What musical should Meron and Zadan do next?- Page 3

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 1:45pm

Grease, like The Sound Of Music, is an iconic movie. But the difference is that Grease on stage is extremely different than the movie. It's like Hair in that the stage show and movie are very different. My question with Grease is will people tune in expecting to see a car race?

[hsrdmd]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 1:54pm

What about Little Shop or She Loves Me?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 1:56pm

I think if they used the recent Broadway revival script that interpolated most of the hit songs from the movie, audiences would go with GREASE just fine.

Maybe the success of this will inspire some other tv outlets to explore live musicals as well. As previously stated, it would be great to see something like A CHORUS LINE or HAIR - which haven't really ever been captured on film as they are on stage -- but those ain't going to be on network TV

[Jonwo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:03pm

The Wiz could work, the Wizard of Oz would be difficult to do as WB owns the trademarks to the 1939 film so NBC would need to license it from them or have them produce it.

How to Suceed with Daniel Radcliffe probably could work, although they'd likely have to rework it slightly for television.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:03pm

And you know, while we are throwing around ideas - I know people love to get up in arms whenever there is a 'theatre casting reality show' - but in truth, most of the winners of those shows, whether its been Laura Osnes or Connie Fischer (for the SOUND OF MUSIC in London) or Jodie Prenger (OLIVER also in London) have proven to be pretty wonderful.

Having some type of reality show leading up to one of these TV musicals would probably be a way to make the program even more of an event and could potentially allow someone lesser known to take a leading role opposite some big name supporting cast members.

[RooMcGoo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:28pm

Here at RooMcGoo we imagined the possibilites for future star/live musical pairings....
The Sound of Celebrities!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:31pm

I would love for Disney and ABC to do "Beauty and the Beast" this way. Imagine, we can get sets just as grand, if not more beautiful than the original Broadway version. Not the tacky ones on tour now. It would be a good way of recording the show for posterity too. Though this is a show I wish they wouldn't stunt cast. The musical itself is enough to bring viewers in to watch it.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:36pm

Disney were looking to adapt the stage version of Beauty as a film so a TV adaptation isn't a bad idea, weren't they working on Hunchback as a TV special?

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:38pm

Now wouldn't that be something if two network were competing with two live musicals,

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:41pm

its surprising that ABC which, is owned by Disney which of course is heavily involved in theater, has fallen asleep at the wheel here

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:48pm

WEST SIDE STORY also has the issue of being a superb, film. Anything they do will pale by comparison, much like TSOM did,last night. It's fine to say it's not a remake of the move,but to people who only know the movie, yes, it is! As for PETER PAN, that's been done for television, repeatedly. Cathy Rigby's version is readily available on DVD.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:52pm

I don't think the fact that Cathy Rigby's PETER PAN was filmed for A&E (ten years ago) would have any impact in the potential interest in a new version for Network TV if they had Miley Cyrus or some other big 'young' name in the title role.

It's a classic family story that's been told a million times before and will be told a million times again.

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:52pm

would it be ridiculous for GLEE to do an episode LIVE?

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:00pm

The mention of Cyrus for PETER PAN kind of made me ill. I'd be skipping that, for sure. No doubt it would be a rating's winner.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:01pm

I think that could be pretty cool. But she wouldn't be into that now. A few years ago maybe.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:04pm

I actually think Miley Cyrus would kind of be inspired as PETER PAN -- the character is a total brat who refuses to grow up and constantly thumbs his nose at authority. It's perfect...

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:06pm

""The mention of Cyrus for PETER PAN kind of made me ill. I'd be skipping that, for sure. No doubt it would be a rating's winner.""

Why? PeterPan as a slutty Tongue licking mast***ating twerker? yeah, on second thought youre right

[Jonwo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:08pm

I'm surprised Glee hasn't done a live episode but I guess it would be incredibly expensive and the shows quite expensive to make anyway,

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:11pm

FORUM with Jack Black?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:27pm

With the Mary Martin and Cathy Rigby versions out there, I wouldn't be at all interested in another broadcast of Peter Pan for at least another decade. There was recently yet another tour of the musical and that other arena tour show (different production, same story). And then the 1953 and 2003 film versions of the story as well. I just can't imagine tossing this story back out there again now, even with a popular star cast in the lead.

I do think She Loves Me would be fantastic! A revised (and perhaps retitled) version of Here's Love has potential as well.

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 03:27 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:30pm

FORUM with Jack Black?

Love that idea!

Perhaps Peter Pan could be rebooted to make the origin story darker, grittier and edgier. Something with a fresh face and a new onesie. It could be a perennial event.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:34pm

The article said that Meron and Zadan would be taking the next title from their "wish list".

I would imagine that the next title would therefore be one of those 4 Micheal Bennett mentioned.

And out of those four, I can most easily see Fiddler being their choice.

But this is of course all speculation. Who knows? Maybe they'll surprise everyone and do Sweeney Todd. (jk, but wouldn't that be amazing?)

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:35pm

^ Pee-yoooo (@ Forum w/ Jack Black).

My own idea:

[*] Current Pippin revival, with stars swapped into the following roles a la the 1981 William Katt/Ben Vereen version: Pippin, Leading Player, Fastrada, Berthe.

Of the ideas mentioned so far:

[*] The Grease idea sounds interesting, especially if you go the 2007 revival route, much as I would hate that (being an original play purist, I think I'd ease up only if they put back all the swearing and crudity, and just bleeped it for TV). Maybe you could also blend in elements of the 1994 "Tommy Tune"-but-not-Tommy-Tune revival to give it that extra bit of razzle dazzle (I speak here of Billy Porter's Teen Angel, or someone who can pull it off to similar showstopping effect, among other examples).

[*] Zadan and Meron have mentioned Peter Pan being on their wish list in the past.

[*] From a Disney standpoint, though it would be more likely to air on ABC than NBC, Beauty and the Beast and Hunchback sound lovely. Maybe Zadan and Meron wouldn't be involved in these, I dunno, but Disney has several horses in the race on Broadway, so why not on TV as well?

Things we can rule out from this thread and in general, at least from Zadan and Meron, because some people seem to forget they've already done these, just not live:

[*] Gypsy
[*] Cinderella
[*] Annie
[*] Chicago (for the big screen)
[*] The Music Man
[*] Hairspray (for the big screen)
[*] A Raisin in the Sun

Of course that doesn't completely rule them out but, particularly in Chicago's case, it does seem silly to retread that ground.

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 03:35 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:43pm

I change my casting. I want Big River with Philip Phillips. And I still think it would be a hoot to see Bob Dylan sing "Guv'ment."

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:51pm

^ But first, my dear, you must teach him to sing intelligibly.