Stage to Screen
By Sioph LealIf, like us, at Sioph Media you can’t get enough of a good stage musical then there are some fantastic movie-musical adaptations. While there are so many great ones, we thought of putting a list together of some of our favourites. They were going to be ranked but given how much we love a good musical, it's too hard to pick a favourite. Instead, here are some favourites from our team!
The King and I (1956)
Plot: Widowed mother Anna takes a job as a governess and English tutor to the wives and children of King Mongkut of Siam. Anna and the King instantly clash with their stubborn personalities, but she and her son stay in Siam to teach the royal household. Anna teaches the royal family about the English customs and etiquette as they rush to prepare a party for visiting European diplomats who the King is trying to impress. In the background of all this is Tupim, a gift to King Mongkut from another kingdom who loves someone else and longs to be educated like Anna.
Why we like it: This musical is a childhood favorite that holds up years after the first viewing. It is very much a classical musical with a delightful story of opposing forces coming together and adapting to each other as they grow. You’ll have Shall We Dance in your head as well as memorable scenes from the Run Eliza, Run!
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Plot: Bride-to -be Sophie tracks down three men and one of them is her real father who she wants to walk her down the aisle and meet before her big day. Inviting them to her wedding, all three arrive and Sophie has no idea which one is her father- neither does her mother! The story is told using hit songs from ABBA which makes it immediately enjoyable.
Why we like it: Mamma Mia is a fun musical that is a great mood uplift. Using ABBA songs makes it an instant hit and adds to the enjoyable ride you go on with Sophie and her three potential fathers. There are great performances from Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried that create a touching mother daughter story.
Rent (2005)
Plot: The Pulitzer and Tony award winning musical that focuses on Bohemians in the East Village of New York City that struggle with life, love and AIDS. Centring around d roommates Mark and Roger, it follows them for a year in a modern yet powerful story.
Why we like it: Every musical theatre fan will know Seasons of Love and can’t resist the urge to sing along when it plays. The cast of this movie rightfully hired seasoned Broadway and theatre performers to bring the stage characters to the screen to make a faithful and layered adaptation.
Les Miserables
Plot: Les Misérables follows Jean Valjean, a 19th-century French ex-convict, through his release, industrialization, and pursuit by inspector Javert. The story skips ahead to 1832 to the June rebellion where we meet the revolutionary students with some amazing songs.
Why we like it: Les Misérables is a production about courage, love, heartbreak and passion but mostly, the resilience of the human spirit. It’s because of these themes and the brilliant music and lyrics as to why this show is timeless.
Grease
Plot: Grease shows the friendships, romances and adventures between a group of high school kids in the 1950s. A wholesome exchange student and a leather-clad Danny have a summer romance but when she comes to Rydell high, clique lines are crossing in an all singing, all dancing world of Grease.
Why we like it: There is no doubt that Grease had a cultural impact and given that the movie is still watched today, makes it a classic. It has spawned sequels, a prequel series and is still touring as a stage musical.
Tick, Tick…Boom!
Plot: autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent. The film follows Jon, a young theater composer who’s waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. Jonathan feels pressure from everywhere in his life while he tries to write the best musical he can.
Why we like it: Tick, Tick Boom shows just perfectly captures what it is like approaching your 30s when you feel like time is running out and you still have so much to accomplish. With the amazing vocals from Andrew Garfeild, Tick, Tick, Boom is a treat to watch.
Hairspray
Plot: In 1960s Baltimore, dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad auditions for a spot on "The Corny Collins Show" and wins. She becomes an overnight celebrity, a trendsetter in dance, fun and fashion. Perhaps her new status as a teen sensation is enough to topple Corny's reigning dance queen and bring racial integration to the show.
Why we like it: Hairspray is a vibrant musical, pleasing on both the eyes and the ears. Beneath its bubblegum exterior, Hairspray shows people that there is a way through dark times, though it may not be easy.