The Footlights: Broadway business slips, movie adaptations to the rescue?

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John Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 03:13 PM EST

I agree, I think Saddles or History of the World Part 1 would musicalize well (though since Young Frankenstein suffered from being too loyal to the movie, my vote goes to a loosened up "History" as the better potential musical).

Nathan Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 10:46 PM EST

Blazing Saddles will make a great musical too, still the funniest movie Mel ever made.

Nathan Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 10:45 PM EST

I saw Spring Awakening a year ago and it's never left my mind. Since it's days on Broadway are numbered, I hope a movie adaptation is being planned, haven't heard anything yet.

sara Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 12:51 PM EST

i was just in new york in july and i was so pleased to see a great take on an old classic Gypsy with miss pattie lupone ( i was over whelmed) and was very excited to finally see avenue Q. those were great , i am ok with revivals if cast well , new commers can be really really great and i would liek a few of the movies metioned to be made into musicals, some would work more than others though. drop dead g. would make a fantastic musical , full of laughs and a great dark comedy lol. while i would love a whats eating gilbert grape musical i dont think it woudl transffer well , without johnny depp.
but my friend and i were talking about amusical version of clueless lol it would not win an award but could bring in some money lol.

Phil Sat, Nov 8, 2008 at 12:28 AM EST

I for one would like to see a revival of 'Dreamgirls', and get the stars of the movie (especially Jennifer Hudson) to do a limited engagement, it could be really great. I would also love to see a revival of 'The Wiz'. As far as movies, I think a non-musical version of 'The Breakfast Club' could be good. 'Labyrinth' could be very entertaining. And just where in the world is 'Moulin Rouge!'?? I also think, if done correctly, 'But I'm A Cheerleader' could be hysterical. 'Charlotte's Web' also comes to mind for the kids. now I'll just rattle them off in no particular order, musical or non:

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
The Object of My Affection
Down With Love
Sixteen Candles
Chasing Amy
Big Fish
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Hook

I think that any of these, handled properly of course, could work on stage. Anyone?

Heather Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 01:20 PM EST

How about this...lower ticket prices so more people can afford to go to a Broadway show! $120 per person is often too much for a family to pay ($480 for one night of entertainment?). I have been known to use the rush ticket lottery to go see shows because I can't afford ticket prices as they are!

caty Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 06:29 PM EST

i can't believe SPRING AWAKENING is closing! it was bad enough [title of show] did, now we're left with crappy screen to stage adaptations...great...

tricia Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 06:34 PM EST

one of the groups im in went to see WICKED last year....it was sooooo cool, defenitely my favorite of all the musicals ive seen

Katie Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 04:54 PM EST

I saw Billy Elliot last March in London and it was absolutely amazing. I'm so glad it's opening Stateside. It was a huge hit in the UK, and I think it has the potential to do the same here. Can't wait to see what Shrek and Catch Me If You Can are like, although I'm concerned about those ridiculous price tags as well. Still, with enough buzz, people are bound to pay just about anything, if only to see what the fuss is all about.

Kim Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 10:58 AM EST

How about they start producing actual new musicals? New stories? Written by the thousands upon thousands of struggling musical theater writers out there putting together great material that no producer will look at because there's no brand name? And get people excited again about new stories and new ideas?

NineDaves Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 09:14 AM EST

and here we go again. a day after this post, they announce a musical based on the film "once."

Mary Beth Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 10:04 PM EST

If 9-5 gets to Broadway, count me in. LOVE THE MOVIE, and therefore would love to see a musical version as well.

Andy Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 01:38 PM EST

It's very easy to see shows on Broadway for no more than $35. Join Theater Development Fund. BroadwayBox has lots of discounts for shows at roughly half off as does Playbill. No one should have to pay $120 for a Broadway show - that's just insane.

aps Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 01:30 PM EST

i think that most of those "new" shows seem like...junk. I have no desire to see really any of them. maybe billy elliot. less than no desire to see shrek as well as others. catch me if you can may have promise. but...still.
I'll still catch maybe 2 (max of 3 probably) a year, with an effort to try and get lucky with the tickets almost more than getting into the show i really want to see.
overall though, i'm still disappointed in the crop.

jcpdiesel21 Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:43 AM EST

I would really like to see a musical adaptation of Catch Me if You Can! The story is so crazy and unbelieveable as it is, and songs and dancing could make it even wilder.

