# Let's come up with the worst (and best) ideas for (BLANK): the Musical **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895 "2013-12-09T15:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/1 "2013-12-09T15:25:19Z")
A thead inspired by [Rocky: The Musical](http://www.rockybroadway.com/upgrade.php). Was Stallone high or does he need money? Anyway, what are your ideas for the worst (and best) movies and TV shows to be turned into a Broadway musical?? Worst: Glee, the Musical. Why is that insipid show so popular? Law & Order:SVU the Musical. Nothing like singing about sex crimes. Absolute Best: Wolverine: The Musical starring Hugh Jackman. I would kill to see that one! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/2 "2013-12-09T15:28:21Z")
I’d like to see _Frankenstein: the Musical_. The gimmick is that all of the songs would be taken from other musicals, sometimes reworked, and stitched together into one frightening, bloated corpse! There’s a Light Over At The Frankenstein Place – Rocky Horror Picture Show Something’s Gonna Live! (Something’s Gotta Give!) etc. etc. ad infinitum ad nauseum Why, yes, I did grow up reading \*Mad \*magazine. How could you tell? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/3 "2013-12-09T15:54:52Z")
_Battlefield Earth: the Musical_. Performed on a tilted stage! Bubble gum scenery to make chewing it easier! Dance routines on stilts! Scientology lecture at intermission! ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/4 "2013-12-09T15:59:32Z")
_Carrie: The Musical_. Whadaya mean, it’s been done? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/5 "2013-12-09T16:03:24Z")
Worst: _Warren Commission Report-The Musical!_ Best: _The Mad Magazine Musical_ ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/6 "2013-12-09T16:30:17Z")
I dunno…maybe Rocky will be good. (Aren’t Ahrens and Flaherty doing the music?) Anyway, here’s my pick: Best: The Wind In The Willows (it’s had several musical version, but nothing high-profile) Shadowlands (the play/movie about the romance of C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham–could be a very intimate romantic musical) Worst: The Da Vinci Code The thing is, it’s hard for me to think of anything that would defy musicalization, since my favorite musicals are based on: -an updating of Romeo and Juliet to the slums of 1950s New York -a cheap Roger Corman horror-comedy about a man-eating plant -a legend of a murderous barber and his ingenious way of disposing of the bodies -a passel of presidential assassins -a book of loosely related short stories by James Michener about life in the South Pacific during WWII -the story of an Asian monarch trying to navigate the demands of a changing world without alienating his people, and the British widow who both inspires and endangers him -a European play about an impulsive, violent carnival barker and the trouble he causes even after his death -an epic French novel that spans twenty years, covers a slew of characters, and tackles heavy themes like religious faith, justice, and redemption -an Ingmar Bergman film that was one of his rare romantic comedies -a bunch of short stories by Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem about life in turn-of-the-century Russia -an update of Puccini’s La Boheme to 1990s Greenwich Village -an update of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly to the Vietnam War -a Charles Dickens novel about child abuse, crime, and grinding poverty (but with a happy ending overall) -the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the political wheeling and dealing that had to be done to accomplish it …well, with all these sources, I can see almost ANYTHING as a musical. I guess the only bad sources would be if the source material doesn’t…well…sing. If, even in moments of emotion, you can’t imagine the characters singing. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/7 "2013-12-09T16:41:21Z")
**Sawney Beane: The Musical** > **[Sawney Bean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawney_Bean)** > > Alexander "Sawney" Bean was said to be the head of a 45-member clan in Scotland in the 16th century that murdered and cannibalised over 1,000 people in 25 years. According to legend, Bean and his clan members were eventually caught by a search party sent by King James VI and executed for their heinous crimes. > The story appeared in The Newgate Calendar, a crime catalog of Newgate Prison in London. The legend lacks sufficient evidence to be deemed true by historians, and there is debate as to wh... We’ve already had cannibal musicals – Sweeney Todd (who was the same status of mythical) and “Cannibal: The Musical”. What would make this one different is the characters total lack of empathy and charm. It’d put a stop to future cannibal musicals. I hope. If not, maybe _H.P. Lovecraft’s The Picture in the House: The Musical_ will. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/8 "2013-12-09T16:44:20Z")
\*\*Schindler’s List \*\* the musical. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/9 "2013-12-09T16:45:18Z")
I WOULD say some WWII-ish like _Downfall_, but I would fear an accidental hit . . . ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/10 "2013-12-09T16:46:07Z")
Johnny One Note: The Musical ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/11 "2013-12-09T16:50:06Z")
Saw: The Musical Can’t decide if best or worst idea. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/12 "2013-12-09T16:52:00Z")
_Highlander 2-The Musical_ ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/13 "2013-12-09T16:53:10Z")
_ **Muhammad!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/14 "2013-12-09T16:54:19Z")
Much snippage ahoy: > [@Hermione](#): > > -a passel of presidential assassins > -a European play about an impulsive, violent carnival barker and the trouble he causes even after his death > -an Ingmar Bergman film that was one of his rare romantic comedies I can identify all the others, but not these. And for my candidate: Buffy: The Vampire Slayer - Hush. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/15 "2013-12-09T17:01:20Z")
“a European play about an impulsive, violent carnival barker and the trouble he causes even after his death” - [_ **Cabinet of Dr Caligari** _](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cabinet_of_Dr._Caligari)? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/16 "2013-12-09T17:03:55Z")
-an Ingmar Bergman film that was one of his rare romantic comedies –This one’s _A Little Night Music_ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/17 "2013-12-09T17:10:51Z")
**Musial: The Musical** The story of baseball immortal Stan Musial, who married his childhood sweetheart, rose quickly through the minor leagues, had a long, distinguished major league career, never had an alcohol or drug problem, never accused of personal or professional impropriety, retired on his own terms, and lived well and well-loved until his death. Possibly the most boring storyline in the history of theater, musical or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/18 "2013-12-09T17:15:43Z")
> [@Hermione](#): > > -a passel of presidential assassins [Assassins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins_(musical)) > [@](#): > > -a European play about an impulsive, violent carnival barker and the trouble he causes even after his death [Carousel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel_(musical)) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/19 "2013-12-09T17:16:33Z")
Mel Brook’s _Silent Movie-The Musical_ ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895/20 "2013-12-09T17:45:31Z")
_Microsoft Excel: The Musical!_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-come-up-with-the-worst-and-best-ideas-for-blank-the-musical/675895.md?page=2)