What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
#1What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:00pm
I'm in the middle of a heated and on-going convsation with a friend about the state of musical theater. Aside from the obvious answer, which is "something totally original", is there a movie, or book or real life story that you think would make a great musical?
I feel like there are some great books that could be adapted for the stage. The screen-to-stage fad seems to be dying off, and this could be a great place to return for inspiration.
Thoughts?
#2What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:20pmMirror Mirror by Gregory Magurie.
#2What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:21pmI kinda see The Social Network as a rock musical starring Adam Chanler-Berat.
#3What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 8:10am
The saga of NYC from 1975 to today, from the unrest through the gentrification to what we have today, a family friendly Disney themepark.
or...
My Story, which is sort of the opposite of the NYC saga!
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#4What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 9:11am
Cousin Bette
#5What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 9:15am
Jdsnyder88,
You joined 7/4 and immediately posted this, without even offering any opinion of your own, even though you say you've already debated this elsewhere. "I feel like there are some great books that could be adapted for the stage."
Yeah, like what? Name some.
Inigomontoya
Featured Actor Joined: 6/24/07
#6What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 9:19amI think "Swing Kids" Can make a really good musical..
#7What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 10:06amI think our current political environment is ripe for a satirical musical. Now that he's done with Book Of Mormon, maybe Robert Lopez should sit down with the writers from The Colbert Report and write a show about the Tea Party, Fox 'News', Sarah Palin, etc.
#8What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 2:45pm
I'm in the middle of a heated and on-going convsation with a friend about the state of musical theater.
An argument that has been going on for DECADES, regardless the fads that may be occurring now or in the 60s, 70s or beyond. Original shows are finding success, jukebox shows have found success, screen adaptations have found success, book adaptations have found success, satires have found success, family shows have found success, revivals have found success, revues have found success, sung-through shows have found success, and spectacles have found success. And all types of shows are still being produced. The state of musical theatre remains the same. Shows open, shows close, and the audiences determine the financial success of a musical based on what they want to see and critically acclaimed artsy shows may not recoup, but take their place in the musical theatre canon forever celebrated by enthusiasts and academics. The Golden Age came and went and still remains a minority period in the 100+ years of Broadway history much to the chagrin of those who lament the end of an era when an artistic period evolves in the same way it evolves in every form of artistic media. The only state of musical theatre is that it continues to exist and thrive both commercially and artistically. And while Broadway may be the commercial goal of musical theatre, it is not the singular platform for which every musical needs to determine its artistic (or in some cases, financial) worth. The Fantasticks, Godspell, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, Forever Plaid and Altar Boyz are excellent examples of musicals that never required a profitable Broadway run to be successful.
Nettik
Featured Actor Joined: 6/4/10
#9What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 11:04pmI know she's made appearances in Ragtime and Assassins, but I would love to see an entire musical about Emma Goldman. Her work and life story are just fascinating to me.
LegallyBroadway2
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/10
#10What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 11:21pmI always pitch Teeth The Musical to my friends. It would have onstage seating. . .
#11What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/5/11 at 11:24pm
I always pitch Teeth The Musical to my friends. It would have onstage seating. . .
Oh my GOD.
#12What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/6/11 at 12:47am
LegallyBroadway2, that's brilliant!
For some reason I could see the film SLC Punk! being a musical (and not necessarily scored to 'punk' music) though it is probably 10 years out of date, at least.
#13What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical?
Posted: 7/6/11 at 1:28am
I think our current political environment is ripe for a satirical musical. Now that he's done with Book Of Mormon, maybe Robert Lopez should sit down with the writers from The Colbert Report and write a show about the Tea Party, Fox 'News', Sarah Palin, etc.
Oh. My. God. This is brilliant. Palin would have a total bitch fit if this every happened... but this material could make for an amazing show. Mad Tea Party: The Musical. Yes.
romgitsean
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/08
#14What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 1:47am
I actually have a connection to the director of Teeth and have thought of asking him about a stage adaptation, haha. :)
What about a play about the Casey Anthony case, in all seriousness?
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
#15What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 2:38am
The Social Network seems to me more fitted to a straight play than a movie, I think.
On the topic of a political musical, satirical or no, I actually wrote up a blog post the other day on the topic of a show based on the 2008 election.
http://uprightcitizens.tumblr.com/post/7139299495/yes-we-can-the-election-2008-musical-starring
The fantasy casting is a bit silly (though I stand by Brian Stokes Mitchell as Obama), but I feel like the subject matter would be ripe for musicalization. A Greek chorus comprised of cable news pundits, a heartfelt song about Michelle's belief in her husband, which turns into a comic duet with Bill Clinton reluctantly/disingenuously expressing similar feelings toward Hillary's campaign, the Democratic national convention as the act I finale (I imagine a big number in the vein of "One Day More"), Sarah Palin's big introduction could be something akin to "Buenos Aires," Gregg Edelman as Mitt Romney and Danny Burstein as Mike Huckabee serving as occasional comic relief... I'd see it, I mean, if only for the experience of saying I saw the Obama musical.
Updated On: 7/6/11 at 02:38 AM
#16What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 2:58amI saw that on Tumblr and thought it was HILARIOUS. Thank you for putting that together, it sounds brilliant.
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#17What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 3:28amCold Comfort Farm
carolinaguy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/13/06
#18What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 8:51am
Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece "Vertigo" would make a great small-scale romantic musical. It can be done with three principals and a small ensemble.
I think "Pillow Talk" could be adapted well as some frothy fun. It's got three plum parts. I'm seeing Kelli O'Hara (Doris Day), Hugh Jackman (Rock Hudson) and Andrew Rannells (Tony Randall).
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#19What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 9:09am
United 93
#20What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:14am
I said it before and will say it again: HOCUS POCUS!
I'd also like to see THE HELP on stage
Nettik
Featured Actor Joined: 6/4/10
#21What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 9:17pmHocus Pocus would be an amazing stage musical!
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#22What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 9:22pmThe Princess Diaries if also strongly Adapted by the book.
#23What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:33pmAnastasia or Moulin Rouge.
#24What book, movie or real life story do you think would make a great musical
Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:42pm
Third hocus pocus.
i've said it before, I'll say it again. For the Boys. They've done a jukeboxx but id like to see an original piece.
I think the story of a celbrityon trial would be very interesting. We have Chicago to see what infamy was like in the20th century but id like to see what someone could do with the twisted stories and celebrity worship of today. I also would throw in a syfi musical. Its been done, but never well.
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