I first cringed when I saw the heading of this thread but having seen the film, I think it could work. The film is dumb silly fun but with a nice message - it’s never too late to let go and enjoy life, so it resonates while giving lots of opportunities to play with the film’s plot and adapt it for the stage. It’s loud and colorful like HAIRSPRAY and I definitely see Wiig and Mumolo doing it on Broadway to get it going and to get the Broadway creds.
I would move into the theatre and never leave. I haven’t laughed at a movie this hard in so long.
Also, -Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Seagull in the Sand -Gavin Creel - Seagull on the Tire -Patti Murin as Talking Club President -Brooks Ashmanskas - Piano Man
I could get into the following playing Barb and Star: Mary Testa Ellen Greene Katie Finneran Kathryn Hahn Annie Golden
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
I LOVE THIS BOARD! I've been trying to figure out how to give a free plug to my new movie BARB AND STAR... and here you guys come and splash it right on the top of the page!
We made this labor of love back in the summer of 2019 mostly in Mexico (locations in Cancun and Mexico City and sets built on stages in CDMX) with a smidge shot in Albuquerque. It should have been even more of a musical than it is-- there's an entire musical finale that was shot on the beach which was cut but will hopefully appear on the dvd. How great it would be to have this show reconceived for Broadway and yes!!! Shaiman and Whitman are the perfect pair to take it on!
I'd only suggest some casting out of the lily white box-- even Nebraska has black folks.
I was thinking Ana Gasteyer paired with Maya Rudolph wouldn’t be too bad
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
I started this thread as a half-parody, half-satire, half-serious, yes, three halves, what of it?
I was about 15 minutes into watching the movie and I thought how funny it would be to smoosh a "What movie would make a good Broadway musical thread?" into a "Dream cast this musical thread!" with pinch of a "Let's talk about this funny movie!" thread, but in a different way than usual.
And let me say, the way you contributors picked it all up and ran with it is just PERFECT. I love all the casting suggestions. Jordan's almost made me aspirate my seltzer, And I too, if I were being more serious about a casting discussion, would definitely make it more diverse, since the locations it's set are pretty diverse.
I thought we might add a Balladeer/Narrator/Mysterious Man who becomes the Damon Wayans's character, Darlie Bunkle.
^^ Yes he must! Great idea. In fact Darley Bunkle and Edgar shared an extended scene that was cut— a meet-up in a Pizzeria, home of the 4’ pie, where elaborate Rube Goldberg gags ensued culminating in a pizza paddle flinging a 4’ pie across the room. Can’t wait to watch it on the dvd one day.
Namo I adore how your put-on thread grew into a damn good suggestion I’ll take to my buddies at Lionsgate!
I know this is all just in good fun, but this thread does have me seriously thinking about it:
The problem with a Barb & Star stage musical is that it's almost...too intuitive? I think that sometimes movies come out that just scream "musical theatre!" but then they lose their charm when they actually are adapted. The campy, theatrical elements of Barb & Star mostly work because they're on film - a medium that usually bends toward realism. That contrast allows the ridiculous comedy to land more easily (this is why, IMO, the Mamma Mia movie is worlds better than the stage show). If Barb & Star were transplanted to the stage as-is, it would probably just read like a run-of-the-mill, substance-less musical comedy - and the humor would almost certainly feel like a flat mockery of the film.
In order to make it work, they'd have to dial-up the camp factor several notches, and you'd need the best comedic actors/creatives in the business to pull it off. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you'd have to be very careful about who you hire, and how they approach it. And they would really have to make it their own.
IMO, Shaiman and Whitman are not up to the task at all. They're way too bland. They would just write a bunch of basic, upbeat songs that have a lot of energy, but no character. I'd love to see Rachel Bloom do it - she can even write the book too. As for the director, I would go with Margot Bordelon - she has yet to work on Broadway, but she's very well-established Off-Broadway. And this kind of project is right up her alley: she's incredibly skilled at capturing very specific, slightly weird, silly-but-smart comedic tones.
Vulture asked Jamie Dornan about the singing he has done, including in our new fave, "Barb and Star," and if he's considered doing a musical.
Jamie Dornan: I was meant to do a musical this year, and some things happened and I had to pull out of it. I always say that I can sing as much as any other douchey actor guy. We can all sing a bit.
Is there a better opening to a movie than a chubby baby gay lip syncing Guilty while making coin on his paper route?
NO. NO THERE ISN'T AND DON'T BRING UP ALL THAT JAZZ JUST SHUT RIGHT UP RIGHT NOW.
The husband and I watched this last night and I kept shrieking 'THIS IS SO STUPID' while gasping for air through my guffaws. Not only did this pick up our moods, it made us long for vacation (Disney in June God willing).
Oh...and I'm offer only for the Michael Hitchcock track.
Oh man it’s funny you asked that! I was having that conversation with a friend today, how this is the first movie in years that I can see being an actual cult classic where people shout out to the screen.
I need to know if Wiig and Mumolo knew exactly what they were writing when they wrote this.