This past weekend, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards took place. Among the winners were the two live musical events from the past year. The Wiz Live! took home one award for Costume Design and Grease: Live has so far won four (including Outstanding Special Class Program). This had me thinking about my next subject…
In 2013, the genre of live television musicals saw a resurgence with The Sound of Music on NBC. Since then, the peacock network gave us Peter Pan, The Wiz, and Hairspray coming up in December. Last January, FOX got in on the action with Grease to some very successful results. While FOX is planning to do another live musical, they still have yet to announce what it will be. Not to mention that ABC has expressed interest in getting in on the action. They could of course go with a Disney show, but with Disney keep wanting to make new films out of their classic properties, they’d probably have to wait.
Today, I thought I’d give 10 Broadway musicals as suggestions for future live television specials as well as which networks should produce them.
A Christmas Carol (ABC)
I know you’re probably thinking “Which Christmas Carol are you talking about?” I’m talking about the 1994 musical adaptation by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. It played at Madison Square Garden for 10 years and was adapted into a TV Movie in 2004 produced by Hallmark Entertainment and starring Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge to some not so great results. Given Alan Menken’s connections with Disney, perhaps this could be an option for ABC.
The Color Purple (NBC)
With the current Broadway revival is still running, it will probably be a while before this would happen. But I think given the universal appeal of the story from the 1982 original novel by Alice Walker, this would be a great contemporary musical to do as a live television special. There could be some great star casting in several of the supporting roles, just as long as Cynthia Erivo stars as Celie (sorry, but she is just too good to turn down).
Fiddler on the Roof (NBC)
While this show does get produced a lot, it still seems like a perfect choice for NBC to do. Yes, they’d probably have to wait a little while after the current Broadway revival wraps up, but that’s fine with me as long as NBC ends up doing it someday. The only potential problem I think would be the duration of the piece (it’s a three hour show). That would have to be a real challenge for whoever would be adapting Joseph Stein’s libretto for television.
Hair (FOX)
While some of the content (mainly the nudity) may be inappropriate for network television, the musical itself seems like a great choice for FOX. I also think how authors Galt MacDermot, James Rado, & Gerome Ragni were unhappy with the results of the 1979 film adaptation, perhaps a live television special could do a better job of capturing the essence of the stage musical.
Hello, Dolly! (NBC)
With a Broadway revival coming this spring, it’ll likely be a while before we see this all time classic presented on the small screen. With that being said, it would still be a great choice for NBC to do someday. I think especially how the musical wasn’t as successful when it was brought to the big screen in 1969 (which I actually watched for the first time on Netflix recently, not great, but good enough), a live television special could be more successful if done well. And maybe if Bette Midler does well in the role on Broadway, she could do it.
Little Shop of Horrors (FOX)
While this is a very small musical, it still seems like a great choice for FOX. They could also probably feature the original stage ending that was incorporated into the 1986 film adaptation at first before being replaced by a happier ending in post-production. Maybe Jake Gyllenhaal could star as Seymour after having played the role to great acclaim in New York last year.
Oliver! (ABC)
Despite its dark subject matter, I think this musical would be a great choice for ABC. It could potentially introduce the show to a whole new generation of families. I also think there could be some great star casting in the adult roles (like I wonder if Rowan Atkinson would be interested in reprising his role as Fagin from the recent West End revival).
Rent (FOX)
While there is a new nonunion tour that just launched, I still think FOX should definitely do this musical someday! For one, it’s a musical that probably wasn’t as well served on film as it could have been when it was brought to the big screen in 2005. It’s also a popular title with universal appeal, and very contemporary. I could also see some great star casting opportunities in several of the principal characters.
Seussical (NBC)
While the original Broadway production was not a success, the musical has since become a popular choice for schools and community/regional theatres to produce. Its source material is of course a popular brand, and a live television special could potentially feature some great star casting (like Neil Patrick Harris as The Cat in the Hat). It’s also worth noting that NBC is a property of Universal which produced most of the big screen adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ work.
West Side Story (FOX)
After The Sound of Music Live! aired to huge ratings, Broadway.com did a poll asking viewers which family-friendly musical they’d like to see NBC do next. For some strange reason, West Side Story appeared on the list. Anyone who has ever seen that show (or the film adaptation) knows that it is not by any means family-friendly. However, I think it would be a great choice for FOX to do.
