truly 'original' musicals???- Page 2

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 7:38am

Bells Are Ringing was based on the life and career of Mary Printz, followspot.

None of the ones I listed were based on any actual events or people, although I do feel that shows like 1776 and Will Rogers Follies are "original".

And oh my god, I just realized no one said Follies! That is a totally original story.

Updated On: 5/11/12 at 07:38 AM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 7:44am

But it was based on the Fiddler on the Roof reunion party?

[followspot]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 7:54am

... sigh... this could go on and on... ; )

reminder of OP's request:

what are some truly 'original' musicals that were not based off a movie, book, comic or t.v. program; and have an original score?

Updated On: 5/11/12 at 07:54 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 8:20am

Anyone Can Whistle.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 8:20am

Well then I'll add:

Barnum
Evita
Mack & Mabel
Goodtime Charlie
Bring Back Birdie
Annie Warbucks
Rex
Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public
Assassins
Steel Pier
The Rocky Horror Show
Runaways
Pump Boys and Dinettes
They're Playing Our Song
Merlin
Marilyn
Me and My Girl
Dreamgirls
Teddy and Alice
I Had a Ball
Kelly
Drat that Cat

I mean one could go on.......

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 8:39am

Threads like this are headache inducing.

Reminder to self: Do NOT open this thread up again...

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 8:56am

I mean the way I view it is, unless it's based on a specific movie, play or a book it should be considered original.

The OP mentioned comics, but both Peanuts musicals, Superman, Annie, Lil Abner, Doonesbury, Kudzu, etc. were really original stories. They just used characters that were familiar - not situations.

And even biographical musicals most likely use some research from various books, so the line blurs even further.

Then of course there are shows like Nick and Nora and Fiddler which both have specific series (films and short stories, respectively) as sources, but are amalgams of various elements from the chosen canon.

So I think my point is that while this is a valuable discussion it is too broad to really pigeon hole most musicals except the ones that are a direct adaptation of a pre-existing singular source.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 9:09am

I agree with tazber; Annie may use the general idea of a few per-existing characters, but adds a story that never occurred in the comic strips, and brings extra dimension to the old characters while introducing many new ones. I would call it original, unlike something like Ghost, which follows its source material as solemnly and religiously as if it were a Lost Gospel.

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 1:05pm

Neither Snoopy!!! or You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown feature original books.

Every "scene" in either show is DIRECTLY lifted from the comic strips. Look at who is given credit for writing the book. John Gordon. John Gordon doesn't exist... he's a "collective pseudonym" that covers Gesner, the cast members and the production staff, all of whom worked together to assemble the script from the comic strips.

Snoopy!!! is assembled the same way. Some "scenes" even are present in both books... the revival of YAGMCB even borrowed some extras from Snoopy!!! when turning Patty into Sally.

[PattiLover]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 1:33pm

Call Me Madam is inspired by Pearl Mesta, but it's not a true story...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 2:01pm

Ha. No one said "In My Life"!

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 3:04pm

^^^^^

Which also reminds me of BKLYN

[Playbilly]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 4:16pm

How could we forget...

13

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 4:29pm

Very easily, playbilly.