Ryan Murphy Set To Adapt A CHORUS LINE

[Jordan Catalano]

TEN PARTS???  Why...?

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ryan-Murphy-To-Bring-A-CHORUS-LINE-Patti-LuPone-and-More-To-Netflix-20190903

[BrodyFosse123]

It's about the development of A CHORUS LINE, hence the 10-parts.  If you read the countless books on the history of the show, it went thru an extensive workshop period.  Just the initial midnight meetings that prompted the creation of A CHORUS LINE could cover 3-episodes alone.  Plus, all the hoopla that surrounded the show once it arrived on Broadway and the crap the original cast had to endure (selling the rights to their likeliness for $1 while Bloomingdales was selling beach towels and clothing with them on the logo), could cover 2 episodes or more.  Read the books, folks.  There was a lot more to A CHORUS LINE than what was performed on stage.   

[Jordan Catalano]

Where did it say in the article it’s going to be about the making of it? The article says
“Murphy is also developing a ten-part miniseries of the classic musical, A Chorus Line!”

[BrodyFosse123]

I'm auditioning for the role of Donna McKechnie/Cassie so I've read the audition sides.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Then broadwayworld needs to get their info straight before releasing press releases like this.

And wait - you’re a woman??

[Valentina3]

This exchange above was hilarious.

I have always wanted Sutton Foster to play the lead in a movie remake of A Chorus Line so here's hoping BrodyFosse123 is actually Sutton and gets the part.

Anyone going to audition for this, or working in the creative team in anyway should definitely read On The Line by Viagas, Lee, and Walsh! I love that book.

[everythingtaboo]

To be fair to BWW, the original Time Magazine profile says this:

"He’s adapting two Broadway musicals for the screen: A Chorus Line will unfold as a 10-part miniseries, and The Prom, a feature, will star Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. "

[Jordan Catalano]

But even that doesn’t say it’s about the making of the show.

[sabrelady]

Variety quoting Time magazine-

Murphy told Time that he has projects in the works that include: a 10-episode adaptation of “A Chorus Line,” a series about the designer Halston starring Ewan McGregor, a documentary series about Andy Warhol, and a Marlene Dietrich project that will star frequent Murphy collaborator Jessica Lange.

 

So not a documentary. Can they  really open up the audition back stories THAT much? I mean even if one episode is Zach and Cassie and one is Paul's ( which will totally gut his monologue IMHO)  that leaves 8 episodes. Plus did they not learn from the film this is best in a live medium? Hey I can see it done just not particularly well. Still it will employ a ton o peoples.

[seahag2]

Who is more interested in a dramatic adaptation/retelling over a high quality, in-depth 10 part documentary? Genuinely curious... 

[ClapYo'Hands]

Could this be like Fosse/Verdon, but just about A Chorus Line?

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

More tonally all over the place, soap operaey weirdly edited schlock coming from Ryan Murphy oh joy....

Can’t ANYONE else helm theatre properties on film? Like whyyy does it always have to be him?

He is the walking definition of “jack of all trades master of none”

[BrodyFosse123]

Can’t ANYONE else helm theatre properties on film? Like whyyy does it always have to be him?

Obviously not.  He’s an enormous fan of Broadway plus Hollywood and just about anything really, therefore he creates any project he wishes as no one else is.  The huge success his projects have received, from viewership to critical acclaim has given him the industry credibility that he can produce anything he wishes and since EVERYONE wants to work on his projects, he can get anyone he wants just by the asking.  There are many Broadway productions we have to thank him for getting off the ground.  Most notably the recent Broadway production of THE BOYS IN THE BAND.  Only he could have been able to put a cast together like that AND the clout to having it put on film now.  

[joevitus]

seahag2 said: "Who is more interested in a dramatic adaptation/retelling overa high quality, in-depth 10 part documentary? Genuinely curious..."

Not me. But really, A Chorus Line was great in its original production, the revival was mediocre and there are enough books/documentaries to make any further documentaries unnecessary.

What Murphy is almost surely doing is neither a remake of the show nor an actual documentary but a docudrama like The People Vs. O.J. Simpson. And he shouldn't. But he probably will. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Well, I guess it's the time of the season for ****ty ideas for adapting musicals to the big or small screen...

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

And I say MAY THE BROADWAY GODS BLESS YOU Ryan Murphy!!...

[darquegk]

If it's a dramatic miniseries expansion of the show's inherent concept, it's going to feel like a mediocre dramatization of reality television. Consider the structure that makes ACL work: "a diverse group of performers trying to get their break, while being simultaneously auditioned and interrogated from a seat in the house by an inscrutable, cold but not entirely unfeeling industry insider."  Some variation on this exact drama plays out two nights a week, but the man in the house is Simon Cowell.

[ImaginaryManticore]

Nooooooo please can he not do this! This sounds exactly like the adaptation I've wanted to see, but I don't think Ryan Murphy's work is good enough for it.

I think drama like Fosse/Verdon but for A Chorus Line could be extremely effective. It could work as both a backstage drama and also a screen adaptation of A Chorus Line. You can find parallels and contrasts in the songs and the real-life creation, but you have to stay true to the original actors' intentions and wishes. I've thought about this a lot. 

One thing that confuses me is, isn't this a copyright nightmare? The cast famously sold their life stories on the tapes to the producers for a dollar, but I was under the impression that other valuable backstory records, such as the book On The Line, were more carefully copyright protected. Wouldn't that mean they'd need to avoid some of that material completely or get permission from everyone?

[Tennis Fan]

I wonder if this miniseries will discuss ACL's film version?

[Steven A2]

Well the first teaser video preview is coming together nicely as inspired by posts here:


They said it couldn't be done.
They said it shouldn't be done.
Especially by him.

But it can.
And he did.

Ryan Murphy presents "God, They Just Don't Get It," his epic 10-part series on A Chorus Line (and maybe even the making of it.) He puts it all on the line for that time when they got to stand on the line.

But one question will have to remain unanswered:
Where will the BWW message board posters draw the line?

[Steven A2]

Maybe he'll do one episode with song lyrics updated for contemporary times:

Everything was beautiful on my Instagram
Photoshopped and filtered just so right

What I Did for Likes

Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello TikTok

[Iclick]

I don’t always love everything he does, but at least he is creating some very progressive content. I think he has a strong point of view and he uses it to make content he wants.

[SweetLips22]

JCs pissed because he didn't get the scoop first from all his Broadway friends.

Who cares how it's approached--it's in the 'planning stages' and will change repeatedly.

I'd like the back story of each individual embellished so they almost get a full episode before they merge into the group--everything fragmented until the presentation on that line.

[Steven A2]

SweetLips22 said: "JCs pissed because he didn't get the scoop first from all his Broadway friends.

Who cares how it's approached--it's in the 'planning stages' and will change repeatedly.

I'd like the back story of each individual embellished so they almost get a full episode before they merge into the group--everything fragmented until the presentation on that line."

This does seem like one of the more likely approaches and as you note, could be interesting.

[darquegk]

Very "Orange Is the New Black."