Broadway got the beat! The Go-Gos musical

Posted: 9/26/13 at 10:47am

The show is based on the music of the GoGo’s, the California New Wave girl group of the early 1980s.
The pair have enlisted Jeff Whitty of “Avenue Q” fame to write the book, and I’m told it’s almost done. I’m told the idea is for a jukebox show with a twist– it will be set in the 1600s and based on surprising source material that can’t be revealed yet.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz2g0hChj64

Oh yeah, Gwyneth Paltrow is Producing.

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 11:11am

Are you sure this isn't from the Onion?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 11:55am

But first, let's figure out how crafty Belynda will make sure Kathy Valentine doesn't see one cent of the income.

[evic]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 2:07pm

About as exciting as a musical using Spice girls songs......yuchhhhh

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 2:12pm

GOGOs Pilgrims and Gwyneth. what could possibly go wrong... hopefully she stays behind the scenes

[jnb9872]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 10:42pm

That twist seems like a cousin to the Jeff Buckley/"Grace"/Romeo & Juliet musical.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 12:21am

"I’m told the idea is for a jukebox show with a twist– it will be set in the 1600s and based on surprising source material that can’t be revealed yet."

Surprising source material may be showcasing how the band were punk rockers before they were signed? There's lots of drama to be had by adding the story of how they fired their original bassist Margot Olavarria.

Updated On: 9/27/13 at 12:21 AM

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 3:00pm

They have 3, maybe 4 hits if I'm generous that people would remember and recognize and they are all from 30 years ago. When was the last time you heard any of them on the radio. Exactly what do they plan to build a show around? This has "going nowhere fast" written all over it but I hope Gwyneth enjoys herself.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 3:54pm

I was able to secure a copy of a fanzine in 1993 that chronicled the Go Go's history from 1978 to 1981; lots of articles and old photos of the band at the Masque with their original members, Elissa and Margot, and great pics of Jane with blue hair as Jane Drano and Belinda in denim and leather looking very masculine. The authors said they wanted to showcase the band's history as a punk band because it was way more interesting than what happened starting in 1981, which everyone knows already. Their backstory is pretty sordid and is more interesting than when they were known as "America's Sweethearts".

I think a good movie could be made about the early Go Gos but not a musical. At least Viva Forever! had camp and flash to make it memorable. And FishermanBob, you're totally right! Outside of Our Lips Are Sealed and We Got The Beat, there's not much to work with. A lot of their early punk material, as rough as it may be, was good - "Blades" is about cutting but was never released. You can hear a demo on Youtube.




Updated On: 9/27/13 at 03:54 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 5:34pm

Don't forget Vacation. Also Belinda and Jane had a couple of solo hits that they would probably use. They are actually appearing in Ft Lauderdale tomorrow.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 5:54pm

It's been thirty years, I forgot about Vacation! That's a wonderful song.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 6:06pm

Can they seriously cut it out with the jukebox musicals? It's so old now!

Posted: 9/27/13 at 7:47pm

But as I read that piece, the show IS NOT going to be about the band, rather the story is set in the 1600's. LA's Punk scene was hardly hopping then.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 7:52pm

That ain't Broadway.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 3:50am

Ain't ain't a word.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 8:18am

Disneybroadwayfan22 - I agree but some people would say the same thing about Disney movies being made into musicals.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 11:53am

Vacation, Head Over a Heels, Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, Lust to Love, Get Up and Go, We Got the Beat, Can't Stop the World, Beautiful, Has the Whole World Lost Its Head.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 2:26pm

Namo you read my mind .

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 4:36pm

I'm callin' it now -- a Go-Gos musical about the Salem witch trials. Gotta be. It's one of the few noteworthy events of the 1600's.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 5:07pm

This town is our town
It is so glamorous....
Bet you wish you could be here
And be one of us...

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 5:53pm

Well, if this actually makes it to Broadway, I would like to suggest it be followed by the Bangles Musical set during the Civil War, the Mr. Mister musical set during the Great Depression and the A Flock of Seagulls Musical set during the Spanish Inquisition. These all make about the same amount of sense.