weird ideas for musicals

i know we all have weird or eccentric ideas on what would make a good musical, share them here.

my ideas are:

1) a thriller musical about a stalker who stalks an actress using only Sondheim lyrics - the notes he leaves her, the calls he makes, etc.

2) a musical of the GREAT film "Theatre of Blood"

3) R&H's "Cinderella" or "Once Upon a Mattress" done using the Japanese puppet technique of Kuruko (see the Scissor Sister's new video "She's My Man" on the site who's name not be mentioned)

4) a campy musical version of "The Golden Girls" using men in drag

5) Twlya Tharp "fairy tale" dance show utilizing the Madonna catalog or the Blondie catalog

6) a year in the life musical based on the Waitresses song "Christmas Wrapping"

7) my most fully realized weird idea would be a stage adaptation of "Grease 2" - maybe retitled "Son of Grease" - with the following cast:
Stephanie - Kate Reinders or Jane Krakowski
Michael - Christopher J. Hanke
Johnny - Hunter Foster
Paulette - Jane Krakowski or Felicia Finley
Sharon - Marissa Jaret Winokur
Frenchie - Jen Cody
Delores - Alisan Porter or Hallie Kate Eisenberg
Louis - David Burkta
Goose - Matt Morrison
Principal McGee - Lorna Luft
Blanche - Jackie Hoffman
Mr. Stuart - Peter Frechette
Miss Mason - Olivia Newton John

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Updated On: 2/11/07 at 12:50 AM

You got your wish. There's a free staged reading of Ripper, a new musical based on Jack the Ripper, on Monday at New World Stages on Monday (3/19). It looks like you can still reserve tickets at www.ripperthemusical.com and there's a highlights medley there. OK, you can't use the word 'murder' more than three times in a song without evoking Jekyll and Hyde, but what the hell, it's an opportunity to witness the creative process and I'll be there with an open mind and a notepad :)

Anyone here think Borat would be interesting as a musical? It certainly has a dramatic core and more offensive things (In My Life, Good Vibrations) have been presented onstage. If done by the right person, perhaps. My only fear is that it'll turn into a series of parodies.

The Exorcist:
I'm actually spending some of my free time writing this (I know there are so many better things I could be doing...) and I'm kind of stuck. My original intent was to spoof the style of "Carrie" by having the show take itself completely seriously, yet have these totally out-of-place dance numbers and cheesy songs. Then I thought about doing it as an actual musical adaptation of the novel/movie, but that seems like it would be a bit off-putting. I'm currently toying around with this idea: When the show starts (before the demon has entered into the story) the music is the kind of lush, flowing stuff you'd expect from the classic Broadway shows. When the demon begins to come into play, the music become more and more contemporary as the show progresses, bursting into a rock score whenever the deomon is actually in the scene. Finally, the show ends with a contemporary song with little hints of rock music to show that because of all that has happened to them, Reagan and her mother's lives will never be the same again. The "classical" songs would have tradition showtune titles, whereas the "rock" songs would be loud, rude, and shocking (titles I'm considering: "I'm Gonna Piss on You" and "Let Him F--k You").

Like I said...I could be spending my time on much better projects...

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People on this board liked my idea so much that there may be one in the works as we speak But I'll say it anyway...

Phineas Gage: The Musical!

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Fenchurch-
There was a group in Chicago that DID improvise musicals for a while...forget the name...

To whomever said Jack the Ripper-
Done it, London, mid 70's 3 preivews, no performances.

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A Clockwork Orange & Mutiny On The Bounty were tried in London as was Metropolis

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Updated On: 3/13/07 at 10:12 PM

Starring The Supremes

Imagine a chorus line of robed clad dancers dancing to a ditty about a court ruling ala a number from Seesaw

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A musical about Ed Sullivan. And of course it would be called "A Really Big Show"

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A girl gets her period which unlocks telekinetic powers. Discuss.

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About improvised musicals-


Theres an improv group in San Diego (The Funhouse, represent) that regurally improvises musicals based on audience members lives. WHen not about the audience they will do a musical in the style of (For example, there was one in the style of Urinetown, but it was about a town that outlawed Christmas.) Improvising musicals is difficult, but really fun.

Updated On: 3/14/07 at 01:31 AM

Let's add Lord of the Rings as well

RadiGal,

I seriously have been trying to adapt one of Chritopher Moore's books for some time now. In the style of the absurd. I actually think your idea is a good one.

And whodathunk a musical based on a fairly obscure documentary about two relcuses in the Hamptons would ever work?

I have said many times - anything can be a musical if done correctly.

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