Revamped! BWW Rounds Up This Season's Broadway Adaptations

By: Mar. 16, 2014
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From the magical romances of ALADDIN and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY to the perils of showbiz in CABARET, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and ACT ONE; from the gripping physicality of ROCKY to the revolutionary tune of LES MISERABLES and the friendship and loss of OF MICE AND MEN, this season runs the gamut when it comes to captivating tales.

But most of them started offstage; they came from the creative minds at Disney, filmmaker Woody Allen, writers Moss Hart, Victor Hugo and more.

BroadwayWorld has rounded up this season's musical adaptations and the plays, books and films that inspired them. Scroll down for the list, and be sure to let us know your favorites!



ACT ONE

Based on: Moss Hart's 1959 Autobiography
Written by: James Lapine
Cast: Santino Fontana, Tony Shalhoub, Andrea Martin, Chuck Cooper, Will Lebow
About the Show: Deemed one of the finest books about 20th-century American theater, ACT ONE eloquently chronicles the playwright/director's impoverished childhood and his determined struggle to escape poverty and forge a career in the theater. A path which led to his collaboration with George S. Kaufman and their first great success, Once In a Lifetime.




ALADDIN

Based on: Disney's 1992 Animated Film
Book: Chad Beguelin
Music/Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, and Chad Beguelin
Cast: Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart, Jonathan Freeman
About the Show: Adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," ALADDIN is brought to fresh theatrical life in this exuberant new musical. Aladdin's journey will sweep audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.




THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

Based on: Robert James Waller's 1992 Novel; the 1995 Film
Book: Marsha Norman
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown
Cast: Steven Pasquale, Kelli O'Hara, Hunter Foster, Cass Morgan, Derek Klena
About the Show: One of the most romantic novels ever written is now Broadway's most irresistible love story. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is the unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more.




BULLETS OVER BROADWAY
Based on: Woody Allen's 1994 Film
Book: Woody Allen
Music/Lyrics: Various Artists
Cast: Zach Braff, Marin Mazzie, Betsy Wolfe, Vincent Pastore, Lenny Wolpe, Helene Yorke, Nick Cordero, Brooks Ashmanskas, Karen Ziemba
About the Show: BULLETS OVER BROADWAY tells the story of an aspiring young playwright (Braff) newly arrived on Broadway in 1920s New York who is forced to cast a mobster's (Pastore) talentless girlfriend (Yorke) in his latest drama in order to get it produced.




CABARET

Based on: John Van Druten's 1951 Play I AM A CAMERA
Book: Christopher Isherwood
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Cast: Alan Cumming, Michelle Williams, Danny Burstein, Linda Emond
About the Show: Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd-and to leave their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through their dangerous times?

The 1972 film lives on as one of the best stage-to-screen adaptations ever - check out a performance from Liza Minnelli!



LES MISERABLES

Based on: Victor Hugo's 1862 Novel
Book/Lyrics: Alain Boublil
Additional Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer
Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg
Cast: Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy, Nikki M. James, Andy Mientus, Samantha Hill, Keala Settle, Cliff Saunders, Kyle Scatliffe
About the Show: Winner of over 100 international awards and seen by over 65 million people worldwide, LES MISERABLES sweeps its audience through an epic tale of broken dreams, passion and redemption, against the backdrop of a nation in the grip of revolution.

Last year, Les Miserables was also adapted for the screen - check out a trailer below!



OF MICE AND MEN

Based on: John Steinbeck's 1937 Novel
Written by: John Steinbeck
Cast: James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, Leighton Meester, Jim Parrack, Jim Norton
Aout the Show: Adapted from his own classic novel, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is an essential adventure, an inspirational portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship.

In 1939, Of Mice and Men was brought to the big screen with Lon Chaney, Jr. and Burgess Meredith - check out a clip below!



ROCKY

Based on: John G. Avildsen & Sylvester Stallone's 1976 Film
Book: Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Cast: Andy Karl, Margo Seibert, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dakin Matthews, Terence Archie, Jennifer Mudge
About the Show: Somewhere in downtown Philadelphia, a down-and-out fighter named Rocky Balboa struggles to stay on his feet. But when the chance of a lifetime comes along, he takes his best shot at becoming a champion... and his last shot at finding first love.



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