7 replies to this topic

[madaboutmusicals21]

I posted a few days ago asking what was everyone's favourite song from a musical and it got some really fab responses and reminded me about loads of songs I had forgotten about, it was such a good trip down memory lane that I thought I would ask another.

So, which is your favourite ever musical adaptation?

It's a tough one I know, my favourites are:

Matilda -

and

Billy Elliott -

How about you?

[David J]

As a fan I'd say that Matilda is the best Roald Dahl adaptation of all time. Even with the alterations and additions to the story it remains faithful to the book and gets to the heart, which is something a lot of the films have not managed to do. I would like to discuss this later in my blog when I get the time.

[cat123]

Almost every musical is adapted from something! Whether it be a film, a book, a play, someone's life story... I challenge people to come up with a musical that isn't an adaptation (or jukebox...)

[CaityGlinda]

cat123, on 30 October 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

Almost every musical is adapted from something! Whether it be a film, a book, a play, someone's life story... I challenge people to come up with a musical that isn't an adaptation (or jukebox...)

I've had this discussion before and the main one I came up with was Next to Normal. Another would be Hair.

[mallardo]

Also Book of Mormon,  Drowsy Chaperone, Curtains, City of Angels, Fade Out, Fade In, Do Re Mi, Rags, both of Anthony Newley's hit shows and many by Sondheim - Company, Anyone Can Whistle, Follies, Assassins, Pacific Overtures to name a few.

[cat123]

Assassins is adapted from real life events...

[madaboutmusicals21]

I know most musicals will have been adapted from something, but I was thinking along the lines of classic stories or films made into musicals.

Obviously this is a classic book to musical adaptation that has seriously stood the test of time!

[Jon]

There's a lot more original musicals but adaptations tend to be more successful. Aside from the ones mentioned, another overlooked musical which is original is Grease.

The Lion King is probably the best adaptation of a film to a musical, on paper it doesn't scream stage musical but Julie Taymor somehow made it work.