A few quick theatre-related lunchtime news chum items for today:
- Screen to Stage, Part One. Playbill is reporting that Ahrens and Flaherty are working on transforming their 1997 animated movie, Anastasia, into a stage musical. This was the first musical we took our daughter to, and it does have some very nice music. However, it always made me uncomfortable to be watching happy things about the people who initiated pogrums. Just imagine this playing across the street from Fiddler on the Roof. I’ll also note that there was another failed musical on this subject, Anya.
- Screen to Stage, Part Two. There are a few Rogers and Hammerstein properties that were not written for the stage. One, State Fair, was later transformed into a stage production. Playbill is reporting that Cinderella will soon be aiming for the stage as well.
- Screen to Stage, Part Three. Down in Nashville, a musical has just opened of another screen success, The Nutty Professor. With Jerry Lewis at the directoral helm, this was anticipated to be a disaster… but it is actually getting good reviews. One of the standout performers, according to the reviews is Klea Blackhurst. I can understand why; she impressed me almost 20 years ago when she was in Radio Gals at the Pasadena Playhouse with her unique voice and her great performance skills.
