Fantod said: "The problem with pop stars writing musicals is that they have no real concept of narrative storytelling. Songs nowadays have lyrics that lean towards the abstract (does anybody even know what The Deep is or how one could Roll in it?)."
"Rolling deep" means to be bad@ss, in a threatening way. Usually, it refers to a group of people (i.e. roll meaning "move through life", like in "that's how I roll", and deep referring to a larger amount/quantity. When an individual rolls deep, they are traveling in a larger group that usually dresses and acts threateningly, or thuggish.
According to Urban Dictionary, "The whole rationale behind the concept of rolling deep lies in the age old adage. "Strength in numbers," or something along those lines, although rolling deep by no means requires a large group or backup posse."
I completely agree with you regarding pop stars and narrative storytelling. It's one thing to write a really good "short story" that lasts for 4 minutes, but very different to create a score, with cohesive melodic themes and is integrated into the book.
As most have already said, I think Pink could write a spectacular set of songs for a musical. She writes most of her own music and it's not only infectious, but also very personal and relatable. Her last couple of albums have been cohesive and have told storied from start to finish. If any modern pop star would be perfect for the job, I think it would be Pink.
As far as bio-musicals, I have always though a Britney musical would be fantastic too. Just such a crazy and fascinating story full of ups and downs. Can you imagine someone playing Britney circa 2007 and then building back up to the mega pop star she was eventually reborn into? I'm definitely here for that, although we all know her camp would never allow it.
Interesting songwriters who write interesting songs can find their own way to interpret what musical theatre is. Look at Sara Bareilles, who wrote a fairly conventional musical, versus Duncan Sheik, who wrote an impressionistic score more lyrically indebted to the abstraction of Anthony Newley's and Kurt Weill's concept shows than to conventional narrative-driven musical theatre. Or look again at Pete Townshend and his successor Billie Joe Armstrong, who write rock operas made up of dense, stream-of-consciousness internal monologues.
All of these have been creative and popular successes. None of them are that rooted in "just writing the three minute pop song and putting it onstage." In fact, the closest one to that form is Bareilles's "Waitress," which is also the most traditional musical of the bunch.
Mike Costa said: "I would like theater music to be written by theater composers who study the art form and understand that writing a pop song is nothing like writing for a character or arc of a story or the sounds a voice can make in the theater.
Just because I can cut a piece of steak it does not mean I am a surgeon. Surgeons prepare and study many years.
Sadly, we are losing the art form with pop music writers and movie actors on our Broadway stages. The producers and theater owners have pretty much won since this is what brings in the masses with their cell phones and sippy cups."
Mike, I'm not sure I can tell how you really feel. Care to elaborate more for us?
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned FAB-U-LOUS Cher yet; this has been and continues to be a possibility. Rick Elise has been working on a book and story. He had to postpone work on the show to care for Roger Rees, his husband. This sounds like definitely not a "Vegas" show with three actresses playing Cher at different times in her life. ( or Turn Back Time).
I can't remember where I read this, but just the thought of the costumes alone would employ half the Garment District!
They could make a Spider-Man turn off the dark 2 and bring tom holland back to the theatre and have him make his Broadway debut.
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Sadly, we are losing the art form with pop music writers and movie actors on our Broadway stages.
No, we're not. Sadly, it sounds like your prejudice is clouding your awareness of Broadway and its history, both recent and past. I do find it amusing that you mention an "art form" while casually suggesting its censorship with regard to a highly diverse and commercial venue like Broadway.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
I imagine that John Flansburgh and John Linnell and the rest of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS could write a really good theatrical score; like Tim Minchin, they have a great facility with words, a sense of wit, and are adept with melodic and harmonic invention, things that I think are musts for a musical theatre writer.
I think Darren Criss could easily write a good musical. He's already written a couple with Starkid albeit on an amateur level. He's known for his songwriting; has an Emmy nom for song he wrote on Glee and he's got his Bfa in theatre. A solid foundation I'd say. All he would need is a good collaborator for the book...
The Two Johns had written a multi-song score for the movie "Coraline" that was discarded. Other than "A Song About Coraline," which the Other Father performs at his mechanized piano, none of it was used and I'm not sure if it was ever released.