Musical theater has always been a goldmine for the film industry. After all, good musicals tend to make good films. Look at films like West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Cabaret, and Evita. All of them were born on the stage before coming to the silver screen.
Sadly, there are several famous musicals that have not been adapted to film. They’ve won awards, critical acclaim, and the hearts of audiences everywhere, but not a movie version? It’s sad but true. Since we’re fans of the stage as well as the screen, we’ve compiled a list of ten Broadway shows that deserve a screen adaptation.
Forever Plaid
We’re not going to lie, it would be very difficult to give this one a proper theatrical feature, considering it’s performed mainly as a concert. But we believe Forever Plaid still has the potential to be great if handled correctly. Especially considering the heavenly plot and harmonious music making for such a wonderful stage show.
When a singing group is killed in a car crash on their way to a gig, they’re spirits come back on the anniversary of the accident to perform the record they never got to record. The interactions between the band members are charming and comedic, and the soundtrack is some of the best the early ’60s had to offer.
Seussical the Musical
With films like The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, and the most recent reincarnation of the Grinch, Dr. Seuss’s work hasn’t exactly been given the most true-to-form treatment, has it? Fortunately, Seussical the Musical is a blend of the best of the author’s whimsical work with a little Broadway flair.
A proper adaptation would more than likely need to be animated, but a live-action version would definitely be possible if treated delicately. Essentially blending Horton Hears a Who with a melange of different Seussian characters, it’s the ultimate love-letter to the beloved author without relying on dated pop-culture references.
Rain
Similar to Forever Plaid, Rain is a musical that’s presented in concert form. However, given the fact the band in the spotlight is none other than the Fab Four themselves, there’s definitely potential for the perfect Beatles bio-pic if this musical got a proper film adaptation. Think something along the lines of Jersey Boys.
While it’s true that Beatles tribute-bands aren’t exactly an uncommon occurrence, Rain is a different experience due to the fact that the show covers the band’s early days to even a couple of post-breakup numbers. With all of that in mind, we definitely deserve a Beatles film of this magnitude.
Hadestown
One of the newest members of the Broadway game on our list, the new musical, Hadestown, is already taking fans by storm. This post-apocalyptic/post-depression musical is a staged retelling of the myths of Orpheus and Euridice and Hades and Persephone and definitely needs a screen adaptation soon.
The stories in question don’t exactly have a lot of screentime. After all, who’d want to hear about a lovesick, Greek musician when they can watch Clash of the Titans. With a Tony Award for best musical already under its belt, this musical definitely deserves a wider audience through a film adaptation.
Starlight Express
With the ghastly attempt at adapting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats in mind, an adaptation of Starlight Express would definitely need to be handled with the greatest love and care ever felt by a musical movie. Although the musical is definitely still stuck in the ’80s, with all the nostalgia for the era around nowadays, what better time to bring it back?
Adapting a rollerskating musical about living trains would be a challenge on its own, but it definitely wouldn’t be impossible. We could definitely see Disney doing something with this idea and giving us a pleasant throwback to the days of neon and spandex.
The Grinning Man
Consider this an honorable mention from London’s West End. If you love Phantom of The Opera and Les Miserables, you’ll absolutely adore The Grinning Man. This musical tragicomedy based on the novel, The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo, would definitely give the Phantom some serious competition in terms of story and atmosphere.
The Grinning Man tells the tale of Grinpayne, a disfigured young man whose face bears a permanent smile. He travels across the land with a freakshow and the man who rescues him. Definitely a grim fairytale, this macabre musical deserves a screen adaptation for fans of the twisted side of things.
Jekyll and Hyde
If you’re looking for something darker on your next trip to the theater, Jekyll and Hyde is a great way to go. Though a filmed version of the play starring David Hasselhoff in the lead role did air on TV, this underrated musical desperately needs to be pulled out of the shadows and onto the silver screen.
This interpretation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a gothic horror story worthy of a Universal Monster movie. Since it’s been more than a few years since we’ve seen a proper version of Mr. Hyde, what better way to welcome him back than with an adaptation of this wicked musical?
Wicked
Speaking of wicked musicals, Wicked has been on Broadway for fifteen years and it still hasn’t been brought to the big screen. We only have one question on the matter… why? It’s already one of the most popular Broadway musicals currently running, a film adaptation certainly wouldn’t hurt its reputation.
Though it strays a bit away from Gregory Maguire’s original novel, the dramatic and magical tale of the witches of Oz has definitely found its way into the hearts of many. The musical would transition to film seamlessly if given the right direction. Maybe even get Idina Menzel to defy gravity once more and take the lead again?
Hamilton
Without a doubt, one of the most talked-about musicals on Broadway has to be Hamilton. This musical interpretation of the prolific founding father could definitely benefit from a film adaptation, preferably with the show’s original lead and creator, Lin Manuel Miranda at the helm.
With its mix of different musical styles, including hip-hop, jazz, and even some Beatles-esque melodies, there’s a lot going on for this show, and a film version would definitely be an interesting way to tell the story of the founding of our country. It would take a little extra work direction-wise, but we can totally see it happening.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
Though a straight-to-video version of the stage show was released, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat needs a proper adaptation for the big screen, preferably by way of Jesus Christ Superstar. This musical from the book of Genesis was impressive in its time, and it’s definitely one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best.
A proper film adaptation of this show would be a perfect family-friendly musical for a wider audience to enjoy. Its soundtrack, costumes, and visuals would be absolutely delightful on the big screen. Though it’s been off Broadway’s main stage for some time, we can certainly see a welcome return for this magnificent show.
