Ryan Murphy talks THE PROM, A CHORUS LINE limited series, and GEORGIA MCBRIDE adaptation for Netflix

[jacobsnchz14]

DEADLINE:  Did you say you are doing a new film version of A Chorus Line? The original movie was not a critical or commercial hit.

MURPHY:  Yeah. We’re trying a different approach with that, which we’re trying to do A Chorus Line as a limited series for Netflix. My favorite Broadway director of all time, producer, whatever, is Michael Bennett. So, it’s going to be A Chorus Line with all that wonderful music, but also the idea of how did he make A Chorus Line?  And the thing that I was always very fascinated by, he did it for the love of the craft, and he took out a little office in Times Square and he took gypsies into those rooms and said tell me about your lives, and from those interview sessions came the music, and so I got the rights to all of those interviews. I have all of those tapes. I have all of that material about how was ‘What I Did For Love’, what is that about? How was ‘Dance: Ten, Looks: Three?’  So that’s a very interesting process that I’m going to start working on next year. I haven’t started that one yet but you know, I want to keep doing it. I’m doing another musical called The Legend Of Georgia McBride, also for Netflix, which is written by Matthew Lopez, who just wrote The Inheritance, and I’m producing that with Jim Parsons. So I have a passion for it, and I think people love musicals. I love that phrase ‘if you can’t say it, sing it’. I think there’s something very magical about that.

Full interview

[DaveyG]

Very encouraged to read this about THE PROM movie from Pete Hammond for Deadline:

I got the opportunity to see the film version a few weeks ago just as Murphy was finishing it, and it not only matches the stage show for pure entertainment, it tops it. This is a return to musicals the way Hollywood used to regularly turn them out in its Golden Era, and with a name cast at the very height of their games it will put a smile on a lot of faces this season, just as it is needed most. If you ask me it also is a real awards contender, not just at the Golden Globes where it could dominate its Comedy/Musical category, but also at the Oscars where voters just might have had enough of dark stories or molasses-paced indies, and want to see something instead that might light up their spirits in these dreary times. It is too bad it can’t be widely seen in theaters, because this is the kind of film that would be a blast to share with a big crowd. Nevertheless, this is likely to be a huge hit for Netflix, no question.

[Jordan Levinson]

Don't want to jump to any conclusions, but it sure sounds like we will get ourselves one of the best (if not the best) stage-to-screen musical adaptations since Hairspray. 12/11 cannot come soon enough!!!

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

So. Wait. I wanna see if I am getting this right as this is the first time I'm hearing about it. This Chorus Line limited series is going to be like.... the making of A Chorus Line? Like a look into the world of chorus dancers that inspired the musical... about the world of chorus dancers? 

I am.... strangely here for that.

[ACL2006]

Sounds like it. plus having actors do all the songs throughout the series. Maybe he has the material to do the cut numbers as well.

[sparksatmidnight]

I'm thinking maybe each episode will focus on one of the dancers, and the episode will revolve around the actual story (with trademarked Ryan Murphy touches, of course) that is behind their songs on the musical, and sing it at the end of the episode.

[BrodyFosse123]

The majority of the characters of A CHORUS LINE are composites of several people so it’s impossible to focus on a single dancer who’s story is being told by a character. A large part of Donna McKechnie’s life is in the Sheila character not just Cassie. Plus, many dancers in the original cast are not playing roles based on their own lives. Pamela Blair played Val, who is based on dancer Mitzi Hamilton and Richie is based on dancer Candy Brown, etc. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Since he seems intent on making it a full series, what could be a potentially cool idea is to do a "making of" style series leading up to opening night, and then have the series finale just be a full performance of the show itself.

[FosseTharp]

AEA AGMA SM said: "Since he seems intent on making it a full series, what could be a potentially cool idea is to do a "making of" style series leading up to opening night, and then have the series finale just be a full performance of the show itself."


That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been hoping they would do.  

[SouthernCakes]

Do we think Parsons will play the older drag queen role?

[Musical Master]

So glad to hear that The Prom might turn out to be really good, we need a really good musical film adaptation after the horror that was called Cats. I would love the miniseries to take on a Fosse/Verdon path and be about Michael Bennett and the people that inspired the creation of A Chorus Line. I'd watch it.

[vonmar]

SouthernCakes said: "Do we think Parsons will play the older drag queen role?"

According to Playbill " Jim Parsons is attached to star as seasoned drag queen Miss Tracy Mills, who helps a young Elvis impersonator become a popular contemporary."

 

[SouthernCakes]

Makes sense! Blanking on the guys name from Off/Broadway who had me rolling!!! Matt something? But I goes ya need a star.

[NOWaWarning]

The Chorus Line project always sounded like a Fosse/Verdon-esque series about the making of the show to me.