The Sunday Giveaway: Two Tickets to A Time to Kill on Broadway!
Oh man, when I heard that Daryl Roth, my partner-in-Kinky Boots, had secured the rights to John Grisham’s A Time to Kill years ago I was super-jeal. I love me a courtroom drama. And I love me some John Grisham. And while most people would call The Firm their favorite Grisham thriller, A Time to Kill was always mine (there’s a great story about how Grisham wrote A Time to Kill just to put it on his desk and say he wrote a novel – not trying to be the big success that he became – he wrote because he wanted to write – and look what the heck happened).
And now A Time to Kill is on Broadway. And one of you gets to see it for free . . . and here’s how:
Grisham could be only the beginning. What other popular author or book do you think could spawn a successful stage play? Or musical?
Give me your answer in the comments below and by this time next week, you could have two tickets to see A Time to Kill on Broadway!
Good luck!
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Life of Pi
Kite Runner
Lovely Bones
Bridge to Terabithia
Judy Bloom
So many wonderful stories out there, but I think Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden- which was a decent movie – could be told beautifully on stage.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet would be beautiful for the stage.
MEMENTO
I want to see The Princess Bride as a musical. The movie is wonderful, and the book is one of my favorites to reread.
I just want to throw in how much I loved “A Time to Kill” at the Arena in D.C. We saw it mainly because there was no matinee of “Follies” at KC that day, and it was such a powerhouse. A memorable theater day for me. (Were these same producers involved then, or did you discover the play version there?)
Jodi Picoult’s books scream to be made into a play. They’re super dramatic and heightened and could be very compelling.
Daphne Du Maurier’s REBECCA…. Oh. Wait.
Something Stephen King could be really cool. I would also love to see In Cold Blood by Truman Capote or even one of the movies based of that book, like Infamous, would be great. Other ideas are Lush Life, Trainspotting, Anthem and I would love if Rebecca actually happened. I was so excited for that!
To Kill A Mockingbird
A Seperate Peace. It has a great plot and a great relationship to musicalize. Bobby Steggert and Aaron Tviet should star.
I saw a one hour version of ‘A Separate Peace’ I think two years ago at a NY Fringe Festival. A one man show [he played both young men plus several other characters]. I forget the actor’s name who also wrote it. It was a brillant piece of theatre. If I was a producer with some bucks and connections I would have scooped it up and found a second one woman piece to match with it for an off B’Way production.
Stephen King’s novel Misery would be amazing as a stage play!
The tension would play out tangibly in front of a live audience!
Zachary Quinto as Paul.
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
Stranger in a Strange Land. Its day will come. I nominate John Tiffany!
I want to see The Way We Were done as a muscial on Broadway.
I’m still desperately awaiting part 2 of John Irving’s The Cider House Rules!
Philip K. Dick’s “Blade Runner,” especially now that we see what can be done with a ton of video effects (think Big Fish, etc.)
Oh I like this a lot, could be an amazing musical in the right hands. Amazing how it still not only holds up as a movie, but still comes off as ‘ahead of it’s time’ even now.
I see that someone already said this, but Jodi Picoult’s novels NEED to become plays. She has a unique way of telling stories that takes contemporary hot-button issues and dissecting them in an uncomfortable (in the best possible sense) way. Of her many titles, I would kill to see Nineteen Minutes as a stage production
Jody Piccoult’s novels are excellent and she would bring a whole new audience to Broadway and the theater.
I think JK Rowling’s Casual Vacancy would make a great musical- since there’s so many stories and different characters, it’d make for a killer score! Also A Series of Unfortunate Events- kooky, mysterious, and fun, with great characters, many of which sport various disguises. The movie was a flop, but hey, things worked out for Newsies!
GONE WITH THE WIND
There was/is a Harold Rome GWTW musical that played in London, and toured a bit here in the USA. By morning in NYC, the London opening night story reached the Big Apple of what Noel Coward said when a live horse took a dump ON STAGE during the ‘Burning of Atlanta ‘ first act finale number…. It was priceless!
Any of Anne Tyler’s brilliant novels – such as “The Accidental Tourist” or “Breathing Lessons” – would be wonderful to see on the stage.
