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Yahoo! News: "Willy Wonka could soon be kicking up his heels. Warner Bros. is developing a stage musical based on 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' the children's classic that it bought to the big screen four years ago."
I'm a bit skeptical of this becoming a onstage musical. The show has been done too many times and various ways, I'm not sure if another one is worth it, much less live theater and a musical. However, if it is good, it will be fantastic. To recreate all the magical scenes will be difficult because it could so easily become tacky. If the design is unexpected and new, it could work.
Hold on a minute? Isn't there already a Musical Version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Oh yeah there is. So why are is someone redoing it? Cause the only thing on Broadway are movies to musicals. Its disgusting that we have moved so far away from original work, that we are re-creating a script and production that already exists. I like I do like Tim Burton's style and hopeful it will translate to the stage. I am not saying it will be better than any other production, but people will be employed.
I agree that the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory no longer needs to be remade. There are already two films, a stage version, and a musical version- why do we need another one. The article described a lot of talent being involved in this recreation, and I have no doubt that it would be a good one. I'm just wondering why Broadway is no longer capable of having original works.
I don't think Broadway needs another movie adapted into a musical especially when there is already a stage adaptation and a musical. Is there really no other stories to tell for Broadway? And why is this story so important that it must be told again in a form it has already been told in? Are there no new original stories out there???
While I agree with everyone else, Broadway could use some fresh material, I also think that of all the stories to do this is at least one we know works as a musical. Recently too many stories that do not need music have been put to music. WIlly Wonka is a magical story that many different types of music can work with. Even though I would rather see new stories I love this one and I am looking forward to seeing what they do with it.
I find it interesting that it appears that this musical version will get new music. A lot of the songs from the original became so classic that it is interesting to abandon those, which people associate so heavily with Willy Wonka. I think that this could probably be a bad move, especially since the movie remake already changed all the music. I also think that musicals on Broadway could be more original, and not taking other source material. Some things are justified because their content allows for interesting new opportunities and advancements, such as the concept of the Spiderman Musical, but I doubt that Willy Wonka will be pushing the envelope.
I'm not really surprised that they want to make Willy Wonka into a musical (again). Not only will it make money since it is a classic childhood favorite, but it contains a lot of uplifting messages that everyone wants to believe right now. Willy Wonka is about a boy from a poor family that gets an incredible opportunity and in the end wins for being honest person. I think everyone dreams about this happening to them during this rough economic time.
Just because everyone likes to sing the Oompa Loompa song doesn't mean Willa Wonka is Broadway musical gold...I agree with Cody, I find it a complete cop-out that we have moved away from original work to reusing box office hits. Next thing we know we will have "Transformers the Musical" and I just might gouge my eyes out. I am all for retelling a story in a different scope, but what theatre audiences these days need is a good story, relevant to our times. I don't like to go into a theatre already knowing the ending of what I am about to see. I might just quit scene design and become a playwright because I swear I could come up with better ideas than this piece of garbage.
It's sometimes easy to forget that Broadway is about the bottom line. Do I want more original works? Of course but I never really hold my breath when it comes to the world of the Broadway musical. Sometimes we see really new and original things but oftentimes we are served up the latest and greatest idea for a money making endeavor. I actually think visually Willy Wonka would make a great stage show. I know it has been reworked recently so it is fresher in the minds of a lot of people but who knows it could end up being a really successful and profitable show. I'd go see it.
Personally, I feel this will be an interesting musical for many reasons. Firstly, I think the concept of the story is one, that while many people know, is still interesting and exciting. I feel that in the end, the music and the overall look of the show will prvide one of the most exciting and vivid looks Broadway has seen in years. But more importantly is the audience. I feel that this story will encourage a new deographic to the theater: families wth children. With children being exposed to theater at a youger age, the next generation of theater is insured.
