The Princess Bride

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:05am

Disney Theatrical Productions is working on a Princess Bride musical with David Yazbek and Rick Elice!!! Any thoughts, dreamcasts, etc.?

[vampire musical]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:10am

They've been working on it for YEARS. Like over a decade. I think Adam Guettel was attached as the composer back in 2005-2007. Not sure how many composers they've gone through. But it's somewhat encouraging they made an annoucement about it (again). 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:18am

How weird!  Just this morning I was wondering whether the Guettel/ Goldman could now move forward with the estate involved rather than personal egos.

Much as I like David Yazbek, I think the former writing team sounded more interesting.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:22am

I'm not sure Guettel was ever the right fit for this material. 

[BritCrit]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:26am

It's early days, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is brought into Broadway when Aladdin and/or Frozen run out of steam - I can see one or both of those closing before April 2021, and The Princess Bride should be ready to replace them by that point. The Princess Bride is one of the most quotable movies ever made - I'd especially love to hear Vizzini's "Inconceivable" song.... 

I'm interested to know how Disney acquired the rights to this. I get that they now own the original due to their acquisition of 20th Century Fox, but how did they gain the ability to do the musical version?

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:28am

O. MY. GOD. I'm so happy this is happening.

[JennH]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:46am

vampire musical said: "They've been working on it for YEARS. Like over a decade. I think Adam Guettel was attached as the composer back in 2005-2007. Not sure how many composers they've gone through. But it's somewhat encouraging they made an annoucement about it (again)."

Exactly this. I was still in high school when the world premiere production in San Fran was supposed to happen, I remember that very well. It was announced as indefinitely cancelled a bit before premiering. Ha, funny enough, Ever After went through/possibly still going though a similar process, hence why it took so long to get to the stage at all, and why it's only had two productions in it's over decade long journey. 

Glad to see to see P.B. is supposedly back on track. I don't know who the right composers would be, as I could never see exactly what style of music would be best for this, but I always thought with the right support, Guettel would have been great. My issue is...is this the right subject for the stage in 2019? I love the movie for it's odd duck, twisted fairy tale, don't get me wrong, but its heroine still isn't entirely active in her role in the plot. She has a mind of her own and willing to speak out about it, but doesn't actually DO much, as it's still male driven. Either way, I'm curious as to where this will lead.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:02pm

From Broadway Briefing:  "Disney Theatrical’s upcoming musical adaptation of “The Princess Bride” came to the company via Alan Horn, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, who was involved in the making of the 1987 film." The original film was released by 20th Century Fox, though Disney has been involved since long before the Fox acquisition (going back to at least 2013, probably because of Horn).

I believe the original issue involved a contract dispute with William Goldman, who wanted an unusually high percentage of the authors' pool for writing the musical's book, the screenplay, and the novel.

The funny thing is, this is the second time an Adam Guettel project went to David Yazbek:  Guettel was originally tapped to write The Full Monty and felt he wasn't right, so he suggested his pal Yazbek.

ANOTHER THOUGHT: The involvement of two established bookwriters makes me wonder if they've already been working on it for a while and one was "brought in" later than the other...it would seem odd for them to be collaborating from the start.

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 12:02 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:03pm

JennH said: "Glad to see to see P.B. is supposedly back on track. I don'tknow who the right composers would be, as I could never see exactly what style of music would be best for this, but I always thought with the right support, Guettel would have been great. My issue is...is this the right subject for the stage in 2019? I love the moviefor it's odd duck, twisted fairy tale, don't get me wrong, but its heroine still isn't entirely active in her role in the plot. She has a mind of her own and willing to speak out about it, but doesn't actually DO much, as it's still male driven.Either way, I'm curious as to where this will lead."

I hope a woman director is hired, at least, to address some of these valid concerns. 

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 12:03 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:10pm

Are all male directors sexist?  Thanks- I hadn't realized.

[Kitsune]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:10pm

I wonder if any of the principal tracks will cover multiple characters? Vizzini and Miracle Max are both really memorable, but in the movie don't have much screen time.

For casting, I'd love Andy Karl as Count Rugen.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:14pm

devonian.t said: "Are all male directors sexist? Thanks- I hadn't realized."

Yes, that is a totally reasonable, not at all hyperbolic thing to extrapolate from what I said. 

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 12:14 PM

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:30pm

I think this creative team could be a very good match for the material. I look forward to seeing what becomes of it.

that having been said, if Adam Guettel's involvement is truly over, can we at least get some snippets of what he wrote for it? Or for that matter, anything he's written for anything else, like his score for Mockingbird? It's been 20 years since I fell in love with Floyd Collins, followed shortly thereafter by Saturn Returns/Myths & Hymns, then waited patiently for A Light in the Piazza, only to go a dozen years without anything new. You're killing me here, Adam! Seriously, if anyone has anything, PM me, please!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 12:37pm

Yazbek is a great fit for this!  Very excited!

[magictodo123]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 2:31pm

Not a dream cast but I do know Patti Murin has expressed interest in doing this musical with her husband.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 3:18pm

I'm really pumped about Yazbek for this, and personally think he's a way better fit for the style and tone of Princess Bride than Guettel. God, he's going to have an absolute field day with Fessik's rhymes. 

(Also, as a woman, I will say that I couldn't care less what gender the director is, as long as they do a good job.)

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 4:07pm

Oh yes! I LOVE The Princess Bride, and I think it would do very well on stage.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 4:28pm

Hate to sound like a broken record, but I could see Alex Timbers directing this.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 7:33pm

JennH said: "vampire musical said: "They've been working on it for YEARS. Like over a decade. I think Adam Guettel was attached as the composer back in 2005-2007. Not sure how many composers they've gone through. But it's somewhat encouraging they made an annoucement about it (again)."

Exactly this. I was still in high school when the world premiereproduction in San Fran was supposed to happen, I remember that very well. It was announced as indefinitely cancelled a bit before premiering.Ha, funny enough, Ever After went through/possibly still going though a similar process,hence why it took so long to get to the stage at all, and whyit's only had two productions in it's over decade long journey.

Glad to see to see P.B. is supposedly back on track. I don'tknow who the right composers would be, as I could never see exactly what style of music would be best for this, but I always thought with the right support, Guettel would have been great. My issue is...is this the right subject for the stage in 2019? I love the moviefor it's odd duck, twisted fairy tale, don't get me wrong, but its heroine still isn't entirely active in her role in the plot. She has a mind of her own and willing to speak out about it, but doesn't actually DO much, as it's still male driven.Either way, I'm curious as to where this will lead."

They could go back to Goldman's novel. The princess there is surprisingly headstrong and active, even to the point of delightful, practical selfishness. She is the opposite of a Disney princess (except for her beauty). Despite the excellent actress, the princess in the film in a Hollywood creation, fated to do nothing but stand around and be beautiful.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 8:01pm

Apparently a workshop will be held this spring... “While work on a musical version of The Princess Bride continues (a workshop will be held this spring).” Anyone have more info on this? Like casting and whatnot?