Faulkner’s Light in August would be a challenging play to write but oh how sweet would that play be!
I just read THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak, the story of a German girl and her family that harbors a Jewish man in their basement during WW2. I think it would be a great musical or play….and then it got me thinking about all the other Holocaust story’s that would make for a great show! Especially Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally. A large portion of the Broadway audience are Jewish and if it’s done well a nice big tear-jerking Les Miserable esc style show could run for YEARS!
I really think that Janet Evanovich’s One For The Money would have been a significantly better musical than movie.
john irving’s somewhat fantastical style of storytelling could be good fodder for musical adaptation.
I think someone should write a musical comedy about Joel Osteen. (seriously). I’m a big fan and read all his books, watch him on TV..but making a parody about the subject of religion (and they’re Texans)…just brings to mind so many possibilities. 🙂 OR, if and when the three women at the heart of the Ariel Castro debacle write a book….that would make a gripping play. (forgive my thinking outside of the box.):)
I would LOVE for A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris to be a stage play or musical. It’s one of my favorites! Also, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant comes to mind.
Among the Hidden would make a fantastic play!
Tom Clancy. Why not?
I think the book Flowers in the Attic can be made into a production for the stage . Especially as musical . That’s my vote!!
Seeing stories like Beauty & The Beast, The Lion King, and Big Fish brought to life in amazing ways on the stage, I’d love to see Harry Potter as a musical.
Great characters, amazing costumes, crazy effects, and, of course, Daniel Radcliffe could make his way back to the Great White Way (so impressed with him in How to Succeed…)
I often thought “The Giver” would make a good play/musical.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern would be amazing as a musical.
Stephen Vicent Benet’s “The Devil and Daniel Webster” would make a wonderful musical. In fact I working on a modern version which I call “Devlin, Daniel and Webster.” It’s a musical comedy with some thoughtful overtones (pun intended).
Jodi Picoult!
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh would be fun to watch on stage!!
Robertson Davies’ Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders.
Not a musical, I don’t think, but a wonderful rich world, with sex, suicide, madness, and a preternaturally magical magician. And hope! If not a full-length play, a trilogy of plays or a film. It’s been out there a long time, such great, rich material. I can’t understand why no one has tackled it!
One of favorite books is Time and Again, by Jack Finney. There is a scene that takes place in the Dakota that gives me chills. The main character looks out the window & sees the Natural History Museum–so he realizes he has travelled back in time. It’s a wonderful & romantic NYC tale. It would make a terrific musical.
It could be challenging as a play because of the set requirements. Might work better as a musical. But please, won’t SOMEONE make this brillant and moving book into a viable movie. I am sooooooo sick of the crap Hollywood is largely producing and all the wonderful scripts that have already been written and deserve a larger audience [via film] that might not ever read the book. Another example of this is Orson Scott Card. I’ve heard through some source that it’s nearly impossible to get a book of his approved for film rights. Finally ‘Ender’s Game’ is being made and I’m looking forward to seeing it. His ‘Seventh Son’ and ‘The Red Prophet’ are screaming to be made into film, and now we have the technology to do it. But the contrabutions here are about theatre not film so I appologize for wantering off the path.
Five people you meet in heaven mitch alburm
or bridget jones by helen fielding
I think George Orwell’s 1984 would make for a good, edgy, dark chamber musical.
I think The Hunt for Red October would
be an interesting play. It really is a cat and mouse game. No huge special effects. Just
good drama. Bridge to Terabithia would be a fantastic kids musical with huge special effects.
thomas harris’s the silence of the lambs is my favorite book and movie, so why not turn it into my favorite stage play…?
I would love to see a stage adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It continues to be one of my favorite books.
HARRY POTTER
I’ve always been surprised that no one has tried to musicalize Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER. But with the ROCKY musical coming to Broadway, can this other Italian blockbuster be far behind?
I think Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” could be a powerful musical. Just saying.
I think The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett could possibly work onstage.
