From Movie to Musical

Today, the Oscar-winning Best Picture Rocky opens as a musical on Broadway.

I have to be honest here and say that I've never seen the movie (gasp!). In fact, really my only involvement with Rocky at all was when my college marching band got to play on the "Rocky Steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The infamous "Rocky Steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The fact that I've never seen the movie won't keep me from seeing Rocky on Broadway... If you know me, you know that I'll see any musical at least once. But this got me thinking about movies that I have seen that I would love to see on stage. Here are two that I've thought for years would make great musicals:

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean  

Sure I love the traditional Disney musicals like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. And I really can't wait to take my boys to see Aladdin in a few months. And I really really hope that Frozen does make its way to Broadway because I think it would be amazing. But I think Disney has a gem here that they haven't yet realized. I'll call it buried treasure. Can you just imagine the costumes and effects for this one? So Disney - can you get on this?

 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 

There have been plenty of holiday movies made into musicals, from A Christmas Story to Elf. But wouldn't it be epic to see the Griswold's holiday disasters unfold on stage? I'd sure pay to see that! I mean, can you just imagine watching the whole lights scene in person? I'm laughing just thinking about it!










Like I mentioned, I've thought for years that these two movies would make great musicals. I've even written to Disney to make the Pirates suggestion (though I'm sure my note never made it past the intern). In fact, if I had the money or the connections, I'd produce both of these shows myself! (Side note - if anyone reading this has any money or connections that they would like to share with me to make either of these shows happen, please let me know!) I don't mean to sound full of myself, but I think I have a pretty good sense of what would work on Broadway and what wouldn't. I can pretty much smell a Tony-winner before it even makes it to previews. But I've digressed; that's a post for another day...

So back to the topic at hand, what movies would you like to see made into musicals?