So what do you think of these suggestions? Which Broadway musical would you most like to see presented as a live television special?
In 2013, the genre of live television musicals saw a resurgence with The Sound of Music on NBC. Since then, the peacock network gave us Peter Pan, The Wiz, and Hairspray coming up in December. Last January, FOX got in on the action with Grease to some very successful results. While FOX is planning to do another live musical, they still have yet to announce what it will be. Not to mention that ABC has expressed interest in getting in on the action. They could of course go with a Disney show, but with Disney keep wanting to make new films out of their classic properties, they’d probably have to wait.
Today, I thought I’d give 10 Broadway musicals as suggestions for future live television specials as well as which networks should produce them.
A Christmas Carol (ABC)
I know you’re probably thinking “Which Christmas Carol are you talking about?” I’m talking about the 1994 musical adaptation by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. It played at Madison Square Garden for 10 years and was adapted into a TV Movie in 2004 produced by Hallmark Entertainment and starring Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge to some not so great results. Given Alan Menken’s connections with Disney, perhaps this could be an option for ABC.
The Color Purple (NBC)
With the current Broadway revival is still running, it will probably be a while before this would happen. But I think given the universal appeal of the story from the 1982 original novel by Alice Walker, this would be a great contemporary musical to do as a live television special. There could be some great star casting in several of the supporting roles, just as long as Cynthia Erivo stars as Celie (sorry, but she is just too good to turn down).
Fiddler on the Roof (NBC)
While this show does get produced a lot, it still seems like a perfect choice for NBC to do. Yes, they’d probably have to wait a little while after the current Broadway revival wraps up, but that’s fine with me as long as NBC ends up doing it someday. The only potential problem I think would be the duration of the piece (it’s a three hour show). That would have to be a real challenge for whoever would be adapting Joseph Stein’s libretto for television.
Hair (FOX)
While some of the content (mainly the nudity) may be inappropriate for network television, the musical itself seems like a great choice for FOX. I also think how authors Galt MacDermot, James Rado, & Gerome Ragni were unhappy with the results of the 1979 film adaptation, perhaps a live television special could do a better job of capturing the essence of the stage musical.
Hello, Dolly! (NBC)
With a Broadway revival coming this spring, it’ll likely be a while before we see this all time classic presented on the small screen. With that being said, it would still be a great choice for NBC to do someday. I think especially how the musical wasn’t as successful when it was brought to the big screen in 1969 (which I actually watched for the first time on Netflix recently, not great, but good enough), a live television special could be more successful if done well. And maybe if Bette Midler does well in the role on Broadway, she could do it.
Little Shop of Horrors (FOX)
While this is a very small musical, it still seems like a great choice for FOX. They could also probably feature the original stage ending that was incorporated into the 1986 film adaptation at first before being replaced by a happier ending in post-production. Maybe Jake Gyllenhaal could star as Seymour after having played the role to great acclaim in New York last year.
Oliver! (ABC)
Despite its dark subject matter, I think this musical would be a great choice for ABC. It could potentially introduce the show to a whole new generation of families. I also think there could be some great star casting in the adult roles (like I wonder if Rowan Atkinson would be interested in reprising his role as Fagin from the recent West End revival).
Rent (FOX)
While there is a new nonunion tour that just launched, I still think FOX should definitely do this musical someday! For one, it’s a musical that probably wasn’t as well served on film as it could have been when it was brought to the big screen in 2005. It’s also a popular title with universal appeal, and very contemporary. I could also see some great star casting opportunities in several of the principal characters.
Seussical (NBC)
While the original Broadway production was not a success, the musical has since become a popular choice for schools and community/regional theatres to produce. Its source material is of course a popular brand, and a live television special could potentially feature some great star casting (like Neil Patrick Harris as The Cat in the Hat). It’s also worth noting that NBC is a property of Universal which produced most of the big screen adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ work.
West Side Story (FOX)
After The Sound of Music Live! aired to huge ratings, Broadway.com did a poll asking viewers which family-friendly musical they’d like to see NBC do next. For some strange reason, West Side Story appeared on the list. Anyone who has ever seen that show (or the film adaptation) knows that it is not by any means family-friendly. However, I think it would be a great choice for FOX to do.
So what do you think of these suggestions? Which Broadway musical would you most like to see presented as a live television special?