Nix Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM EST

The Grizzly Man may be dourly tongue-in-cheek, but his suggestion of 'Toy Story' just struck me as a possibly winning idea.

Rob Grizzly Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM EST

Maybe I'm just tired, but I don't feel like clicking on all the links (which seems to be every other word of this article) to see what the heck you're talking about. This was oddly written.

Broadway business is frustrating, and I do blame the economy. And an overall lack of interest. Some of these shows just don't grab me. (Though, I would love to see Blithe Spirit).

It's a funny question, because the movies I'd like to see as plays would be impossible to do. But because I'm slightly annoyed, and this is too easy- Movie's I'd like to see as Broadway plays:

10. Toy Story
9. Silence of the Lambs- musical
8. Forrest Gump
7. Pirates of the Carribean- musical
6. RoboCop- musical
5. Goodfellas
4. Braveheart
3. Jaws- musical
2. Gladiator
1. Kill Bill -musical

Sorry for being an ass, but yeah, pull one of these off, and maybe I'll buy a ticket again.

A few things... Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 10:10 AM EST

You forgot to mention the revival of West Side Story.

Norbert Leo Butz will be in Catch Me If You Can, so I'm sure it will be good.

It's not that hard to find discounts to Broadway shows, especially the ones that aren't selling.

NineDaves Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:57 AM EST

oh, and one last thing. not every show from the 70s has been revived. i'm still waiting on pippin. i think the wiz has potential, but not with that green wicked witch packing them in up the street.

NineDaves Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:56 AM EST

oh, and anne - hair is coming to broadway in spring of 2009. so you'll get to see it!

NineDaves Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:54 AM EST

the whole criticism of film to musical adaptations that has been rampant in our media really bothers me. broadway has always adapted material from other sources: books, poems, etc. it's nothing new. and the film industry does it too. movies of tv shows. movies of books. tv shows based on movies. it's a post-modern world. and in any economy, it's good marketing to find a product that has name recognition and sells. when done right, we priase them (see hairspray). but it's always a gamble. i didn't have faith in xanadu, but it was one of the best shows i'd seen on broadway in years. legally blonde also surprised me. so you can't write off any of these projects based on title alone. because the ones that should have worked - cry baby, saturday night fever, urban cowboy, high fidelity, etc - didn't. personally, i don't care if it's a jukebox musical, a disney musical, an adapted musical from a film - i just want it to be good old entertaining theater. in the end, isn't that what sells?

Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:42 AM EST

Why hasn't there been a revival of "The Wiz" yet? Every other show from the 70's has been revived at least twice already.

anne Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:21 AM EST

after having missed out on seeing Hair this summer in Central Park - I keep hoping they will revive the show for Broadway. The buzz for it was ridiculous. Great reviews too. A producer would have to be nuts not to try and get this going as a Braodway Show. Yes, i was hoping to see it for free this summer but I would have gladly paid for tickets if it guranteed me a seat and I didn't have to get up at 4am to go get in line for 6 hours or more.

Auriana Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 08:57 AM EST

I used to go to Broadway shows all the time in high school and college...back when it was $65-$85 for orchestra seats. Now with prices reaching over $100 and the $65 range being the worst seats in the house, who can afford to go? I've been sticking to off Broadway fare (Evil Dead the Musical, My First Time, etc) as they tend to be a bit more reasonable in price. I'd love to go see Spamalot or Wicked but can't afford to do so. I'm also rather irked at this new obsession with shows based off of movies and that they tend to be a lot more shiny and glittery if they want to succeed. My favorites were Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Jane Eyre...darker, deeper shows.