Stage adaptations of COLLATERAL BEAUTY, MUSIC & LYRICS, and JOYFUL NOISE in the works?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/30/25 at 5:11pm

I was looking at the new Theatrical Rights Worldwide catalog at my community theatre's board meeting last night, and a few listing in their "TRW Production" section caught my eye

• Joyful Noise - featuring the music of Dolly Parton, book by Todd Graff
• Collateral Beauty - music and lyrics by Tor Hyams and Lisa St. Lou, book by Allan Loeb
• Music & Lyrics - book by Marc Lawrence, music & lyrics by Clyde and Gracie Lawrence of the band Lawrence 

I'm surprised a stage adaptation of Music & Lyrics took this long - I recall seeing the movie when I was in high school and found it quite charming.

A musical based on Collateral Beauty is definitely an eyebrow raiser - the movie was supposed to be a disaster, and with the original screenwriter also doing the adaptation, it's tough to imagine a musical would work much better.

Updated On: 4/30/25 at 05:11 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/30/25 at 5:46pm

Well... from what I can tell, not a single person working any of those 3 shows has notable experience writing for theatre, which certainly does not instill much confidence. And in the case of Music & Lyrics, Marc Lawrence is the father of Clyde and Gracie Lawrence.

Updated On: 4/30/25 at 05:46 PM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 4/30/25 at 6:09pm

KevinKlawitter said: "I was looking at the new Theatrical Rights Worldwide catalog at my community theatre's board meeting last night, and a few listing in their "TRW Production" section caught my eye

• Joyful Noise- featuring the music of Dolly Parton, book by Todd Graff
• Collateral Beauty -music and lyrics by Tor Hyams and Lisa St. Lou, book byAllan Loeb
• Music & Lyrics -music by Marc Lawrence, book & lyrics by Clyde and Gracie Lawrence of the band Lawrence

I'm surprised a stage adaptation ofMusic & Lyricstook this long - I recall seeing the movie when I was in high school and found it quite charming.

A musical based onCollateral Beautyis definitely an eyebrow raiser - the movie was supposed to be a disaster, and with the original screenwriter also doing the adaptation, it's tough to imagine a musical would work much better."

Looking at the catalog myself, you've got your Lawrences mixed up for Music and Lyrics. Marc is writing the book, Clyde and Gracie are writing the music and lyrics.

I've never seen Collateral Beauty, because of its reputation, but the premise always sounded interesting. With another take on the material, in another medium... who knows?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/30/25 at 6:21pm

^ thanks! Fixed.