Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion? — Page 2

#26

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:18am

I didn't know the MTI one was just gonna be a JR. version.

Did a 7th grade really do Millie??? lol. How????

#27

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 5:32am

This would make an awesome musical. So would Roald Dahl's Witches and Matilda, which I am composing as musicals and hope to premiere in the years ahead

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Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#28

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:22am

Gene should be a part of the new Willy Wonka movie, just like Chita Rivera had a tiny cameo in Chicago the Movie.

CatsNYrevival: go to Yahoo, search "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in images, and go to the 4th-6th page for some pictures. Use the pic links to direct yourself to the main page. I don't have the link at hand right now.

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

Updated On: 7/27/04 at 09:22 AM

#29

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:29am

THEGIRLINTHEFROCK:

I agree 100,000,000% I think Alan Cumming would be nothing short of WONDERFUL in a musical version of Willie Wonka..or on TV/film for that matter :) He ROCKS, to say the least! :)

#30

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:42am

Who is Alan Cumming?

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Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#31

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 10:29am

He was the original Emcee in the Cabaret revival.
He was Rooster in the most recent Annie movement.

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#32

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 11:49am

I think this does have potential to be a great musical. But I don't see how they can pull off the things that happen in the second half of the movie with the girl blowing up, the boy shrinking, Gustof (is that his name? haha), drowning in chocolate. I think the budget for this musical would have to be very big, like it was with Wicked.

But oompa loompas scare me.

#33

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:02pm

If Gene Wilder was to participate in a Broadway version of Willy Wonka, he might pull off the role as Wonka...remember Wonka is a man playing his retirement in the story...if not as Wonka...he could be "the Candyman" for a cameo (at least for the first few months to draw in the fans).

It seems to me that it could have a multigenerational draw. The show does have its "scary" elements, its share of life lessons, and the opportunity to win all kinds of Tony's for set design and special effects....

I'd like to see it.

#34

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:06pm

I have said it before and I'll say it here, Gene Wilder would make a great Grandpa Joe! He could follow in his fathers footsteps.

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"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien

#35

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:09pm

I agree -- Gene as Grandpa Joe
but my big question -- how will Augustus Gloop go up the pipe...(my favorite chapte title)

The Veruca (sp?) role would be fun just to be able to say "But I want an Ompa Lumpa NOW!

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"Sir K, the Viscount of Uppity-shire...." -- kissmycookie

#36

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:19pm

My friend believes Uncle Joe to be a selfish a**hole of a character in that movie. She cited all these examples, and I must say I agreed with her. Haha, it's pretty funny, Uncle Joe as an antagonist.

#37

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:35pm

I hate the movie Willie Wonka, that's what I'm not going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's not really the movie I hate it's those Oompa Loompas! They give me the creeps. I always get nightmares when I hear that song.

#38

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:40pm

the oopma loopas in that film were very different from the book if I recall.

#39

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:43pm

Ugh, the other night I was home by myself listening to AOL Radio and had the Showtunes station. They played the Oompa Loompa song, and I got all creeped out. They frighten me, but not as much as they did when I was younger.

#40

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:48pm

I would LOVE to see Alan Cumming as Willy Wonka. I agree that Gene Wilder should be Grandpa Joe. To make Augustus go up the pipe they could just use wires.

#41

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 4:48pm

Although I love Gene Wilder, I think Alan Cumming would be a amazingly perfect Willy (because he has a perfect....oh never mind) that would rival even Gene! He has that devilish/boyish smirk that both delights and sends chills up your spine.

The movie is f*$ked up; like Nightmare Before Christmas (another movie that would be spectacular onstage) and Return to Oz, it's one of those dark fantasias that may not be suitable for young children. But whoa - imagine if Sam Mendes directed the stage version? That'd be amazing!

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 7/27/04 at 04:48 PM

#42

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 5:10pm

There is a stage adaptation in development right now. I know this because I tried to option the rights to put it on stage myself and was told that someone had beaten me to the punch. They are keeping (for the most part) the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse music and lyrics from the original film.

I have not heard any more about this endeavor for the past year or so. However, If 'Willy Wonka' were to come to Broadway as a musical, I think a perfect man to play Wonka would be Alan Cummings (Emcee in Cabaret - B'way Revival Cast).

#43

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 5:11pm

In the book, the Oompa Loompas looked like they were made of chocolate - in other words, they were African Pygmies.

That concept would have been considereed racist, so the movie made them look like orange and white candy men.

#44

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 5:15pm

How would they stage them, if it were to be a live show? I guess they could hire midgets (ahem, vertically-inclined individuals) - but the talent pool of singing-dancing-acting midgets is probably pretty small.

(I'm sorry, is "midget" an offensive term? I can edit the message if it is.)

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 7/27/04 at 05:15 PM

#45

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 10:59pm

If they could make Peter Pan fly they can definitely make the fat kid go up a tube. Don't you think?

#46

re: Willy Wonka the Musical...opinion?

Posted: 7/27/04 at 11:19pm

i think it would make a great stage show..maybe with chitty chitty bang bang and mary poppins coming out now on stage..someone will look into it