While I am all for retelling stories for a different purpose or to share a different point, this is getting ridiculous. WHERE ARE THE NEW ORIGINAL MUSICALS? Broadway is filled with movie musicals adapted for the stage and imports from London's West End. The musical, a uniquely American art form is becoming lost in adaptations and imports. In addition, when adapting something, in my mind you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Very few people will be happy with the result. This isn't quite right. Why did you take this part out. etc. In addition to the lack of ingenuity coming from Broadway theaters, changing media is a very difficult task, one which requires much more care than some people approach it with. I am very cautious about this musical and its arrival to the Broadway stage.
Alright, I'm going to play devil's advocate. Seriously guys, I know it's really frustrating that originality is slowing sinking into the ground, and it's frustrating for us as artists, because it makes it that much harder to create a vision for ourselves rather than mimicking someone else's. But I do not see the problem. Someone loves Willy Wonka so much, they think they can do it better, more power to them. Speaking as a DP who has been inspired, and moved by other works, and got started drawing Master Duplications rather than what I saw in my own head, I think it will be a fantastic musical. I love Willy Wonka. If someone can do it better than Tim Burton (although it's honestly not a very high standard in my opinion...) then I'm uber excited to see how they interpret the story. Actually, I'm somewhat happy if Mendes can erase the awful image that Tim Burton left in my head. That's my personal opinion, but I did not like the artistic direction for Burton's film/Burton in general (except for Nightmare). More power to you Mendes!
What will they use as the basis for the broadway version? There's already a book and two movies out there, will this be a fresh version from the book, will it be a re-hash of the first movie to capitalize on the score, will it take music from the second movie, or some combination thereof? It seems like another one of those projects that's already a part of the public consciousness because of its many existing versions, no matter how they do it it's bound to disappoint some people by not being what they remembered even if another person thinks it matches their remembrance of it.
I think this could provide interesting challenges for a creative in team, in that they have to provide scenery and designs for multiple locations--made out of candy!
On a more serious note, this has been done before! Not only was it a movie, it has already been a stage musical. Why can't people understand that if it's already been done, move onto something else. Spend some time developing something new.
It has gotten to the point where I don't even care what movie is being adapted to the stage; simply the fact that another movie is being adapted to the stage is annoying. Sure, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will probably work better onstage than some other movies-turned-musicals that have been sprouting up lately, but whatever happened to the original musical? It is almost as if the new definition of a musical has become "a stage version of a popular movie with some song and dance numbers squished in." There are too many cases in which the desire to make a lot of money overrides the desire to maintain artistic integrity.
At first I was going to say - really another stage adaptation of a movie - but actually I think this would make a fantastic stage show. I am most curious to see how they take the script - the first movie was very dark and scary and sketchy, but Time Burton's movie was colorful and bright and creepy all in its own way - that is my favorite thing about this story is how dramatically it has been adapted. Plus when I read the book I didn't get the same impression I got from either movie.
First, the fact that almost everything that we see coming out of Broadway is a remake of something else, and this is a sad fact. The theatre stage is a unique platform on which a message can be delivered, and it shall be used as such. The fact that money has become that main motivation behind the choice of a season is horrific. While one of the main concerns of a commercial producing organization is to make money, this must be balanced with the want to bring art to the audience. And while some works deserve reinterpretation, or perhaps a change in medium, most of it seems to be beating a dead horse. However, this particular project has the potential to be quite amazing with the technological advances that we have made. So perhaps I am contradicting myself... I hope that it is a fantastic reinterpretation of this classic story.
So of course my first reaction was "this is awesome!!" I always loved willy wonka... but then I actually thought about it. Movies turned into musicals aren't really that great, they are just there to make money, what is the statement being made by Willy Wonka? I don't really think there is one.
I can not imagine this as a Broadway musical. It would either be amazing or awful. I do agree with Sylvianne in that if it was done right that it would be amazing. I loved the book when I was young and the movie with Gene Wilder. I would watch it over and over again. I would be upset if it was as awful as the movie Tim Burton did with Johnny Depp. It was an amazing movie before and I still do not understand why it had to be remade. I hope that if this musical comes to Broadway then it will do justice to the book.
