Broadway Musicals Based on Horror Movies

10/15/2021 by gfunk101

Yesterday we lined up some movie musicals for the spooky season, and many of them were based on Broadway musicals. Today we’re going to flip the script and check out some oddities that went the other way. Since I’m not well versed in this subject, this’ll be more one of those clickbait listicles.

SUNSET BLVD.

Let’s start with the psychological. Norma Desmond is a deranged and desperate Hollywood star on the decline, and she becomes increasingly disconnected from reality. Glenn Close took on the role, which must be a sight to see.

THE SHINING

Time for some more derangement. The over-the-top characters of Kubrick’s version of the Stephen King story are well suited to theatrics, and the bold art design is perfect for the stage.

BEETLEJUICE

This is a pretty short leap. Beetlejuice translates to the stage just as smoothly as he translated to animation. The movie already features musical numbers. It was waiting to happen.

NOSFERATU THE VAMPIRE

There is also a Dracula themed musical, but that makes sense. Many cinematic versions of Dracula lean into the theatrical and camp. He shares a few things in common with the Phantom of the Opera. Nosferatu, on the other hand, is gothic, twisted and…well…ugly. He’s a rattish, creepy looking creature and it’s hard to imagine him belting out showtunes.

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL

Based of Silence of the Lambs, with a comedy spin, there’s a few moments that are difficult to imagine. Buffalo Bill abducting a victim using Ted Bundy’s MO would be awkward. Hannibal and Clarice flirting through a cell door and song sounds pretty fun though.

THE TOXIC AVENGER

I’m stuck on the bit where the kid gets run over. How does it work on stage?

HEATHERS

Both Netflix and Broadway have delivered some very poorly handled material on the subject of suicide. Heathers instils a vein of black comedy throughout, so it at least maintains a tone. This sharp satire of high-school social climbing is well suited to a larger-than-life adaptation.

CARRIE

I guess the benefit of the this story is that the most critical point of the story already takes place on the stage. I assume they skip the opening scene though.

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

This feels like something that you’d see on The Simpsons or The Critic. Actually, it’s best this got out being The Shape of Water made the jump to stage.