What would you love to see adapted as a musical?

[MerrilyWePostAlong]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 5:37pm

This board has so many fun and interesting members and I so enjoy reading all your perspectives on the industry - which got me thinking... What would you love to see turned into or adapted into a musical? (And who would you like to write it?) 

This may be a very silly one but I've always thought the Reese Witherspoon movie Just like Heaven would make for an interesting show if done in a small/intimate way.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 5:58pm

After Poor Things came out, Ingrid Michaelson posted about wanting to write a musical adaptation of it. In the abstract, that would be interesting. The Shape of Water is one I think would be mesmerizing and magical if done correctly. Especially if they were to get Michael Arden and Deaf West involved to come up with a unique concept for the Sally Hawkins character. Like having an actor as the voice of her character. As far as composer, I would love for Desplat to collaborate with a Broadway or theatre regular, like Malloy or something.

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 7:54pm

Well, if they can do Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot, I think The Apartment could make a cute musical. It’s my favorite Billy Wilder film-maybe my favorite film ever.  I would cast Groff as the every man, CC Baxter. There could be a Be a Mench number and that would be a great phrase for merch. It’s a perfect film and feels contemporary even though it was made in the 60s (I think). 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 7:59pm

Glittergrrl said: "Well, if they can do Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot, I think The Apartment could make a cute musical. It’s my favorite Billy Wilder film-maybe my favorite film ever. I would cast Groff as the every man, CC Baxter.There could be a Be a Mench number and that would be a great phrase for merch. It’s a perfect film and feels contemporary even though it was made in the 60s (I think)."

...are you trolling us?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promises,_Promises_(musical)

https://youtu.be/GajWG0D9tsI?si=WqBI0YIzaXjQEHY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q7SnsRKqHc

Updated On: 8/21/25 at 07:59 PM

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:09pm

Get out!

I had no idea!  Not trolling-just dumb.

Updated On: 8/21/25 at 08:09 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:12pm

(Groff would, indeed, be good in PROMISES PROMISES...and kinda hard to believe that last revival was 15 years ago.)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:17pm

I feel like beating a dead horse, but I’ve been saying The Devil in The White City needs the musical treatment à la Jekyll and Hyde.
The movie Down With Love from the early aughts always seemed ripe for a musical adaptation, Shaiman and Wittman actually did work on the film and wrote a song that Zellweger and McGregor sang during the closing credits.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:24pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "

...are you trolling us?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promises,_Promises_(musical)

https://youtu.be/GajWG0D9tsI?si=WqBI0YIzaXjQEHY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q7SnsRKqHc"

Why did so many early/golden era musicals diverge their titles from their source materials? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:33pm

Two films I am certain could make great musicals are “Heart and Souls” and, while it would be more difficult, “Pleasantville” could be stunning. 

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 9:18pm

I've always said that Ms. Congeniality would be a fun choice. Staying in the Sandra Bullock-world, While You Were Sleeping could make a super cute, small musical. With Sara Bareilles music, of course. 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 9:39pm

2 of the 3 movies that I think would make great musicals have already been mentioned…

Down with Love

Pleasantville

and…

Drop Dead Gorgeous

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 9:42pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Two films I am certain could make great musicals are “Heart and Souls” and, while it would be more difficult, “Pleasantville” could be stunning."

Biased on Pleasantville and Just Like Heaven because Reese Witherspoon. Pleasantville with the design team of the pre-Covid London revival of City of Angels, please.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 11:15pm

I'm not kidding, but when I've watched the old nudesploitation movie Blaze Starr Goes Nudist I couldn't help but feel that it is paced and structured like a musical with most of the songs cut out.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 11:24pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I feel like beating a dead horse, but I’ve been saying The Devil in The White Cityneeds the musical treatment à la Jekyll and Hyde.
 

You're in luck!

[Chaz Hands]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 11:31pm

For a commercial Broadway show, I think Disney would have a hit on their hands if they turned Phineas and Ferb into a stage show. The marketing could be, “Mooooom, Phineas and Ferb are making a Broadway musical!” I think it’d do well in licensing for high schools and community theaters as well.

For something a little darker/weirder, I think Don’t Look Up could translate well to the stage as well.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 12:17am

I know everyone likes to sh*t on jukebox musicals - but I’ve always felt that The Birdcage would be a fabulous jukebox musical. The actual plot itself would need some reworking (mostly in the realm of Barbie and her family) but the film’s soundtrack has hits that audiences would love to hear live and there’s a lot to work with. 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 12:19am

The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane? It already exists -- La Cage Aux Folles....

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 12:35am

This movie goes back to ‘87 and is a period piece, but I think Maurice from the EM Forster novel of the same name would be nice to see. We’re living in a different world now where acceptance is much more attainable than it was when the novel came out, and even more accepted than when the movie came out. But I think the story is great. And the ending where Maurice and Scudder come together in the end could give a story of two men having a fairy tale ending to what had been a challenging path at a challenging time in history for gays. The newer gen might not totally relate, but as a throwback for those of us who do remember and can relate it would be an encouraging journey back. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 12:50am

TheatreMonkey said: "The Birdcagewith Robin Williams and Nathan Lane? It already exists --La Cage Aux Folles...."

La Cage Aux Folles is an American dance & disco jukebox musical…? Wow, you truly learn something new every day. 🙄

La Cage is not a musical adaptation of Birdcage, it’s a musical that shares the same plot and source material. They are obviously different entities to the general public. I don’t consider them interchangeable, nor do I think would the general public (the demographic for jukebox musicals).

Different settings, book/screenplay, score/soundtrack, they hit different comedic beats, etc. One is more relevant & rooted in American culture, has a killer start of a various artist soundtrack, and is a more recognizable IP in today’s world than the source material.

Also, one is not a jukebox musical, maybe you missed that part of my comment. Thanks for playing, though! 

Updated On: 8/22/25 at 12:50 AM

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 1:51am

Whoah. Sorry to hit have hit such a nerve. Perhaps I should have been more circumspect with my punctuation and phrasing, but I truly meant my post in a playful way (unlike the snark of your response.)

Clearly you've thought a lot about it, and no shade to that! Hell, I might buy a ticket. And maybe you're right -- add in some localization and disco, and finally the important, timely, and universal message might click in your adaptation, of an adaptation, of an adaptation!

[BentleyB]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 3:35am

I think a musical of “A Confederacy of Dunces” would be really fun. It has already been adapted into a play and I think the New Orleans setting and extravagant characters would make a fun show.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 3:53am

I’ve always wanted a musical version of The Princess Diaries. 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 9:40am

I would love to see the Laura Loomer vs Marjorie Taylor Greene smack down turned into a two person cabaret act. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 10:27am

Glittergrrl said: "Get out!

I had no idea! Not trolling-just dumb."

Yes, 1968’s PROMISES, PROMISES was indeed based on Billy Wilder’s THE APARTMENT, but the time setting was changed for the musical adaptation - the original 1968 Broadway production was set in “present day” and the 2010 Broadway revival was set in 1962, hence the time period change in the costumes and set designs. The songs “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “Promises, Promises” were the breakout songs that crossed over into radio play with the recordings by Dionne Warwick. Countless other artists sang and/or recorded these songs as well so they quickly became pop music standards. 

 

 

[whatever2]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 10:44am

BentleyB said: "I think a musical of “A Confederacy of Dunces” would be really fun. It has already been adapted into a play and I think the New Orleans setting and extravagant characters would make a fun show."

CoD is a fantastic property, and ripe for musical treatment by the *right* creatives. i know it's already been adapted into an opera; not sure that opera has ever been performed anywhere, though.