To preface, I got the term "The Great White Way" from my Grandma. About once every three months, her and I take a day to explore the city and cross a show off from our laundry list of must-see musicals. We always have a phenomenal time, and it's given me a fond appreciation of theater. If you're reading this Grandma, thanks, and looking forward to our next trip in August!
Our Broadway, unfortunately, has recently been plagued with an over-abundance of B-movie adaptations no one was clamouring for. From the panned "Ghost" to "Sister Act", these shameless cash grabs are becoming an unwelcomed epidemic amongst the theater community. Really, was anyone rushing out to see "Shrek" go to stage? Is the new art demonstrating reverence to forgotten movies by writing cringe-worthy tunes to accompany movies that are better off collecting dust on the shelves?
Really, things should be done the other way around. No one needs to blow $130 to see Raven Symone try at acting in "Sister Act"; we could, however, use a few more well-done theaterical adaptations. Only getting a single musical a year is a bit depressing; so, to fend off my post-"Rock of Ages" blues, here's a few shows I would like to see get the big screen treatment.
1.) American Idiot Broadway's bad-ass rock opera for the punk kids wasn't perfect by any means. With a sloppy, tacked-on plotline and virtually no choreography, it's a bit of a work in progress. The problems are nothing that a reimagining can't deal with, and with a younger demographic and brash, rousing numbers this has "hit" written all over it.
2.) Wicked The most obvious choice is apparently already being developed into a non-musical miniseries. The decision to omit crowd pleasers "For Good" and "Defying Gravity" seems like a dangerous executive decision, sure to enrage the millions of fans of the musical. "Wicked" is already a phenomenon, operating at 100% capacity for the past 8 years. Very few musicals are as exciting, accessible, and cool as "Wicked"- it's awe-inspiring family entertainment. As long as they get a strong enough actress to follow in Idina Menzel's footsteps, and "Defying Gravity" gives us the same chills as it does onstage, it seems too big to fail.
3.) REMAKE Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Priscilla was one of the few film adaptations that really clicked. With Bette Midler helming the production team, the production hammed up the camp, added classic disco music, Gaga-esque costumes, and injected the show with new life. As gay pride booms and the cinema isn't entirely reflective of that, it seems this would be a good time for Priscilla to rise again.
4. Promises, Promises This is my biggest long shot, being a traditional Broadway show in every sense of the phrase. The revival proved how timeless the material was, leaving the audience in stitches. Vibing off of an era fascinated by "Mad Men", the buyant musical could potentially work well in indie markets.
5. Aida I was quite reluctant to see Aida for a bit, but was floored when I finally listened to the soundtrack. I'm quite sure a film has been tackled already, but new insights into social structure and technological capabilities could see this epic saga as an Award Season darling. Similar to "Chicago", the staging confines the heartbreak and intensity of Aida.
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