Umberto Eco! “The Name of the Rose” was his big best-seller and made a great movie, and FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM would make a terrific play. It’s even more current now than it was in 1988: 1) post-“Da Vinci Code,” the faux-conspiracy plot requires less explanation; 2) most of the scenes are interpersonal, which works well on stage; and 3) it has great potential for onstage spectacle, a la “Equus” and “M. Butterfly.” If only John Dexter was still around to direct it!
I think the Help by Kathryn Stockett would make a great play.
Middlesex.
Perhaps The Giver?
I think that many of edger Allen Poe stories and novels have gone in looked. There are many many short stories that could be made into gripping musicals and with out a big budget. The stories and characters will hold the audience enough. I say Poe!!!
I’d love to see some Jack Finney time travel stories put onstage. Time And Again would be awesome!
Anne Rice – Interview with a Vampire
Gone Girl would make an interesting play- and could potentially be a two-actor play, which producers like. Someone suggested Stephen King’s Misery- that actually already is a play.
I think Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale would make a pretty amazing musical, especially with someone like Jeanine Tesori writing the music.
I’d absolutely love for J.K. Rowling to write a straight play!
J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ books could make dazzling musicals and would appeal to all ages.
What about something from author dan brown?
Anything by James McBride. He is a wonderful author
Sidney Sheldon, hands down, without question. It’s so genius I can’t imagine I’m the only person who thought of it. For example, his book If Tomorrow Comes would make an AWESOME musical! His writing style is perfect for an adaption.
Betty Smith’s JOY IN THE MORNING
I think James Patterson does some awesome story telling that would translate well to the stage. He also has a large following that would hopefully translate into ticket sales!
John Green’s Looking for Alaska would make a wonderfully dramatic stage play, the urgency throught the entire novel is undoubtedly powerful. And I imagine high schools around the country would put on fantastic productions.
Even though it was made into a movie, I think The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks could be really lovely as a musical.
I think some of Michael Chabon’s novels could make a good basis for a stage adaptation. Wouldn’t The Yiddish Policeman’s Union or The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay be great on stage?
The Witches by Roald Dahl!
Musical: A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L’Engle
Oh, another great idea. What a wonderful musical this could make. With the right creative team it could turn into another ‘Lion King’.
I think Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian could be a beautiful play. And I’ve always been surprised there hasn’t been a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory musical.
I know someone has said Jodi Picoult’s books could be turned into plays, but I would like to be more specific – I think “My Sister’s Keeper” would be an excellent musical. It strikes me as a story that would be musicalized very similarly to “Next to Normal.” It would be excellent to have talented singers/actresses for the roles of Anna and Kate (the two sisters).
Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse vampire books would make a great campy musical!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy could be a stunning drama. The introspective ability of the book would make it a very touching piece.
so many good ones mentioned.
i would say Joy Luck Club – that book then movie moved me so much at the time. If you can capture the women in that it would be great.
Its a story of family with tradition and high drama…
I think A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks could make a moving play.
If this includes excellent screenplays that we’d love to see as musicals:
If the bicycle race could be done effectively onstage, Steve Tesich’s Oscar-winning screenplay for BREAKING AWAY would be a champ.
NORMA RAE, which I can’t believe hasn’t been a musical yet.
LOVER COME BACK, the Doris Day-Rock Hudson-Tony Randall movie that seems as relevant today as it must have been when it was made.
Michael Chabon’s THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY has all the elements of a terrific stage play or musical: a period piece in the ’40s, 20-somethings trying to make it, a superhero comic book foundation and the struggle for love.
I think that “Wuthering Heights” would make a fantastic musical. The composer would be Stephen Sondheim, the director would be John Doyle, the choreographer would be Gillian Lynne, the scenery and costumes would be Bob Crowley and the lighting Donald Holder. It would be a minimalist production. It would be presented at the Booth, Schoenfeld, Music Box or Barrymore theaters.
Sounds like a winner to me!!
“To The Lighthouse” Virginia Woolf as a stage play. Picture “Sunday in the Park With George” type sets/staging with a deeper psychological profile of the characters- and use of soliloquies. Great audition monologues could come out of it.
The Devil Wears Prada, as a musical
Patti Smith’s Just Kids, as a Patti Smith musical
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
JK Rowling, Harry Potter the musical.. Enough said! 🙂 With the right technical direction it could be truly “enchanting”.
