Movie musicals have been making a comeback recently with the release of Mean Girls (2024) and the soon-to-be-released Wicked adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. But they aren’t always well-received. In fact, many audiences are staunchly against the idea of watching a movie where the characters randomly break out into songs. Cats is the most obvious example of a Broadway musical adaptation that tanked with critics and audiences alike.
But not all musical-to-film adaptations tank as hard as Cats did. Classics like Grease and Chicago, as well as new additions like In the Heights and Tick, Tick… Boom! prove that taking a musical from the stage to the screen can be wildly successful. So what separates a good adaptation from a bad one? Every good adaptation captures the essence of a live theater show while taking advantage of the film medium. Striking a balance between the two without leaning too far to either side prevents creators from alienating either audience and helps make an adaptation a hit.
Striking a Balance
Creating a balance between pleasing theater and film audiences doesn’t mean copying and pasting a musical straight from stage to screen. Adaptations can alter the source material in a way that still faithfully renders the original. In fact, changes can and should be made in film adaptations of Broadway musicals. But they should be made wisely. Good changes retain the essence of a live theater show while using the unique capabilities of the camera to the filmmaker’s advantage.
Netflix’s Matilda the Musical is a great example of this. The creators took the movie as “an opportunity to do new things” with the source material. They made cuts to songs that wouldn’t work as well on screen as they did on stage. Songs that they kept, they reimagined visually to suit a movie audience. Some moments became more intimate by offering glimpses into the characters’ minds that wouldn’t be possible on stage. They also pushed the boundaries of the story’s world. Where the stage has limitations due to space and time, the film allows creators to expand the number of settings that audiences get to experience. This can make the world feel even more alive than before.
Cutting aspects of a stage show is particularly controversial. In many cases, doing so strips the movie adaptation of the same heart that the theater show had. But even this can be avoided. Some audiences criticized Rent for cutting too much from the stage musical. However, Rent still managed to retain the overall feel of the Broadway musical. This is the true litmus test for a good adaptation. Do audiences leave with the same feelings and takeaways as the original? If yes, then you may be doing something right. It’s hard to say what exactly Rent did to maintain the emotional impact of the show. The music is a definite contender. And the return of the beloved original cast surely added to its appeal.
Star Power (To An Extent)
Casting can make or break an adaptation. Let’s return to the famed fail that was Cats. This movie attempted to pack in every big name possible within its one-hour and fifty-minute runtime. From James Corden to Taylor Swift to Jason Derulo, almost every celebrity made an appearance. Not only did this feel gimmicky, but it led to underwhelming performances. There’s nothing wrong with casting more well-known celebrities in musical adaptations. It can be a good way to pique the interest of film audiences unfamiliar with Broadway. But there are plenty of Broadway stars that deserve their chance to shine also.
The best film adaptations are ones like In the Heights and Tick, Tick…Boom! That adds in some Hollywood names while spotlighting Broadway talent. While Cats throws in every big name imaginable, these movies appeal to both theater and film fans. Crucially, the non-theater actors keep up with their theater counterparts in terms of singing, maintaining that classic musical sound.
Know Your Source Material
Adapting from Broadway requires understanding and embracing the source material. Cats did not understand its source material. The original musical is controversial itself. There’s not much of a plot and it’s very dance-centered — both things that don’t bode well for a movie rendition. Cats ignored these preexisting faults and tried to add some misplaced serious moments amid the awkward jokes.
Understanding the source material also means embracing it, whether it’s serious or campy. Prom is a good example of highlighting the quirky aspects of a show without trying to make it something it’s not. Tick, Tick…Boom!, on the other side of things, shows how a more serious show with added elements of a biopic for the screen also works well. Broadway musicals are diverse in story and talent, which should be capitalized on. Filmmakers should embrace the unique aspects of Broadway shows, from using the camera to emphasize dance numbers like in West Side Story to retaining classic gender-bent castings like in Hairspray. When filmmakers truly understand the original show, it’s evident on screen. When done right, the result is an adaptation that captures the magic of live theater while offering something new and exciting for audiences to enjoy.
