Friday 5: 5 Musicals Based on Children's and Young Adult Books

  5 Musicals Based on

Children's and Young Adult Books

With the success of The Outsiders on Broadway these days, it got me to thinking about other musicals based on children's and young adult novels. There have been some major successes and some major flops in this sub-genre, as with any other, of course, but here are 5 of my favorites. Each are magical in their own way.

Book by T.S. Eliot

Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Love it or hate it, Cats is a fantastical journey, whether its the more literal, traditional version - full feline make up and big piles of junk, or the more current drag ballroom kitties working the runway and posing their, um, tails off. People often forget that it all started with a book of cat-themed poems written by one of the world's greatest poets to be read to the little ones in his life. I have loved it since my first trip to the Jellicle Ball.

Book by Louisa May Alcott

Musical by Allan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein

While the musical version of this classic wasn't a success by most measures, it was like opening a treasure chest for me. I went into it knowing nothing. Zero. I knew only the title, so every moment was a prized discovery. The score is full of great numbers, clever and tuneful. And the demise of Beth came as a devastating surprise. I noisy-sobbed. Since then, I've read the book and have seen several film versions. My favorite? The Gerwig, with beautiful performances all around.

Book by Roald Dahl

Musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin

As a child, I loved the books of Roald Dahl, but Matilda was published well into my adulthood. I never saw the movie version of the book, either, so the events of the show were completely new to me. A beautifully fantastical show full of outrageous characters, stunning staging and choreography, and a technically impressive production, I laughed, cried and cheered like a delighted child. Its message is poignant with a not too subtle message about being an adult, too. One of my favorites of all time.

Book by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Musical by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon

At the risk of sounding sexist, this classic, like Little Women, escaped my boyish clutches. After seeing the utterly gorgeous production - beautiful costumes, stunning scenery and thrilling performances of a thrilling book and score - I made sure to read this wonderful novel. I was just as enamored of young Mary, her friends, family (relative and chosen) in the pages of the book as I was with the stage version. I hope a well-produced revival comes around sooner rather than later.

Book by Natalie Babbitt

Musical by Claudia Shear, Tim Federle, Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen

Somehow, I missed this novel completely, as well as any filmed versions of the work. So I went into this show with a completely blank slate. I adored this show which reveled in the wonder that only live theater can create. Unlike anything Casey Nicholaw has directed/choreographed before or since, its ballet centerpiece sticks with me all these years and shows later. The score was wonderful, the script tight and fun, it was a feast for the senses, the mind, and most importantly, the heart. I would love to see this again, and am still surprised by its very short run. I'm thankful that I got to see it.

The Friday 5: 5 Musicals Based on Children's/Young Adult Novels

With this week's opening of The Lightning Thief, we though we'd take a Friday 5 look five of our favorite (and not so favorite) shows based on other young adult/children's novels. How many of these have you seen? Did we miss one of your favorites (or not so favorites)? let us know!

The Friday 5:

5 Musicals Based on

Children's/Young Adult Novels

Here they are, in chronological order:

The Secret Garden: 1991
Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this gorgeous musical with a ravishing, sweeping score by Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, is long overdue for a full-scale revival. The cast boasted the talents of no less than Mandy Patinkin, Rebecca Luker, John Cameron Mitchell, Alison Fraser and Tony-winner Daisy Egan. Among the notable replacements were Howard McGillin, and, in her Broadway debut, Audra Ann McDonald.

Little Women: 2005
Based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, we still can't believe it had such a short run (just 137 performances). It was great in all ways. It was glorious in its old-fashioned style, and yet still felt modern. And there isn't a bad song in Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein's score - favorite tunes include "Five Forever," "Take a Chance on Me," "Our Finest Dreams," and the tear-jerker "Some Things Are Meant to Be." How about a revival with Timothee Chalamet as Laurie?

Matilda: The Musical: 2013
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. Dennis Kelly's razor sharp book and Tim Minchin's witty, tuneful score is brilliant - full of delights for all ages, which does great service to Dahl's classic. It brought us Bertie Carvel for the first time, the wonderfully wicked Lesli Margherita and Tony-winner Gabriel Ebert. And I get misty at the mere thought of the beautiful, haunting "When I Grow Up." A great night of theater.

Tuck Everlasting: 2016
Based on the novel by Natalie Babbitt, here's another show that had a regrettably short run (a mere 39 performances). It was visually stunning and featured a gorgeous ballet choreographed (and directed) by Casey Nicholaw. And when you have a cast that includes Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Carolee Carmello, Michael Park and Terrence Mann, how bad could it really have been?

Be More Chill: 2019
Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, this short-lived, noisy and hyper show by Joe Iconis certainly has its devotees. Unfortunately, I'm not among them. That said, it bears acknowledging that this show represents the beginning of an era, not just because it has introduced thousands of young people to the joy of live theater, but also for its use of the internet and social media. It's the first "viral" musical, and it would be foolish not to see the importance of that in the future.

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

The Answers to Last Week's Friday 5 Quiz:

5 Broadway Costumes

1. Kinky Boots - Charlie Price

2. Cats - Grizabella

3. Les Miserables - Fantine

4. SpongeBob SquarePants - SpongeBob

5. A Chorus Line - Al and Kristine

Look for a new quiz next week!

#2190

TheatreScene Thursday: Friends of JKTS Working Hard

With a slight lull in Tony mania this week, the TheatreScene was more about future shows and friends of this blog getting some high profile press.  But first, a little Tony business:

Don't forget to vote for the #MissingTonyAward (Best Ensemble in a Play and Musical)! Click the icon to your left! Polls close on May 18th.

And my Broadway pic of the week, from the Tony Nominee press event!

History meets the future: two of my favorite
Broadway gals, Chita and Sydney (NYT)

One of the big news stories of the week was/is the continuing saga of Rebecca.  What a mess.  It leads me to the Question of the Week:

If Rebecca ever makes it to the Broadway stage, will anyone even care about this epic musical?

Related question: Have we learned nothing from Dr. Zhivago?

Another more likely (and happier) future show announced this week was Tuck Everlasting.  I have high hopes for this one.  It looks enchanting in that Secret Garden/Finding Neverland kind of way.  And it features a good friend of this blog, Andrew Keenan-Bolger.  I just love this former Newsie!  Check out his interview from awhile back by clicking his pictures to the right (depending on your screen, you might need to scroll down a little).  I wish him the best of luck with this new endeavor!

Speaking of the Keenan Bolger clan, congratulations to Celia and husband John Ellison Conlee (who was awesome in The Full Monty), who welcomed their new son, William Emmet into the family on April 29.

You certainly can't say that Virginia's Signature Theatre doesn't do enough press!  They've gone all out for their production of Cabaret.  It seems to be everywhere on the Broadway sites.  I'm really happy for a great friend of this blog, Wesley Taylor, who stars as the Emcee.  Check out these simply marvelous photos:

Wesley Taylor as the Emcee and Barrett Wilbert Weed as Sally Bowles

(C. Mueller)

Who knew leather lederhosen could be so sexy?
(T. Ranson)

Here's a link to a great interview Wesley gave to Metro Weekly.  Check out the dish on Smash, Rock of Ages and The Addams Family.  HERE

Have a great week, theatre fans!
Jeff