Hamilton
As everyone has ostensibly learned from the badly received film adaptation of theAndrew Lloyd WebbermusicalCats , not all musicals ( and fun ) are meant to be conform to take . The medium of house genuinely need a suspension system of disbelief and full cerebral involvement . That gain it is hard to translate that experience to another medium .
So , there is a fortune to learn fromCats ’ terrible operation in thebox officeand itsresponse from audiences . Most notably , it service as a prophylactic story for Hollywood to reconsider when they recollect about adapting Broadway musicals to film . Here are some exemplar we believe should never be accommodate to take :
Starlight Express
While on the subject of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals , a few of his works have been a subject of examination in the theater community . So , conform one of his projects to take is a mitigated risk .
One of his musicals that should not be adapted to the big screen is his own version ofXanadu . The musical is a rock - base 80 ’s throwback to metal costume and tumbler plug hat readiness . The melodic is so over - the - top that it will barely resonate with contemporaneous audience , even if the 80s are popular again .
Sunday In The Park With George
The construct of the Stephen Sondheim musicalSunday in the Park with Georgeis that a retell version of painter Georges Seurat recounted how he was able-bodied to intricately craft every detail of his painting “ A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte ” .
The entire musical is almost like a three - time of day particular ofBob Ross : The Joy of Painting , only with less hummable euphony and calm symphonies . Only art buffs would be joyous over a cinema adaptation of this .
Urinetown
With a championship likeUrinetown , one would immediately assume a megascopic figure of speech will be display in this melodic . However , this is surprisingly more of a satire and ego - aware commentary on Broadway musicals , under the feigning of a paladin ’s journey musical of a young man leading a rebellion to overthrow a government over an absurd law about urinating . That is how wacky and ridiculous it is .
disregardless , it is a melodious worth determine onstage . Though , a movie version would sound like a immense creative jeopardy .
Next To Normal
This rock musical is a sendup ofAmerican BeautyandRequiem for a Dreamin that its raw intensity level can only work on the theatre lights or the plaster cast recording . Its songs are primarily go down on confined space like a menage , a doctor ’s clinic and a room . So , betray it to film would not magnify the same carrying out that it can attain on the stage .
Yet , of all the musicals in this listing , Next to Normalcan probably work as a movie the most .
Company
The assumption is that five couple cumulate for the 35th birthday of their bachelor acquaintance , who reflect his life choices and the complicated animation of his friends . it is a show window of their musical talents and cerebral strain . So , a motion-picture show version would not do it DoJ .
The Who’s Tommy
British band The Who basically craft a construct album about a boy who find consolation in playing a pinball game machine like an expert . It is tailor - made for the stage , so when it was adapted into a indulge rock opera , every song meshed well with the narrative .
A film adapting this melodic could work sincePink Floyd – The Wallwas also based on a conception record album . However , the aesthetic paradox of a simple story with a grandiose display should only stick onstage .
Spamalot
Who would everadapt a Monty Python musicalonscreen even if there is an survive Monty Python moving-picture show with the same story ? Apparently , there were reputation for aSpamalotfilm adaption withBenedict Cumberbatch , Peter Dinklage , and Tiffany Haddish .
While that may be swell , it would be redundant to have another King Arthur spoof from all the barrages of King Arthur stories recently . Plus , while it is a Pythonesque story , Spamalotdid not affect most of the Monty Python comedian .
The Book Of Mormon
Ever since 2010 , theTrey Parker - Matt Stone musicalThe Book of Mormonhas been a staple on Broadway and in the dramaturgy world . The melodic is really a material - life rendering of a Mormon - focused instalment fromSouth Park , plus an orchestra , a field set , and hummable songs from Robert Lopez ofAvenue Q.
With a spectacle and a subject subject that heavy , the history of two Mormon missioner aim to prophesy to an African tribe can only be told through theatrics .
Follies
To just show the distinction of field of operations hearing and movie consultation when it comes to their orientation , appear no further than Stephen Sondheim’sFollies . This well - have it off musical is about two duo who are former Broadway performer reunite before their home theater is subject to wipeout .
The entire piece is filled with vignettes that echo the performers ’ past biography in Ziegfeld Follies - inspired performances . intelligibly , this is a story that may make it knockout to come across with the mainstream movie audience .
Everyone loves Lin - Manuel Miranda ’s opusHamilton . No doubt about it . So , in due regard , it is full that the now - iconic Broadway piece should ride out on the stage .
With charge Sung dynasty - through melodic carrying out like that , it can be knockout to render the same impact on a film Virginia reel . And the mix of historical context and modern-day themes might be heavy to operate together onscreen . How would one filmmaker be able to adapt the musical ’s hip-hop struggle Congress academic term on film ?
It would really take a united vision to accomplish that effort . Anyone can givetheir shot .
NEXT:10 Broadway Musicals We Want to See on the Big Screen More Than Cats