Coming soon to a stage near you
Film,Theatre,musical
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
We weren\'t sure what to expect when we heard that iconic Abba musical Mamma Mia was set to hit the big screen. Thankfully, Meryl Streep\'s brilliant star turn won us over (with a bit of help from Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, of course). Instead of films based on musicals, the new trend is to base stage shows on films. The Wizard Of Oz capitalised on the success of Wicked (and the popularity of the original film) with a magical season in the West End this summer and next year, we can look forward to a London run for iconic cross-dressing tale Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. In the meantime, Sister Act is looking for a London venue to call home and it\'s rumoured that 9 To 5, based on the classic Dolly Parton film and with songs written by the queen of country herself, may be coming to town, too. We can even, erm, look forward to a Spider-man musical in 2009, featuring music by U2. But as fabulous as a good musical can be, there\'s nothing more tragic than a lame one. Producers have taken a gamble with some recent film-to-stage conversions so here\'s our guide to the good, the great, and the best forgotten >>>
Zorro
Film,Theatre,musical
default alt: Zorro : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
The film that projected Catherine Zeta Jones to Hollywood glory (and reminded us just how sexy Antonio Banderas can be) wasn\'t an obvious choice for a musical interpretation, and highbrow Chilean novelist Isabel Allende wasn\'t the obvious choice to produce it. But with songs by Grammy-nominated group The Gipsy Kings, choreography by internationally renowned flamenco dancer Rafael Amargo, and a sizzling Spanish storyline, Zorro has been setting the West End alight. Ole!
http://www.zorrothemusical.com/
Spamalot
Film,Theatre,musical
Spamalot : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Monty Python And The Holy Grail was an unexpected film-to-musical adaptation but, 30 years after the original, Monty Python cast member Eric Idle and lyricist John Du Prez mixed Arthurian legend with Broadway parody to create a musical spectacular that fast became a sell-out success. Spamalot has picked up three Tony awards (the Oscars of theatre land) and is going strong on both sides of the Atlantic.
http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/
Flashdance
music,Film,Theatre,musical
Flashdance : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Flashdance is currently touring the UK, with a cast including ex-Corrie actor Bruno Langley and ex-Brookside actress Bernie Nolan. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt takes the lead role as Alex - an 18-year-old welder by day and dancer by night - who desperately wants to go to ballet school. The film version shot Jennifer Beals to stardom and made Irene Cara\'s What A Feeling! an iconic anthem for everyone with a dream. But we can\'t help wondering if the story is a bit too thin for a stage show, and only hope there won\'t be a body double for the tricky dance moves like there was in the film...
http://www.flashdancethemusical.com/
Dirty Dancing
Film,Theatre,musical,patrick swayze
Dirty Dancing : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
She was a good girl looking for excitement; he was a bad boy looking for love. She carried a watermelon; he taught her to dance. Was there ever a girl who grew up after 1987 who didn\'t learn the words to every song and try to find someone to practise \'the lift\' with? Dirty Dancing is such a girlie classic that it would have been a tragedy for it to have flopped. Thankfully, the West End show has recaptured the precise mix of innocence and sexiness that made the movie such a success. Turns out you really can\'t put Baby in a corner.
http://www.dirtydancingonstage.com/
Billy Elliot
Film,Theatre,musical
Billy Elliot : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Child labour laws make this one of the few shows where the lead role changes every night, but audiences don\'t seem to mind. The uplifting story of a boy from County Durham who wants to become a ballerina is based on Stephen Daldry\'s 2000 film. Created in 2005, Billy Elliot the stage show has since won Best Musical at the prestigious Olivier Awards. It opened to critical acclaim in Sydney in 2007 and won Best Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2008. Just the boost it needs before Billy\'s Broadway premiere next month.
http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com/
The Lion King
Film,Theatre,musical
The Lion King : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Turning a much-loved animated feature with an all-animal cast into a Broadway and West End musical has to be one of the biggest challenges in the history of theatre but Disney took to it with gusto. Incredible costumes, awe-inspiring African singing and sheer raw energy have ensured The Lion King is still booked solid in both London and New York 11 years after it premiered. Not surprisingly, it has also garnered Tony and Olivier awards and continues to thrill audiences of all ages.
http://www.disney.co.uk/MusicalTheatre/TheLionKing/
Calendar Girls
Helen Mirren,Film,Theatre,musical
Calendar Girls : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Could this be the WI\'s biggest contribution to society? Currently on tour prior to a West End run, Lynda Bellingham and Patricia Hodge pick up where the stars of Calendar Girls (including Helen Mirren and Julie Walters) left off. Audiences around the country have been flocking to see this true story of friendship and fundraising set to music. But anyone attending for the nude bits will have been sorely disappointed: we\'re assured that strategically placed props ensure no one will catch a glimpse of something they shouldn\'t!
http://www.seecalendargirls.com/
Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon,Film,Theatre,musical
Legally Blonde : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
As well as being an audience favourite, the movie Legally Blonde was nominated for two Golden Globes and made a star of Reese Witherspoon. When her character Elle Woods was faced with losing her man, she used her positive attitude, sparkly pink outfits and a well-dressed pet Chihuahua to help wangle her way into Harvard - and into our hearts. Thanks to the story\'s re-invention as a Tony award-nominated Broadway musical, Elle is now on her way to the West End, taking over at the Piccadilly Theatre when Grease comes to an end later this year. Now when she says, "I go here," she\'ll be talking about London. Omigod!
http://www.legallyblondethemusical.com/
Lestat
Tom Cruise,Elton john,Film,Theatre,musical
Lestat : Interview With A Vampire : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
After The Lion King and Billy Elliot, it must have seemed like Elton John could do no wrong, but he came crashing down to earth as the co-creator (with Bernie Taupin) of Lestat. Based on Interview With A Vampire, the musical centred around the character played by Tom Cruise in the hit 1995 film, which was itself based on Anne Rice\'s book. As the enduring popularity of Buffy proves, everyone loves a good vampire. But nobody loves a bad one, and this show was savaged by the critics. When it opened on Broadway in April 2006, The New York Times hailed it "a musical sleeping pill". Not quite what the producers were hoping for.
http://www.annerice.com/Lestat-TheMusical
Shrek
books,Film,Theatre,musical
Shrek : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
The 2001 film (which was loosely based on a 1991 book called Shrek! by William Steig) was a huge hit with parents and kids alike and, although the sequels are becoming progressively less impressive, the stage show has been warmly received so far. It\'s only in previews at the moment, but is opening on Broadway on 14 December when it will be looking to steal The Lion King\'s crown as the most family-friendly musical in town.
http://www.shrekthemusical.com/
The Sound Of Music
Film,Theatre,musical,summer strallen
The Sound Of Music : Films vs. Musicals : Entertainment on handbag.com
Nuns, Nazis and lonely widowers. Not the ideal makings of a musical, perhaps, but the story of the real-life Van Trapp family made movie magic in 1965 thanks in large part to Julie Andrews\' charismatic performance as Maria the nanny, the a woman who lists brown paper packages as one of her favourite things (bless). Andrew Lloyd Webber\'s 2006 Sound Of Music revival has been one of the most popular stagings of the show to date, although TV talent show winner Connie Fisher has now made way for West End royalty in the form of Bonnie Langford\'s impressively voiced niece Summer Strallen.
http://www.soundofmusiclondon.com/
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