That's So Fetch! Why Broadway Transforms Your Favorite Movies into Hit Shows
- Madeline Bourne
- Oct 11, 2019
- 3 min read
"The Sound of Music", "Beetlejuice", "Grease", "Into the Woods". I could go on and on about how many iconic movies have been redone and re-performed on stage every year. These shows usually change a few aspects to fit either the time limit or plot of the show, and Broadway directors show no mercy while transforming critically-aclaimed movies and television shows. I felt inspired by the press release of the hit movie "Mean Girls" coming to Chicago Broadway stages this Christmas. You know it will be the number one item on my Christmas list (Fingers crossed!). But it got me thinking about why they chose this particular movie to turn into a new hit musical. Here are three reasons why I think these classic movies do just as well on the screen as they do on the stage.
1. Fanatic Fan Base
Which came first? The movie or the musical? No matter which one did, usually the number one reason a movie/ musical combo is made is because of the demand for more content from the fans. It's basically like a walking cash cow, and those big-time producers are hungry for steak. A great example, and one of my favorite universes to follow, is the Harry Potter book, movie, and now musical franchise. With seven books and eight movies, you'd think J.K. Rowling would be content with her revenue from the boy who lived. Think again! In 2016, Rowling wrote an entirely new story, this time in a musical form, inside the beloved Potter universe. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is now playing in London, New York, and other major cities around the world.
Other small theater companies have made spinoffs of Harry Potter as well, such as the Potter parody "A Very Potter Musical" by Matt Lang. People like to use classic or iconic plotlines because they know that they aren't throwing their money away. Harry Potter fans, unite!
2. Familiar Story
No one wants to be the first to see a brand new show because it might end up being a waste of your time. Writing movies and musicals takes risk, and you can never be sure that the audience will like it until all your hard work and money is invested in it. Big top producers are more open to taking this risk, but it's not something everyone can afford to do. However, take a story everyone knows and loves, and watch people line up around the block to see it. "Spongebob Squarepants" is a recent example of this. The beloved television show has been on the air since I was a baby. When I heard that the sponge would be getting his own musical spinoff on Broadway, I wasn't surprised. No matter if you have watched an episode or not, everyone knows the characters from the Spongebob franchise. And if you don't, have you been living under a rock? Having a familiar cast makes a producer's job ten times easier to focus on the content of the story rather than introducing the characters.
3. Music
"Dancing Queen?" Yes, please! One of my favorite parts of a Broadway show is the amazing musical soundtrack. Nothing makes me feel happier than to belt out my favorite songs from my favorite shows in the car. And making a movie with such iconic songs into a musical makes perfect sense. Take "Mamma Mia" for example. Both movies incorporate songs from the hit band ABBA into their soundtrack and plot. Why not recreate that same nostalgic feeling with a musical? While singing in the car is fine and dandy, singing along to a live performance with a cast is probably one of the best feelings in the world. Plus, it's a good way to ease yourself into a show without feeling overwhelmed. It's the same reason why I memorized every rap from "Hamilton."
No matter what type of person you are, movie or musical fanatic, it's important to recognize that not every adaption will be flawless. If you think arguments people have about books vs. movies are bad, you haven't listened to theater bookworms grunt over the news of a new movie musical. Nevertheless, I think they are extremely interesting and enjoyable to watch, especially if it's a franchise I am familiar with. Go out this weekend and enjoy a new show, reader, and look up to see if your newfound love is actually a movie too!
Great post Madeline! Musicals and movie adaptations of musicals have been a guilty pleasure of mine for years now and I found it really interesting to read why so many are made. I also loved the shout-out to "A Very Potter Musical" one of my personal favorites. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thank you for writing this blog and enriching my perspective on the world of live shows. Usually I would not be interested in these type of shows, but through this blog, I may attend one in the near future. I used to think that these shows were a crappy version of the real thing, but now I know that they are really more creative in that they build off of them.