What is the best Broadway show adapted from a movie? Choose from the two dozen below, listed alphabetically, or add one that’s not on the list.
It wasn’t until 1970 that a Broadway show based on a movie won the Tony for best musical. Fittingly, the musical was Applause, inspired by All About Eve, a movie about the theater. Now every major Hollywood studio has a theatrical division, looking to create shows for Broadway, and every Broadway season includes a number of musicals that are based on movies. Next month alone, four new shows will open on Broadway based on original movies (whose movie posters are picured above.) Add to these the seven screen-to-stage adaptations already currently on Broadway.
I’d like to point out that Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (film) was not an “original” movie and the soon-to-open musical is not based on a movie (and there have been two film adaptations.) Both films as well as the musical are based on the wildly popular novel of the same name written by Roald Dahl.
I have to also add that Mamma Mia was a stage production long before it was made into a film. I’m also sure that some people might find A Little Night Music’s inclusion to be a bit of a stretch as well considering the stage show opened in 1973 and the movie came out in 1977.
Mamma Mia borrowed its plot from the Gina Lollobrigida sex farce “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell” (1968)
A Little Night Music is an adaptation by Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler of Ingmar Bergman’s comedy “Smiles of a Summer Night” (1955)
You’re on firmer ground with “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,” but the new Broadway musical uses the songs from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, as well as new songs by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.