They turned that into a musical?
They turned that into a musical?
#1They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 7:40pmI'm looking to create a course for an advanced program I'm teaching in this summer called "They turned that into a muscial?" My inspiration is "Next to Normal." The campus where I will be teaching is close enough that I could take my students to see The Muny's production of "Titanic." I'm looking for other musicals we might study and/or listen to that also answer that question. Suggestions?
#2They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 7:50pm
What "question" are you implying? They turned that into a musical? I would assume from the two choices you picked your looking for shows that are somewhat depressing, for lack of a better word. There are a ton of those types of shows.
In a non-snarky way, what is the purpose of this course?
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#2They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 7:55pm
"I would assume from the two choices you picked your looking for shows that are somewhat depressing, for lack of a better word."
Or shows that one can't imagine onstage, but they actually happened...like Titanic?
What about Lion King?
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#3They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 7:58pm
The purpose of the course is to explore topics that seem to defy "musicalization," such as bipolar disorder or the tragedy of a sinking ship.
Updated On: 2/16/10 at 07:58 PM
#4They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:12pm
How about a musical in which private bathrooms are illegal and the punishment for peeing in the bushes is death?
Or one about a murderous barber and a baker who turns his victims into meat pies?
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
Updated On: 2/16/10 at 08:12 PM
#5They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:17pm
Thank you D2! That is a great suggestion. Had not thought of "Urinetown," but I think it successfully answers the question as does "Sweeney Todd."
Updated On: 2/16/10 at 08:17 PM
#6They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:35pmMy Fair Lady is another example. Shaw's verbose comedy of manners made a fairly romantic musical? Hope this helps. I've had My Fair Lady on my mind lately, so perhaps that's why it came to my head right away.
#7They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:46pm
Yes jv92 it does. Had not thought of "My Fair Lady" since it is such a mainstream musical, but textually it does seem to "defy musicalization."
Updated On: 2/16/10 at 08:46 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#8They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:54pm
The British are great at taking off beat subjects & turning them into musicals
Some of their better efforts are:
Mutiny - Mutiny On The Bounty
A Clockwork Orange
Metropolis
Poster Emeritus
#9They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 8:58pm
Almost everything ALW ever wrote other than POTO.
Godspell
#10They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 9:06pm
Thank you, sidneybruhl, that was a little bit like what I was thinking but I didn't have the words and wasn't sure. What you said also makes sense Millie. The better word for what I was trying to say was dark. Typically dark subject matters make for show that "defy musicalization."
Spring Awakening might be one.
#11They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 9:10pmbyebyebaby, I disagree. I think Sunset Boulevard is perfect fodder for a musical.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#12They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 9:13pm
givesmevoice- Oh yes, for some reason when I was running his shows through my head, I forgot that one.
AwesomeDanny
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/30/09
#13They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 9:43pm
Gypsy--the early life of a stripper
Hair--Hippies protesting Vietnam
Spelling Bee--well, a Spelling bee
Rent--although it's based on an opera, it involves people with drug addictions and AIDS
#14They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:01pm
Grey Gardens. Two reclusive cat ladies living in squalor.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
ifuweregay93
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/06
#15They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:02pmFalsettos comes to mind, for some reason.
#16They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:05pm
Pacific Overtures- the opening of Japan to foreign trade in the 19th century.
Little Shop of Horrors- an adaptation of a B-movie from the 60s about a carnivorous plant being fed human flesh by a nebbish. NOWADAYS that doesn't seem so crazy, but this musical started that fad. And is still the best.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#17They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:12pmOld Possum's Book of Practical Cats
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#18They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:22pm
Floyd Collins - based on a story of a Kentucky man who gets trapped in a cave
#19They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:48pm
Not on Broadway (yet) but
Scottsboro Boys
12 African American boys fight to prove their innocence after being wrongfully accused of raping two white prostitutes. They were treated horribly and only 3 were found not guilty. Charged in 1931, the one remaining defendant was pardoned in 1988, the rest lead troubled lives after being released from prison.
Sounds like a light-hearted romp.
Give me a bottle of bourbon and half a chicken and I'll conquer the world!
KirbyCat
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/08
#20They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 10:57pm
Der Hindenberg- A Musical Comedy
(about the Hindenberg...)
#21They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 11:03pmYeah Starlight Express - The characters are supposed to be trains (BTW I love the musical) Assassins- The characters are famous assassins. Parade- Child murder?
#22They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 11:44pmThe first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of this thread is, "Doonesbury".
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#23They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/16/10 at 11:56pmYes, good one Xman8 - Assassins is a perfect: "a musical about US Presidential assassins"? Assassins has got to be one of the absolute best "worst" ideas that ever made a great musical
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#24They turned that into a musical?
Posted: 2/17/10 at 12:07am
My first thoughts were: Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd and Parade.
My Fair Lady has various anecdotes of composers trying to musicalize it and giving up before it finally came to stage.