20 comments:
I'm a bit skeptical of this becoming a onstage musical. The show has been done too many times and various ways, I'm not sure if another one is worth it, much less live theater and a musical. However, if it is good, it will be fantastic. To recreate all the magical scenes will be difficult because it could so easily become tacky. If the design is unexpected and new, it could work.
Hold on a minute? Isn't there already a Musical Version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Oh yeah there is. So why are is someone redoing it? Cause the only thing on Broadway are movies to musicals. Its disgusting that we have moved so far away from original work, that we are re-creating a script and production that already exists. I like I do like Tim Burton's style and hopeful it will translate to the stage. I am not saying it will be better than any other production, but people will be employed.
I agree that the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory no longer needs to be remade. There are already two films, a stage version, and a musical version- why do we need another one. The article described a lot of talent being involved in this recreation, and I have no doubt that it would be a good one. I'm just wondering why Broadway is no longer capable of having original works.
I don't think Broadway needs another movie adapted into a musical especially when there is already a stage adaptation and a musical. Is there really no other stories to tell for Broadway? And why is this story so important that it must be told again in a form it has already been told in? Are there no new original stories out there???
While I agree with everyone else, Broadway could use some fresh material, I also think that of all the stories to do this is at least one we know works as a musical. Recently too many stories that do not need music have been put to music. WIlly Wonka is a magical story that many different types of music can work with. Even though I would rather see new stories I love this one and I am looking forward to seeing what they do with it.
I find it interesting that it appears that this musical version will get new music. A lot of the songs from the original became so classic that it is interesting to abandon those, which people associate so heavily with Willy Wonka. I think that this could probably be a bad move, especially since the movie remake already changed all the music. I also think that musicals on Broadway could be more original, and not taking other source material. Some things are justified because their content allows for interesting new opportunities and advancements, such as the concept of the Spiderman Musical, but I doubt that Willy Wonka will be pushing the envelope.
I'm not really surprised that they want to make Willy Wonka into a musical (again). Not only will it make money since it is a classic childhood favorite, but it contains a lot of uplifting messages that everyone wants to believe right now. Willy Wonka is about a boy from a poor family that gets an incredible opportunity and in the end wins for being honest person. I think everyone dreams about this happening to them during this rough economic time.
Just because everyone likes to sing the Oompa Loompa song doesn't mean Willa Wonka is Broadway musical gold...I agree with Cody, I find it a complete cop-out that we have moved away from original work to reusing box office hits. Next thing we know we will have "Transformers the Musical" and I just might gouge my eyes out. I am all for retelling a story in a different scope, but what theatre audiences these days need is a good story, relevant to our times. I don't like to go into a theatre already knowing the ending of what I am about to see. I might just quit scene design and become a playwright because I swear I could come up with better ideas than this piece of garbage.
It's sometimes easy to forget that Broadway is about the bottom line. Do I want more original works? Of course but I never really hold my breath when it comes to the world of the Broadway musical. Sometimes we see really new and original things but oftentimes we are served up the latest and greatest idea for a money making endeavor. I actually think visually Willy Wonka would make a great stage show. I know it has been reworked recently so it is fresher in the minds of a lot of people but who knows it could end up being a really successful and profitable show. I'd go see it.
Personally, I feel this will be an interesting musical for many reasons. Firstly, I think the concept of the story is one, that while many people know, is still interesting and exciting. I feel that in the end, the music and the overall look of the show will prvide one of the most exciting and vivid looks Broadway has seen in years. But more importantly is the audience. I feel that this story will encourage a new deographic to the theater: families wth children. With children being exposed to theater at a youger age, the next generation of theater is insured.
