Story you've always wanted to see become a musical?

[Alex Kulak2]

What source material, (book, play, movie, painting, etc.) have you always wanted to see adapted into a stage musical?

 

Might just be the Chicagoan in me talking, but I always thought Ferris Bueller would make a fun musical...

[carolinaguy]

I think the Doris Day/Rock Hudson film Pillow Talk would make a sensational musical. Annaleigh Ashford in the Day role, Hugh Jackman in the Rock role, Andrew Rannells in the Tony Randall role, and Linda Lavin in the Thelma Ritter role.

[BarnabyTucker]

"Imitation of Life" (1959 film) with music and lyrics by JRB

Written as a star vehicle for Patina Miller and Kelli O'Hara

Directed by Bart Sher, and Produced by LCT

[dramamama611]

THE PRINCESS BRIDE.  (I mean, c'mon. I've been pretty patient, this is LOOONG overdue.)

[Ranger Tom]

^^^Princess Bride - most definitely.  Would love to see Quiet Man.  I think Irving's Hotel New Hampshire would make an amazing musical.  

[christinelavin]

The novella "Lucy Gayheart" by Willa Cather.  The actress Joanne Woodward would re-read this book every year -- it was her dream to turn it into a film (which is a brilliant idea).  She loves this book so much that years back she booked herself into Symphony Space two nights in a row and simply read the book aloud (and both nights sold out).  

The reason why I think it would make a great musical -- it is set in the heartland (Haverford, Nebraska and Chicago, IL) at the turn of the 20th century. Lucy, the ingenue, is 21, a rehearsal pianist who plays for a famous opera singer, a baritone named Clement Sebastian, who is 49.  Harry Gordon, 26, a banker, loves Lucy and assumes they will eventually marry, but she starts falling in love with Clement.  There is also Lucy's older sister, a plain spinster who is envious of Lucy, Sebastian's concert pianist, a sour young man who despises Lucy.  

There's a singer I think would make a striking Sebastian -- William Michals, who was in the ensemble of "Bright Star," but really stepped out when he was the standby for Emile DeBecque in Lincoln Center's "South Pacific."  He's the perfect age range, perfect looks, and voice (baritone) to play Clement Sebastian.  

If this intrigues you, you can download a kindle version of Lucy Gayheart right now.  I could also send you an outline of the book (contains spoilers) to see why it could make a wonderful musical -- and eventually film.

Joanne W told me she is too old now to direct, so she's given up that dream -- but someone should pick this dream up and run with it.  

Think about Joanne Woodward -- what a first rate actress she's been her whole career.  This is her favorite book.  Google Mel Gussow with her name and New York Times and read for yourself what she always wanted to do.  Someone should do this.  Maybe you?

[Call_me_jorge]

Down with love, princess diaries, milk and I'll echo the princess bride. I've also always imagined a play adaption of the boy in striped pajamas. 

[Wildcard]

A Madonna musical

[Dollypop]

I always wanted Jerry Herman to write the score for a musical version of Arsenic and Old Lace. My dream cast would have been Angela Lansbury and Carol Channing as the Brewster Sisters and Eric McCormick as Mortimer.

[darquegk]

I'm working on a musical based on "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" with composer Alex Reed (best known for his work with darkwave/synthpop bands ThouShaltNot and Seeming); I'm also in development as lyricist/librettist for a musical based on Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda." Those were always on my "somebody should do" list; exposure I got from being attached to a NYMF show enabled me to network my way to doing these with credible collaborators.

 

In terms of "not me, but somebody should," I think there's meat in the story of Hugh Hefner in the 1950s and 1960s, battling homophobia, sexism and censorship while being accused of sexism and exploitation himself.

[JennH]

Princess Bride was supposed to happen back in the day actually. It was all announced, slated, and ready to open in San Francisco back when but I think some crazy legal **** went down and that run was canceled and it became one of those indefinitely postponed/forever in purgatory shows. Sad but true story. 

[icecreambenjamin]

JennH said: "Princess Bride was supposed to happen back in the day actually. It was all announced, slated, and ready to open in San Francisco back when but I think some crazy legal **** went down and that run was canceled and it became one of those indefinitely postponed/forever in purgatory shows. Sad but true story. 

 

"

What makes it hurt even more was that it was composed by Adam Guettel, so I'm sure that it would've been stunning.

 

[NOWaWarning]

The Yellow Wallpaper 

[Sondheim_Disney1595]

I've always wanted to see a musical of Jean Ryhs novel Wide Saragossa Sea!

Would love to see John Doyle helm

[icecreambenjamin]

Fried Green Tomatoes 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Dale Wasserman's script could be musicalized very well.  I actually wish that Sondheim had written it).

Moonrise Kingdom

Carol

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Mary and Max

[JennH]

icecreambenjamin said: "JennH said: "Princess Bride was supposed to happen back in the day actually. It was all announced, slated, and ready to open in San Francisco back when but I think some crazy legal **** went down and that run was canceled and it became one of those indefinitely postponed/forever in purgatory shows. Sad but true story. 

 

"

What makes it hurt even more was that it was composed by Adam Guettel, so I'm sure that it would've been stunning.

 

 

"

UUGHHHHHHH right?!?!

[whatdoesntkillme]

I think The Devil Wears Prada could make a fun pop musical. 

I also think a musical expansion of Peter and the Starcatcher could be interesting. 

[funhamilton_rent]

whatdoesntkillme said: "I think The Devil Wears Prada could make a fun pop musical. 

I also think a musical expansion of Peter and the Starcatcher could be interesting. 

 

"

The story of Harambe

 

[Another Winter]

I found the story of Big Eyes to be incredibly interesting and I think could make a great musical. The courtroom scene/paint off is just so incredible and I think it would be a show stopping number!

[kristinj1]

Anything that helps address the persistent shortage of work for actresses, since 2/3 of paid acting work still goes to males.  I suppose this imbalance must primarily be corrected through new material, unless people are ready for female Mormon missionaries, newsies, baseball players, etc.  I am truly disappointed every time a new show perpetuates this trend.

If I had any writing talents I'd happily pitch in.

[HopesS]

The Story of Walt Disney

A  musical of Simón_Bolívar

Pocahontas 

Chris Columbus the Musical



I always thought Spotlight would make a terrific play

[bwayboy22]

These are both already musicals, but I'd love to see them adapted for the stage:

For the Boys (starring either Stephanie J. Block or Carmen Cusack and Norbert Leo Butz)

Yentl (starring Jessie Mueller directed by Barbra?)

 

 

[broadwayguy91]

I know the Geography Club already has a straight play adaptation , but I would love to see a musical version of it starring Jason Gotay . Music and lyrics by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron

[Elfuhbuh]

Something based off of the Carmilla novella, set to a symphonic metal score.

[songanddanceman2]

Call_me_jorge said: "Down with love, princess diaries, milk and I'll echo the princess bride. I've also always imagined a play adaption of the boy in striped pajamas. 

 

"

A play version of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas already exists.