Feature: From Page to Stage, Broadway Draws Inspiration From Literary Classics

In a time where source material is a controversial topic, many people state that there have been a lack of original ideas for Broadway shows. Movie adaptations have been the latest trend to hit the stage, however, adaptations are certainly not a new phenomenon. Since the beginning of what is generally considered the traditional Broadway musical, shows have been adapted from other works. Classic shows such as SHOW BOAT and THE KING AND I found the origins to their stories in novels. More recently, novel adaptations have found success with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and the 2014 Tony Winner for Best Musical, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER.

With the upcoming season officially beginning in earnest, and new Broadway shows on the horizon, we decided to close out National Book Month by taking a look at the upcoming Broadway shows beginning performances this year that had their origins between the pages of literary works that went on to inspire more creative endeavors with their words!

Whether you use this as inspiration to read the source novel before seeing the show, or in some cases watch the movie based on the novel, or to help decide what to see this year, read on and embrace your inner bookworm

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AMERICAN PSYCHO

Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Original Publication: 1991
Opening Night: April 21st, 2016

Before there was the 2000 movie starring Christian Bale as the murderous investment banker, Patrick Bateman, the novel debuted in 1991 to much controversy.

AMERICAN PSYCHO, set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, is told through present tense stream-of-consciousness narrative. Bateman describes his everyday activities, ranging from the consumerist ventures and partying of the wealthy of Wall Street, to his murderous nighttime activities. After killing one of his colleagues, Bateman decides to continue his murder streak, becoming increasingly brutal and sadistic, as he looses his control and sanity. The novel positions Bateman as an unreliable narrator, and one is left with the question of whether he actually committed the crimes that are detailed throughout the story, or whether they are symptomatic imaginings of a delusional psychotic.

According to Bret Easton Ellis, the novel is meant to reflect the consumerist void that he himself had been slipping into, leaving him with a feeling of isolation and alienation. Literary critic Jeffery W. Hunter notes that Batemans acts as if "everything is a commodity, including people," in an attempt to critique the shallow aspects of capitalism. However, in certain countries have deemed the novel worthy of censorship, for its portrayal of violence. In certain countries, AMERICAN PSYCHO can only be purchased in shrink wrap, and cannot be sold to anyone under 18 years of age.

AMERICAN PYSCHO had its world premiere at London's Almedia Theatre in 2013, directed by Rupert Goold, and starring Matt Smith, most well known for DOCTOR WHO. The musical, with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa began previews March 24, 2016 at the Schonefeld, and stars Benjamin Walker as Patrick Bateman, along with Alice Ripley, Jennifer Damiano, and Helene Yorke.

Check out a special preview of AMERICAN PSYCHO

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TUCK EVERLASTING

Author: Natalie Babbitt
Original Publication: 1975
Opening Night: April 26th, 2016

TUCK EVERLASTING may be a children's novel, but it has inspired two feature films and three different unabridged audio books. Its next incarnation will be a Broadway musical.

The book follows 10-year-old Winnie Foster, who discovers the Tuck family hidden away in the woods. They explain to Winnie that they found a spring that grants immortality to anyone who drinks from it, something they discovered accidentally after heading to the Treegap area to start a new life. They live in seclusion and reunite every ten years to drink from the spring. The family is constantly followed by someone only known as the man in the yellow suit, who wants to find out if rumors of the spring and their eternal youth are true, and share their secret with the public.

Winnie is eventually left with the decision whether to drink from the spring and become immortal herself, but live in hiding with the Tucks, or live out her days as a mortal human, but able to live a full life of her own choosing.

TUCK EVERLASTING explores the concept of immortality, and whether or not it is actually as desirable as it may appear.

The musical version of TUCK EVERLASTING made its world premiere at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia in 2015. The show features music by Chris Miller, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The Broadway production began previews March 31, 2016 at the Broadhurst, and stars Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Carolee Carmello, Michael Park, Terrence Mann, and Sarah Charles Lewis as Winnie Foster.

Check out a preview of one of the hit songs from TUCK EVERLASTING, "The Wheel"

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CATS

Author: T. S. Eliot
Original Publication: 1939
Opening Night: August 2nd, 2016

T.S. Eliot originally wrote the poems that would eventually become OLD POSSUM'S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS in the 1930s under the name "Old Possum" and included them in letters to his godchildren. The whimsical poems about the psychology and sociology of cats were collected and published in 1939.

Early adaptations included narrated pieces based on the poems. In 1954, composer Alan Rawsthorne had six of the poems done with a speaker and an orchestra, entitled PRACTICAL CATS. Another composer Humphrey Searle, composed another narrative piece based on the poems entitled TWO PRACTICAL CATS, which was based around the poems of Macavity and Growlitiger.

As many a dedicated theatre fan knows, the poems eventually became the hit musical CATS, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by Trevor Nunn, the most famous adaptation of the poems. The musical premiered in London's West End in 1981, and on Broadway in 1982 where it played the Winter Garden. CATS had been the longest running show in Broadway history, before it was overtaken by another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. As of 2016, CATS is the fourth longest running show in Broadway history.

The musical draws upon many of the poems, including "The Rum Tum Tugger," "Macavity: The Mystery Cat," and "The Song of the Jellicles. CATS also took inspriation from Eliot's unpublished drafts, adding a number of additional characters, including Grizabella.

This summer will welcome the first revival of CATS on Broadway. Performances will begin July 14, 2016 at the Neil Simon.

Check out the trailer from the West End revival of CATS

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