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BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?

BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#1BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 1:47pm



Big Ol' Eye Roll Updated On: 2/2/12 at 01:47 PM

Matt2 Profile Photo
Matt2
#2BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:05pm

That's just what Broadway's been missing: a musicalization of an 80s movie! Thanks Mr. Zemekis!

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#2BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:10pm

If there's a flying delorean on stage reminiscent of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang then count me in.

tazber Profile Photo
tazber
#3BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:10pm

*sigh*


....but the world goes 'round

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#4BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:32pm

There is so little information, it's hard to tell what it is they intend to do. It could be a musical or some sort of stage spectacle. Or may end up being nothing more than tossing an idea around. I don't care if the film is from the 80s or not depending on the material or the finished product. The only 80s films I can think of that we've seen as Broadway musicals were Footloose and Hairspray. Dirty Dancing only toured and Flashdance isn't a sure thing yet. But it's not as if those all closely resemble each other in style, story, staging or score.

My problem is, this is an iconic action film. Half the fun of the film is in all the editing sequences of the running around and chasing from location to location. Even the clock tower sequence will lose so much suspense and tension when you remove all those shots, angles and special effects and replace them with one perspective. And there are some properties specifically created for film that are so iconic in their original form (especially action films), live replication can simply never live up to the original that has been embraced worldwide for generations. Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, and ET are similar properties that have reached something of an untouchable status.


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

tazber Profile Photo
tazber
#5BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:43pm

They should get the British boy band "McFly" to write the score.


....but the world goes 'round

Overkill Profile Photo
Overkill
#6BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:50pm

While I agree with everything Mister Matt just said, I'm actually kind of excited to see what comes out of this - being one of my favorite movies. I think it's possible to make a good adaptation, but we know those are few and far between. I just don't want it to be The Wedding Singer. They could use projected sets (is that the right term for it?) for the car.

There's only one man for Doc Brown: Brent Spiner

Dollypop
#7BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:58pm

Why bother going to the movies anymore? Everything gets recycled as a Broadway musical these days.


"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#8BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 3:13pm

And while we're at it, why see a play or read a book anymore?


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

SonofRobbieJ Profile Photo
SonofRobbieJ
#9BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:27pm

I think the idea of adapting a property that juxtoposes two distinct time periods is a great idea. I just think Back to the Future is too effects driven and well known.

Personally, I'd like to Blast from the Past or The Truman Show. I think both could be musicalized in a really fun, smart way.

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best12bars
#10BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:33pm

^ To that point, I would have preferred Pleasantville.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#11BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:38pm

^Only if Paul Walker reprises his role and they add some nudity this time.

Dollypop
#12BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:04pm

Why bother watching television shows anymore? Things like THE ADDAMS FAMILY get recycled as Broadway musicals.


"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

Calvin Profile Photo
Calvin
#13BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:07pm

Or, Robbie, how about On A Clear....errrr, never mind.

And Taz, McFly can do it only if they collaborate with Huey Lewis.

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#14BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:13pm

Ive always thought PLEASANTVILLE would make a beautiful musical. It could never work on stage though, for obvious reasons, but even as a movie musical I'd love to see it done.

SonofRobbieJ Profile Photo
SonofRobbieJ
#15BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:18pm

Yeah...the visual impact of Pleasantville wouldn't work all that well on stage. Though the mixing of black and white and color worked for City of Angels, the emotional peak of Pleasantville is when their faces obtain color. Could there be some sort of equivalent that doesn't involve color like that? I don't know. But yes...the material itself would sing beautifully.

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Bryan With A Why
#16BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 5:29pm

"Oh my God," the American musical theatre canon was overheard saying, "they found me. I don't know how, but they found me."


"If there's any answer maybe love can end the madness, Maybe not, oh but we can only try..."

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LesMiz24601
#17BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 6:29pm

I can almost hear the future "The Power of Love" marketing campaign.

Hope they can get some of the music from the film:

- Power of Love
- Back in Time
- Mr. Sandman
- Earth Angel
- Johnny B. Goode
- and of course elements from the iconic epic score

gypsy4
#18BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 6:37pm

Alan Menken should compose.

nasty_khakis
#19BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 7:29pm

Pleasantville could work on stage. The number "Come on Everybody" from "All Shook Up" started off lit and costumed very drab in blacks, whites, grays, and browns then slowly throughout the song everything changed to bright colors. Granted, this wouldn't be as effective as totally b&w film to touches of color, but it could "work" in a broad sense.

tazber Profile Photo
tazber
#20BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 8:46pm

I'm thinking they can musicalize all three and perform them in rep like The Coast Of Utopia.



....but the world goes 'round

JenD512
#21BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:18pm

I can't wait to see how they musicalize Biff driving into a manure truck.

Back to the Future has been my favorite movie ever since I saw it on opening weekend in 1985.

That being said, please let this never happen!

Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:18 PM

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allofmylife
#22BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/3/12 at 2:38am

An early warning to Bob Zemekis: Using a non-Broadway composer can be the kiss of death (Meredith Wilson notwithstanding.) Go to Marc Shaiman instead.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

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sueb1863
#23BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/3/12 at 6:31am

Unless I'm reading the article wrong, it doesn't say anything about it being a musical. It could be a straight play adaptation.

That being said, while the movie is one of my all time faves as well, I don't see any screaming need for it to be turned into a stage show. It works perfectly as a film and a live version wouldn't bring anything new except another way to make money off the story.

I also can't see any practical way to pull off some of the high-speed stuff on stage. They could use rear projections and static models but it just wouldn't be the same.

AEA AGMA SM
#24BACK TO THE FUTURE Coming To Broadway?
Posted: 2/3/12 at 6:37am

"Using a non-Broadway composer can be the kiss of death (Meredith Wilson notwithstanding.) Go to Marc Shaiman instead."

Who was, at the time Hairspray opened, primarily a film composer who had not yet written a full Broadway score.


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