Many plays and musicals have been made into movies, like Chicago, West Side Story, Mamma Mia!, Sound of Music. Yet going the other way, from film to stage is another matter.
Classic movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon find new life on the stage.
In honor of the opening of the new musical of Creature from the Black Lagoon at Universal Studios, M&C offers a list, in no particular order, of movies made into stage productions. Some have changes which may have been made to the shows.
First off, Universal Studios Hollywood opens its musical take on the 1954 classic B-movie thriller Creature from the Black Lagoon this July 1. The 25-minute Creature from the Black Lagoon - A Raging Rockin' Show includes an original score and choreography in a lively Broadway-style production.
All the characters are featured including the 25-foot tall The Creature ("Gill"), scientist Kay, expedition leader Mark, analytical scientist and Kay's fiance David, Captina Miranda, A Cook and an impressive ship, The Rita.
The dangerous and mysterious Amazon will be brought to life through special effects, great sets and surround sound. Audiences will be in for quite a ride.
The list:
Legally Blonde the movie 2001, Legally Blonde --The Musical 2007
Legally Blonde, the movie, starred Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, sorority president of Delta Nu at UCLA, dumped by her boyfriend Werner because he needs someone more serious. When he goes off to Harvard Law School and gets back together with an old flame, Elle decides to go Harvard too, to win him back.
Legally Blonde - The Musical, opened on Broadway, April 29, 2007. It kept to the movie's plot. The show features music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin; and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. It's based on the book by Amanda Brown and the 2001 movie. The musical starred Laura Bell Bundy in the original Broadway cast.
Young Frankenstein the movie 1974, Young Frankenstein the musical, 2007
Young Frankenstein aka The New Mel Books Musical Young Frankenstein, was based on the 1974 comedy movie written by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, directed by Brooks. It's a parody of classic 1930s horror movies based on adaptation of Mary Shelley's book "Frankenstein," that were produced by Universal Studios.
Brooks also wrote the music and lyrics; and the book with Thomas Meehan. The show opened on Broadway, Nov. 8, 2007. It was directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, and starred Roger Bart as Frankenstein, Megan Mullally, Elizabeth; Christopher Fitzgerald, Igor; Sutton Foster, Inga, Andrea Martin, Frau Blucher, Shuler Hensley, The Monster, and Fred Applegate, Inspector Kemp.
Differences:
The Producers movie, 1968, The Producers the musical, 2001
The Producers was adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from the 1968 comedy film The Producers which starred Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder and Dick Shawn, and directed by Brooks. He wrote the lyrics, as well as the music, along with Glen Kelly.
The musical opened on Broadway April 19, 2001. The plot followed the film: Two theatrical producers plan to get rich by scheming investors in a Broadway flop, but things get complicated when they have a success on their hands.
It starred Nathan Lane as producer Max Bialystock, Matthew Broderick as accountant Leo Bloom. The show, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, won 12 Tony Awards and ran for 2,502 performances.
Differences:
Distinction:
The Lion King 1994, The Lion King the musical, 1997 The animated Walt Disney musical movie featured an original score by Hans Zimmer, with songs written by composer Sir Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. The story takes place in the Pride Lands in the Serengeti desert, where all the animals are ruled by a lion, King Mufasa.
The plot concerns Mufasa and his Queen Sarabi's new cub, Simba, who is destined to be the next king, his evil uncle Scar, Simba's best friend Nala, Zazu, his guardian, Timon, the meerkat and Pumbaa, the warthog, and the spotted hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed.
The Tony Award winning musical production officially opened on Broadway, Nov. 13, 1997, and was directed by Julie Taymor, and produced by Disney Theatrical. The very creative production includes actors becoming animals through costumes and puppetry. It includes the original score by Zimmer, choral arrangements by Lebo M.; with songs written by composer Sir Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.
Differences:
Beauty and the Beast the 1991 film; and the 1994 musical Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast, based on the 1991 Disney animated movie Beauty and the Beast, opened on Broadway, April 18, 1994, and it set many records and ran for 5,464 performances on Broadway.
The music for both was composed by Alan Menken, with the lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. The book was written by Linda Woolverton and was produced by Disney Theatrical.
The plot is basically the same as the movie. It's based on the old fairy tale of a beautiful woman imprisoned in a castle by a monster.
Differences:
Several are:
Seven new songs were added; and the Beast was conceived to look more human.
Belle's horse Phillipe was cut out of the story due to problems of having a large animal on stage.
In the film, the Beast's servants immediately change into household objects - in the musical, the servants stay their own size and take on the attributes of the objects during the production. Mrs. Potts' cap become a lid, she has become a teapot.
Several roles were enlarged, including those of Monsieur D'Arque, Babette and the Three Silly Girls, Gaston's fans; and, some were cut, such as Chip.
The timeline is also different: In the movie, Belle is with the Beast for weeks on end; in the musical, it's an undetermined time.
There's a plot change: In the film, Chip rescues Belle and Maurice when they are trapped by a mob; in the musical, Belle and Maurice leave and go warn the Beast.
In the film, Belle knows something has happened to her father when her horse returns without him; in the musical, she knows something is wrong when Lefou returns wearing her father's scarf.
A bit of trivia:
9 to 5, 1980 movie; 9 to 5 -The Musical, 2009
9 to 5 - The Musical opened on Broadway, April 30, 2009. It features new tunes composed by Dolly Parton. It's based on the 1980 movie about three women who become good friends, Judy Bernly, Violet Newstead, and Doralee Rhodes.
They are employed in the offices of a big company called Consolidated. Their boss, department executive Franklin Hart Jr. is sexist and very arrogant. The movie starred Parton, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975, Spamalot, 2005
Monty Python's Spamalot came to Broadway in 2005. It is based on the 1975 movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Monty Python member Eric Idle wrote the musical's book and lyrics, and worked with John Du Prez on the music.
It was directed by Mike Nichols. The story is a wild parody of King Arthur's legend. It won a Tony Award for Best Musical.
Differences:
The show makes references to the movie and general Python sketches and movies, other musicals, Andrew Lloyd Weber. Like the movie, many actors play multiple roles. There's lots of improvisation referencing current events
Billy Elliot the film, 2000, Billy Elliot The Musical, 2008
Tony Award winner Billy Elliot the Musical, opened in London's West End in 2005. It is based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot, which was written by Lee Hall. It came to Broadway in 2008. The music is by Sir Elton John, and the lyrics by Lee Hall.
The plot concerns young Billy Elliot who lives in the north of England during the miners' strike in 1984. His mother has recently died, and he decides to quit boxing for ballet dancing. He hides this from his family, and conflict ensues. The cast features three child actors who rotate playing the role of Billy.
Mary Poppins the movie, 1964; Mary Poppins the musical, 2006
Mary Poppins, came to Broadway in 2006, based on the classic 1964 Disney movie and the books by P.L.Travers.
Mary Poppins the musical opened in the West End in 2004, and came to Broadway in November, 2006. It features the Sherman Brothers music from the film, with other music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Julian Fellowes wrote the book.
Differences:
The musical adds in elements from the books that weren't in the movie, some scenes were taken out, and some musical sequences were moved to a different part of the story.
There are many other musicals based on films. Some of them include:
Cry-Baby, Xanadu, Calendar Girls, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, Sister Act, The 39 Steps, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Color Purple, Mary Poppins, Shrek, Footloose, The Full Monty, The Little Mermaid, Fame, The Wedding Singer, Victor/ Victoria, Sweet Charity, Sunset Boulevard, Singin' in the Rain, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Nine, High School Musical
Thanks to wikipedia.org and imdb.com
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