The Oxford Dictionary (Abridged), The Musical!
:>
James Patterson or Jodi Piccoult
Tom Clancy! What better way to honor him???
The Color of Water by James McBride
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice and subsequent novels by Mary Russell
Any of the Sandra Boynton books could be woven together to make a great children’s musical. (maybe has been done?)
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Colum McCann’s “Let the Great World Spin” could be a great narrative New York story in the right hands. I also think Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore has potential, with 4 or 5 set pieces.
But really Ken, what novel could be reduced to 95 minutes, one set, no intermission? Maybe a chapter a la Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.
Any book by John Irving, like Hotel New Hampshire, Garp, A Widow for One Year or Owen Meany. Like Grisham his books are often made into movies but I am not aware of stage adaptations. Interesting that many popular novelists become screenwriters or co-writers for their projects but do not take on playwriting–either the financial incentives are not there or the skill sets are different.
How about Philip Roth’s “Portnoy’s Complaint” as a musical? Could be bold, graphic, and hilarious. He’s celebrating his 80th Birthday this year.
The Gingerbread Man.
Not the Grisham/Altman film version.
The original.
Existential, post-pop, neo-funk cookie man.
I have always been interested in the history of Henry the 8th and his wives. Phillippa Gregory has done a marvelous job fictionalizing this brilliant stories and her most famous, The Other Boleyn Girl, was made into a fairly successful movie.
I would love to see a play or a musical set in the 1500’s Tudor England, with traditional music and court dancing. A show featuring the stories of Anne Boleyn would be so wonderful to watch because she was such a strong and courageous woman in the face of many politics and unjusts. It could make for a really captivating drama-filled play or musical starring an incredible female character that will inspire audiences and open their eyes to a somewhat darker part of English history.
“Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”, by Lisa See. OMG! It would be a stunning, dramatic, sweeping musical. And the sequels off good potential for… sequels!
*offer good potential…
Bridget Jones Diary..why, because it’s quite funny and real… all the things women go through in their search, which is far greater than any search through the Amazon, for self-esteem and love…the men are both idiotic and heroic, her weight issues would make for fun writing and who can refuse the charm of a British accent.
I’d love to see the drama, relationships and cultural explorations of almost anything by Amy Tan on stage. Think about it!
Oh, anything by Fannie Flagg would be perfect for the stage! The books that go with Standing in the Rainbow would be great as a play
OR a musical!!
2 thoughts.
I loved Don’t Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk. I know there was a Broadway attempt with music by Jimmy Buffett which seemed to me to be a perfect fit. Don’t know what happened to it.
Some self-promotion: my stage adaptation of Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut. It’s got a love story, quirky characters, plot twists and lots of Vonnegut philosophy. And Vonnegut has a lot of very loyal followers.
I’m really into John Green right now. The Fault in our Stars is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. If done right, it could be a really cool play. Would love to see Green write specifically for the stage, too.
I think that Amelia Bedelia, Frances the Badger, Kevin Henkes books would make good shows for kids.
How about Wuthering Heights the Musical?
Personally, I’d love to see LA Confidential as a stage musical. The neo-noir style provides for plenty of great songs that go into the character’s psyches, as well as provides a commentary on political corruption and the concept of celebrity that remains relevant to this day.
Either Hunger games the musical or jack ryan themed musical!
I think Of Mice and Men would make for a great play.
It already is a play, isn’t it?
“The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton
As a musical of course, . . . .
How about The Hobbit The Musical? They could sing lots of dwarf songs, elvish songs, hobbit songs and men songs!
Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson would make a beautiful musical–oh wait a minute, I think someone already had this idea…
But for reals, I too think Wuthering Heights would make a wonderful musical. Or any one of those chick books like Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility. I also agree that Bridget Jones Diary would be a really fun musical.
Kurt Vonnegut – Bluebeard
Wally Lamb – She’s Come Undone
Susanna Kaysen – Girl, Interrupted
Dave Eggers – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Anything by Stephen King, Nelson Demille, David Sedaris or Margaret Atwood
Time and Again is a brilliant idea but the rights have been tied up forever and I don’;t think that’s going to change.