Also, I love Pleasantville (a LOT), but again, it was not a successful film. And, as time has gone by, it has been a target of the Conservative movement. I am trying to imagine it getting a fair shake on Broadway, but I just can't see it happening. Let's get working on a Broadway Musical of "Terms of Endearment."

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 2:16pm

Paul Walker was so hot in this movie. ugh. who are they going to find on Broadway hot enough to take on that role?

might I suggest...

Justin Bohon
Gavin Creel
David Campbell
Ben Cameron
Kristoffer Cusick
Anthony Galde
Max Von Essen
Zach Hensler
Reed Kelly
Chad Kimball
Matt Morrison
Adam Fleming
Barrett Foa
Mark Myars
Walter Winston Oneil
Rob Sapp
Phillip Spaeth
Mike Jackson
Matt Cavenaugh
Josh Rhodes
David Ayers
Clyde Alves
Jarad Bortz
Matthew Risch
Gary Kilmer Updated On: 2/21/05 at 02:16 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 4:45pm

Nice to see you're giving this a great deal of thought, Cats.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 4:50pm

Remember when Justin Timberlake had that performance (I think Cry Me A River) on one of those award shows and the lighting cast everyone in black and white and then in color? It IS possible, I just don't know how you do it. I really liked the movie, and I'D LOVE to see this on stage.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 6:36pm

Or it's time someone designed a screen to make everything behind it appear b&w

[Jon]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 8:13am

I think the problem with Pleasantville is it depends so heavily on teenagers. You'd have to build up the adult roles (the Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, W.H. Macy characters).

Hey - wouldn't Karen Ziemba be terrific in the Joan Allen role?

[gravity87]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:24am

I dont think it would be to tough. We Just rapped "Bye Bye Birdie" at my HS on sat night, and we had this really cool plack andwhite set, with forced perspective, it got darker as it went back. At first the whole cast, and the music director were like this sucks ass, but it was really cool. Any Ways The point of me posting this was most of the people, (The sweet Apple OH)residence wore really bright colors and they looked really cool on the gray scenerey. I think visully it could be stunning. But music wise, I dont know how they would do it without making it to Grease-ey

[Plum]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:29am

Jon- The Bye Bye Birdie example is apt for another reason, too- who says teens have to be played by teens? Unless you meant what you said for another reason. Updated On: 2/22/05 at 09:29 AM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:54am

I think various people have explored the rights to pleasantville and they're not considering it for exploitation in other formats.
There are lots of great movies that are currently being restricted as many movie studios (who generally retain the rights over the writers of the shows) are looking into their own in-house development of projects. I'm currently involved in two new musicals, one of which is ready to go on the rights. The other is being fought out behind the scenes because no one can figure out if the original novel author or the movie studio owns the rights to a musical version.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 10:01am

I agree with you, Plum - who says teens need to be played by teens? But I also like the idea of expanding the role and presence of the adult characters, who I found FAR more interesting than the teenage characters (especially Joan Allen's character!)