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Popular films take the stage

If anyone, like my 5-year-old twin granddaughters, is obsessed with the movie “Frozen,” the news that many future Broadway musicals will be based upon popular films, will no doubt bring some broad smiles.

To capitalize upon their box-office popularity, several films that have a proven faithful following, will be adapted into Broadway musicals in the next couple of years:

“Frozen” — Disney Studio’s 2013 mega hit will reportedly show up as a live action musical in the Spring of 2018. Starring Caissie Levy and Patti Murin, these two Broadway veterans will portray the royal sisters.

“The Devil Wears Prada” — Geared to adults, the popular 2006 movie featured Meryl Streep (and no, she is not overrated) as the mean spirited, demanding editor of a fashion magazine, with Anne Hathaway as her struggling assistant. Now with a stage adaptation underway, it is noteworthy that Elton John is composing the music.

“Magic Mike” — Film fans clearly remember not only the 2012 hit movie, but also the 2015 sequel. Now for those begging for more, a stage musical is being planned as a prequel to the hit movies, following the struggling student who becomes a hip-swirling, gyrating stripper.

“Moulin Rouge” — The movie, which was released in 2001, will be transformed into a musical, which tells the tale of a young poet who falls hopelessly for a Parisian courtesan at the turn of the century.

“Mean Girls” — NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” often listed Tina Fey as one of its headliners (before Melissa McCarthy and Alec Baldwin’s impersonations became political fodder). Fey is currently rewriting her 2004 screenplay about a shy, homeschooled girl, who encounters a variety of mean-spirited students, once she transfers to a big, public high school.

The list of films, which will be adapted into Broadway musicals, also includes three movies, each released back in 1988:

“Beetlejuice” — Remember Michael Keaton from the movie? The stage version still has some “bug-eyed” demons and funny ghosts trying to spook the new owners of a haunted house.

“Bull Durham” — America’s Pastime takes the mound or actually the spotlight in this adaptation of Ron Shelton’s reportedly based-upon-fact musical ode to minor league baseball, as seen through the eyes of an up-and-coming pitcher.

“Beaches” — You won’t find Bette Midler in the musical version headed for Broadway. She’s already on the Great White Way, starring as the matchmaker in “Hello Dolly”. But in the film (also known as “Forever Friends”), Midler was one of the two young girls from very different economic backgrounds, who meet under the Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, and maintain a strong, close friendship for over 35 years.

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