“WONDER” to be adapted into a musical

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/9/19 at 1:34pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Musical-Adapation-of-WONDER-Sets-Sights-on-Broadway-20190409

I really enjoyed the movie, and with the right people behind it, I think it could make a really beautiful musical. I can also see it turning out to be a schmatzy mess. Time will tell, but Im optimistic for now. I hope it comes to fruition!

[BritCrit]

Posted: 4/9/19 at 1:39pm

This could work -  inspirational dramas often do really well in musical form...

There are some interesting risks to consider with Auggie. Portraying kids on stage is hard enough, portraying disabled kids is even harder...

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 4/9/19 at 2:26pm

BritCrit said: "This could work - inspirational dramasoften do really well in musical form...

There are some interesting risks to consider with Auggie. Portraying kids on stage is hard enough, portraying disabled kids is even harder..."

Auggie is not disabled. It'll be interesting to see if they pull a Violet and don't do the scar make up. Pasek and Paul are perfect for this project. 

[BritCrit]

Posted: 4/9/19 at 2:31pm

HenryTDobson said: "BritCrit said: "This could work - inspirational dramasoften do really well in musical form...

There are some interesting risks to consider with Auggie. Portraying kids on stage is hard enough, portraying disabled kids is even harder..."

Auggie is not disabled. It'll be interesting to see if they pull a Violet and don't do the scar make up. Pasek and Paul are perfect for this project."

My mistake - I shouldn't have conflated Auggie's facial deformities with disability. Pasek and Paul would be excellent choices due to their pop-rock style (The blue and white colour schemes associated with Wonder are pretty similar to those of Dear Evan Hansen) but I doubt they would be available...

BTW - How often do we see outright disabled characters on Broadway?

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/9/19 at 7:41pm

HenryTDobson said: "BritCrit said: "This could work - inspirational dramasoften do really well in musical form...

There are some interesting risks to consider with Auggie. Portraying kids on stage is hard enough, portraying disabled kids is even harder..."

Auggie is not disabled. It'll be interesting to see if they pull a Violet and don't do the scar make up. Pasek and Paul are perfect for this project."

If not how about Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt. I’m anxious to see how this musical turns out!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/10/19 at 12:25am

For the love of god, PLEASE keep Tom Kitt far away from this! If they want the audience to completely forget each song as soon as it ends, they shouldn’t bother adapting it in the first place!

Pasek and Paul would not be my first choices either. Again, too ordinary. The musical is about a unique little boy with a unique perspective on the world. It does not need loud, generic pop-Musical-theatre songs jammed into it.

I’d rather see someone like Finn, Lachiusa, or Guettel (I know we don’t like him anymore, but I’m speaking stylistically). Even Jason Robert Brown, if he goes in a more stylized direction.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/10/19 at 1:00am

JBroadway said: "For the love of god, PLEASE keep Tom Kitt far away from this! If they want the audience to completely forget each song as soon as it ends, they shouldn’t bother adapting it in the first place!

Pasek and Paul would not be my first choices either. Again, too ordinary. The musical is about a unique little boy with a unique perspective on the world. It does not need loud, generic pop-Musical-theatre songs jammed into it.

I’d rather see someone like Finn, Lachiusa, or Guettel (I know we don’t like him anymore, but I’m speaking stylistically). Even Jason Robert Brown, if he goes in a more stylized direction. "

Then I’m stumped

[Shh_413]

Posted: 4/10/19 at 3:47am

I... don't know how this would work as a musical. There's the logistical problem of casting kids to carry the show, plus it's a "smaller" story where a lot of things happen but, at the same time, not a lot happens. I could see it maybe taking the DEH route of being a more intimate show, but not a lot of "kid" shows do that and this show would be targeted towards kids much like the book and movie were. Billy Elliot, Annie, Matilda, etc. at least had big production numbers.

Again, casting would be a problem here. There was a bit of controversy even with the film casting of Auggie since Jacob Tremblay didn't have a facial difference. But a lot of that evaporated since he's young and actually spent a lot of time with the community he represented.

I actually see it being a Pasek and Paul project. Especially since Stephen Chbosky directed the film and he's already in talks to write the DEH screenplay.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 4/10/19 at 6:02am

What about Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron? They did wonders with FUN HKME and Young Allison played a pivotal role! I think they would bring a beautiful sensibility to WONDER. Maybe even do it in The Circle in the Square to make it feel more intimate and like Fun Home. Or, do the book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and the music by Adam Guettel, since his music is so beautiful.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/16/22 at 3:30pm

https://www.playbill.com/job/casting-notice-for-musical-adaptation-of-wonder/8de343f3-cf8b-4fb8-97eb-ac887af8ec78

Development reading coming up, with a casting call for the lead role. They're looking for an actor with craniofacial differences in real life, which is fantastic. 

Did we every find out who's writing this? 

[John Adams]

Posted: 3/17/22 at 7:12am

JBroadway said: "I’d rather see someone like Finn, Lachiusa, or Guettel (I know we don’t like him anymore, but I’m speaking stylistically). Even Jason Robert Brown, if he goes in a more stylized direction."

Why don't "we" like Guettel any more? Are people still holding a grudge over his Cavenaugh/Dr. Ford opinion?

[Chaz Hands]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 8:04pm

Fairly confident this is a part of A.R.T’s 2025-2026 season.

Will be interested to see how this translates to the stage, and if the musical will be able to carry over any  of the popularity of the film, which came out 8 years ago now.

[Voter]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 2:40am

Either way, it's happening somewhere. Friend of a friend just taped for it.