While I am all for retelling stories for a different purpose or to share a different point, this is getting ridiculous. WHERE ARE THE NEW ORIGINAL MUSICALS? Broadway is filled with movie musicals adapted for the stage and imports from London's West End. The musical, a uniquely American art form is becoming lost in adaptations and imports. In addition, when adapting something, in my mind you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Very few people will be happy with the result. This isn't quite right. Why did you take this part out. etc. In addition to the lack of ingenuity coming from Broadway theaters, changing media is a very difficult task, one which requires much more care than some people approach it with. I am very cautious about this musical and its arrival to the Broadway stage.
Alright, I'm going to play devil's advocate. Seriously guys, I know it's really frustrating that originality is slowing sinking into the ground, and it's frustrating for us as artists, because it makes it that much harder to create a vision for ourselves rather than mimicking someone else's. But I do not see the problem. Someone loves Willy Wonka so much, they think they can do it better, more power to them. Speaking as a DP who has been inspired, and moved by other works, and got started drawing Master Duplications rather than what I saw in my own head, I think it will be a fantastic musical. I love Willy Wonka. If someone can do it better than Tim Burton (although it's honestly not a very high standard in my opinion...) then I'm uber excited to see how they interpret the story. Actually, I'm somewhat happy if Mendes can erase the awful image that Tim Burton left in my head. That's my personal opinion, but I did not like the artistic direction for Burton's film/Burton in general (except for Nightmare). More power to you Mendes!
What will they use as the basis for the broadway version? There's already a book and two movies out there, will this be a fresh version from the book, will it be a re-hash of the first movie to capitalize on the score, will it take music from the second movie, or some combination thereof? It seems like another one of those projects that's already a part of the public consciousness because of its many existing versions, no matter how they do it it's bound to disappoint some people by not being what they remembered even if another person thinks it matches their remembrance of it.
I think this could provide interesting challenges for a creative in team, in that they have to provide scenery and designs for multiple locations--made out of candy!
On a more serious note, this has been done before! Not only was it a movie, it has already been a stage musical. Why can't people understand that if it's already been done, move onto something else. Spend some time developing something new.
It has gotten to the point where I don't even care what movie is being adapted to the stage; simply the fact that another movie is being adapted to the stage is annoying. Sure, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will probably work better onstage than some other movies-turned-musicals that have been sprouting up lately, but whatever happened to the original musical? It is almost as if the new definition of a musical has become "a stage version of a popular movie with some song and dance numbers squished in." There are too many cases in which the desire to make a lot of money overrides the desire to maintain artistic integrity.
At first I was going to say - really another stage adaptation of a movie - but actually I think this would make a fantastic stage show. I am most curious to see how they take the script - the first movie was very dark and scary and sketchy, but Time Burton's movie was colorful and bright and creepy all in its own way - that is my favorite thing about this story is how dramatically it has been adapted. Plus when I read the book I didn't get the same impression I got from either movie.
First, the fact that almost everything that we see coming out of Broadway is a remake of something else, and this is a sad fact. The theatre stage is a unique platform on which a message can be delivered, and it shall be used as such. The fact that money has become that main motivation behind the choice of a season is horrific. While one of the main concerns of a commercial producing organization is to make money, this must be balanced with the want to bring art to the audience. And while some works deserve reinterpretation, or perhaps a change in medium, most of it seems to be beating a dead horse.
However, this particular project has the potential to be quite amazing with the technological advances that we have made. So perhaps I am contradicting myself... I hope that it is a fantastic reinterpretation of this classic story.
So of course my first reaction was "this is awesome!!" I always loved willy wonka... but then I actually thought about it. Movies turned into musicals aren't really that great, they are just there to make money, what is the statement being made by Willy Wonka? I don't really think there is one.
I can not imagine this as a Broadway musical. It would either be amazing or awful. I do agree with Sylvianne in that if it was done right that it would be amazing. I loved the book when I was young and the movie with Gene Wilder. I would watch it over and over again. I would be upset if it was as awful as the movie Tim Burton did with Johnny Depp. It was an amazing movie before and I still do not understand why it had to be remade. I hope that if this musical comes to Broadway then it will do justice to the book.
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