They made a musical out of that?

[Spinal]

Every couple months or so, I hear about an unusual musical theatre project and I end up posting about it in Random Thoughts. Instead, I'm just going to put them in here.

Today's offering ...

20 Century Boy - The Musical

[youtube]-K5S-j3MVnc[/youtube]

[monolith94]

When you think about it, a lot of musical theater productions are kind of... weird. I mean, really, Cats? A broadway show about Georges Seurat? Although, I suppose that one can be kind of excused because one expects off-beat weirdness from Sondheim.

It's kind of weird that in all likelihood I'll probably never date a girl with a larger love for musicals than me. Huh.

[Mara]

Candide is a really crazy idea for a musical (or operetta, would be more correct.)

But the music is great, and the book of the version I saw was really good as well.

[Mysterious Dude]

I'm still amazed that someone saw Roger Corman's Little Shop of Horrors and thought, "This needs to be a musical!"

[Mara]

I'm still amazed that someone saw Roger Corman's Little Shop of Horrors and thought, "This needs to be a musical!"

And yet, it's so flipping awesome.

Wicked is a crazycakes idea for a musical. I read the original novel about a decade ago, and whoever read that and decided it needed singing and dancing was on crack.

That said, I understand that the musical has very little to do with the original source material.

[Spinal]

I'm also looking forward to the return of Carrie.

[Fezzik]

And yet, it's so flipping awesome.

Wicked is a crazycakes idea for a musical. I read the original novel about a decade ago, and whoever read that and decided it needed singing and dancing was on crack.

That said, I understand that the musical has very little to do with the original source material.

And in my opinion, it improved on the novel greatly. I don't mind political commentary, but the novel was so bogged down in it (and Elphaba was so damn unlikeable) that I couldn't even finish it.

I've seen the musical three times (in three different cities!) and adore it. The idea is still there, but its much less angry. The sets and music are fantastic.

[Spinal]

Would you believe ... American Psycho?

[MadMan]

Would you believe ... American Psycho?

Haha, sure.

[Winston*]

Would you believe ... American Psycho?

This is going to star Doctor Who's Matt Smith btw Mara, number8.

[Spinal]

Jagged Little Pill?

Wow, that's ironic.

:|

[D_Davis]

Jagged Little Pill?

Wow, that's ironic.

:|

Like eating Ice Cream when it rains on your wedding day.

[Winston*]

Old, but this is spectacular.

[Spinal]

Bonnie and Clyde

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm sad I wasn't able to see the run of American Idiot. I really dug some of the reworkings I saw on Youtube (six girls sing "Letterbomb"). Also, there was a brief run of shows where Davey Havok of AFI played Saint Jimmy. Hell yes.

[Spinal]

Once

[Mara]

Once

That does not sound good.

[Raiders]

I don't get it. It was already a musical.

[Mara]

I don't get it. It was already a musical.

Well, there is a long history of musical films being backformed into stage musicals (Thoroughly Modern Millie, 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, etc. Not to mention the slew of Disney/animated films that have been staged.) Sometimes they are even good.

But there were certain aspects of Once that really set it apart from other musical films: the intimacy and unstudied naturalness of the leads, the grimy/beautiful setting, and the subtlety of the presentation. None of those things really translate to stage. If you take all that away, what is left? People singing and falling in love. It's every musical ever written.

[NickGlass]

They're well known (and Tony awarded) musical productions by now, but at the time that The Color Purple and Grey Gardens were announced, my head sort of spun.

These, two, however, blow my mind:

Ghost (if you can track down the trailer, please do. It's absurd)

The Silence of the Lambs
(although, granted, it IS a parody)

[Raiders]

Well, there is a long history of musical films being backformed into stage musicals (Thoroughly Modern Millie, 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, etc. Not to mention the slew of Disney/animated films that have been staged.) Sometimes they are even good.

But there were certain aspects of Once that really set it apart from other musical films: the intimacy and unstudied naturalness of the leads, the grimy/beautiful setting, and the subtlety of the presentation. None of those things really translate to stage. If you take all that away, what is left? People singing and falling in love. It's every musical ever written.

No... I get all that. I just mean why is Spinal surprised they made a musical out of a musical.

Maybe he was just mourning the ultimately and likely failure of its translation from screen to stage.

[Winston*]

Once

Weird how successful this was

[EyesWideOpen]

"Wannabe" is the only song I've ever called in to a radio station to request.

[Spinal]

The Nutty Professor

Directed by Jerry Lewis.

[Spinal]

[youtube]aH4kiI4oTng[/youtube]