I have seen so many musicals, some cheap and others slightly pricier, and I adore the theatre, musicals, London, New York, and just the acting-on-stage lifestyle because it gives you a buzz and excitement about “what day is it?” and “what era” it is from all over the world.
But you may not know that some films you saw were adapted from other media. You know how many?!
Shrek: The Musical
Jeanine Tesori composed the score for the stage adaptation of Shrek, while David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the book and lyrics. William Steig adapted this film from the 2001 DreamWorks picture Shrek, based on his 1990 book of the same name.
- Composer: Jeanine Tesori
- Playwright: David Lindsay-Abaire
- Lyricist: David Lindsay-Abaire
Legally Blonde
Oh my God, oh my God, you guys…. Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name.
- Adapted from: Legally Blonde
- Playwright: Heather Hach Characters: Elle Woods, Serena McGuire, Enid, more
- Soundtrack: Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007 original Broadway cast)
- Composers: Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin Lyricists: Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin
Matilda
Matilda the Musical is a stage musical based on the children’s novel of the same name by Ronald Dahl. It was written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
- Composer: Tim Minchin
- Playwright: Dennis Kelly
- Lyricist: Tim Minchin
- Adapted from: Matilda
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, (also known as Chitty the Musical)
Chitty Chitty The stage musical Bang Bang, also referred to as Chitty the Musical, is a remake of Albert R. Broccoli’s 1968 movie. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman, with the book by Jeremy Sams.
- First performance: April 16, 2002
- Playwright: Jeremy Sams
- Orchestrator: Chris Walker
- Composers: Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman
- Lyricists: Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman
- Soundtrack: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002 original London cast)
High school musical on stage
High School Musical on Stage! It is a musical based on the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, with music and lyrics by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray and Greg Cham, Drew Seeley, and Randy.
- Adapted from: High School Musical
- Playwright: David Simpatico
Elf The Musical
Elf is a musical based on the motion picture of the same name, with a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan adapted the book from the 2003 movie. The musical ran on Broadway in the Christmas seasons of 2010-11 and 2012-13 and also toured the U.S. in 2012. A new tour launched in 2014.
- Music Matthew Sklar
- Lyrics Chad Beguelin
Toy Story
The Musical is a rock musical based on the critically acclaimed Pixar film, Toy Story. For Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Creative Entertainment produced the show to take the place of Hercules: The Muse-Ical.
After a year of pre-production and workshops, it had a soft premiere on board the Disney Wonder in March 2008, with an official opening in April 2008.
The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer is a musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. It is based on the 1998 film of the same name.
- First performance: April 27, 2006
- Lyricist: Chad Beguelin
- Composer: Matthew Sklar
- Characters: Julia Sullivan, Glenn Guglia, Holly Sullivan, George, Robbie Hart, Grandma Rosie, Linda, Sammy
- Soundtrack: The Wedding Singer Original Broadway Cast Recording
- Playwrights: Chad Beguelin, Tim Herlihy
Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland is an original musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham.
- Playwright: James Graham
- Orchestrator: Simon Hale
- Lyricists: Gary Barlow, Eliot Kennedy
- Characters: Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Mrs. Emma du Maurier, and more
- Composers: Gary Barlow, Eliot Kennedy
- Adapted from: Finding Neverland, The Man Who was Peter Pan
Evil Dead
The Musical is a Canadian rock musical stage play based on the cult classic film series. First performed on stage in 2003 at the Tranzac Club in Toronto, Ontario, the show instantly became a massive hit.
- Date written: 2003
- Playwright: George Reinblatt
- Lyricist: George Reinblatt
- Soundtrack: Evil Dead: The Musical
- Adapted from: The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Evil Dead II
- Composers: Melissa Morris, George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond
Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands is a contemporary dance adaptation of the 1990 American romance fantasy film Edward Scissorhands, created by Matthew Bourne, with music by Terry Davies.
- First performance: November 22, 2005
- Playwright: Matthew Bourne
- Adapted from: Edward Scissorhands
- Composers: Terry Davies, Danny Elfman, Caroline Thompson
- Soundtrack: Edward Scissorhands
Tarzan
The musical is based on the Disney film of the same name, which is, in turn, adapted from the 1914 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Phil Collins writes the songs with a book by David Henry Hwang.
- First performance: May 10, 2006
- Playwright: David Henry Hwang
- Lyricist: Phil Collins
- Composer: Phil Collins
- Soundtracks: Tarzan, Tarzan: The Broadway Musical
Catch Me if You Can
Catch Me If You Can is a musical with a libretto by Terrence McNally and a theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It follows the story of con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr.
- First performance: March 11, 2011
- Composer: Marc Shaiman
- Playwright: Terrence McNally
- Adapted from: Catch Me if You Can
- Lyricists: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is an upcoming musical with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, adapted from their original screenplay.
- Adapted from: Back to the Future
- Playwrights: Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis, Jamie Lloyd
- Lyricists: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard
- Composers: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard
King Kong
King Kong is a musical with music by Marius de Vries, lyrics by Michael Mitnick and Craig Lucas, a book by Lucas and additional musical and lyrical contributions by 3D, Sarah McLachlan, Guy Garvey, Justice, and The Avalanches.
- Musical by Craig Lucas
- Playwright: Todd Matshikiza
- Lyricist: Todd Matshikiza
The Producers
Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan adapted Brooks’ 1968 film of the same name into a musical titled The Producers, with Brooks writing the lyrics and Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman arranging his music.
- Musical by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
- First performance: April 19, 2001
- Composer: Mel Brooks
- Adaptations: The Producers (2005)
- Adapted from: The Producers
- Soundtrack: The Producers (2001 original Broadway cast)
Ghost
Ghost the Musical is a musical with books and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard.
- Adapted from: Ghost
- Playwright: Bruce Joel Rubin
- Characters: Oda Mae Brown, Sam Wheat, Molly Jensen, Willie Lopez, Carl Bruner, Subway Ghost, Clara, Hospital Ghost, Louise
- Soundtrack: Ghost The Musical
- Composers: David A. Stewart, Glen Ballard Lyricists: Bruce Joel Rubin, David A. Stewart, Glen Ballard
The wizard of oz
With a book adaptation by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams, The Wizard of Oz is a musical that is based on the 1939 motion picture The Wizard of Oz. The musical uses Harold Arlen and E.Y.
- First performance: February 7, 2011
- Adapted from: The Wizard of Oz, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Playwrights: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jeremy Sams
- Lyricists: Yip Harburg, Tim Rice
- Composers: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart
A wonderful life
A Wonderful Life is a musical with a book and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Joe Raposo. Based on the classic Frank Capra film starring James Stewart, the story closely follows the original.
- Musical by Sheldon Harnick
- First performance: 1991
- Playwright: Sheldon Harnick
- Lyricist: Sheldon Harnick
So next time you’re humming along to Defying Gravity or tapping your toes to Supercalifragilistic Expialidocious, remember—your favourite musical may have started life on a page or a cinema screen long before it hit the stage. From witches and warblers to chimney sweeps and chain gangs, books and films have been the glittering blueprint behind some of Broadway and the West End’s biggest hits.
It’s like a creative domino effect: a novel becomes a film, a film becomes a musical, and suddenly we’re all crying, clapping, and giving standing ovations in the stalls. So grab your popcorn and your Playbill—because when stories leap from page to screen to stage, the drama just keeps getting better (and louder). Encore, anyone?
