NewsPlaybill Picks: Our Wish List for NBC's Next Live Television MusicalNBC is currently planning another musical to broadcast live on television during the 2014 holiday season. While the network hasn't made its wish list public, Playbill.com decided to share our picks for the family-friendly musicals we would like to see on screen and who should star.
By
Playbill Staff
December 19, 2013
NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt, along with producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, previously stated that they were identifying musicals that were well-known titles with identifiable scores that the whole family could enjoy.
Irving Berlin's beloved holiday classic White Christmas with Neil Patrick Harris as Phil Davis, Jeremy Jordan as Bob Wallace, Sutton Foster as Judy Haynes, Megan Hilty as Betty Haynes and Oscar winner Tom Hanks as Major General Thomas F. Waverly. Since the film is untouchable, utilize the script from the 2008 Broadway version, which expands the well-known score to include additional Berlin songs including "Let Yourself Go," "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," "I Love a Piano" and more.
Jerry Herman's Mame starring Cher as the eccentric aunt we all wish we had. Bring back the adorable Joe West, who played Kurt in The Sound of Music Live!, as Patrick, alongside Tony winner Christine Baranski as Vera Charles and Tina Fey as Agnes Gooch.
The 1991 Tony Award-winning musical The Secret Garden, starring Annie and "Into the Woods" young leading actress Lilla Crawford as Mary Lenox, with Daniel Huttlestone as Colin, Audra McDonald as Lily, Hugh Jackman as Archibald Craven, Patrick Wilson as Neville Craven, Jonathan Groff as Dickon, Lea Michele as Martha and Kathy Bates as Mrs. Medlock.
Gypsy, starring Meryl Streep as Rose, with her eldest daughter Mamie Gummer as Louise and Tom Hanks as Herbie. Welcome back previous Broadway Roses, including Tony winners Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Tyne Daly as the "Gotta Get a Gimmick" strippers Tessie Tura, Electra and Mazeppa. We also pick Emma Stone for June and Chris Colfer as Tulsa.
The name alone made this one easy. Jerry Herman's Tony-winning 1964 musical Hello, Dolly! with country star Dolly Parton as Dolly Levi and Billy Crystal as Horace Vandergelder. Also cast Amy Adams as Irene Molloy, Lea Michele as Minnie Fay, Telly Leung as Cornelius Hackle and Joseph-Gordon Levitt as Barnaby Tucker.
Dolly Parton
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
The 1956 Lerner and Loewe classic My Fair Lady starring Academy Award nominee Anna Kendrick as Eliza Doolittle, Oscar winner Kevin Kline as Henry Higgins and Kendrick's "Into the Woods" co-star Chris Pine as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.
Disney's Mary Poppins starring Oscar winner Anne Hathaway as the lovable nanny and Neil Patrick Harris as chimney sweep Bert. The stage musical, which expands on the 1964 film, features a book by Julian Fellowes, music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers, and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Reba McEntire in Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. The country star was among the actresses who played the role during the 1999-2001 Broadway revival. Make it a full-on country music event with Garth Brooks as Frank Butler.
Beyoncé
Give Cole Porter's Anything Goes an R&B and pop makeover with Beyoncé as Reno Sweeney. Cast Usher as Billy Crocker, Ben Vereen as Moonface Martin, Patti LaBelle as Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt and Brandi as Hope Harcourt.
Hugh Jackman
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Disney's Beauty and the Beast starring Amy Adams as Belle and Hugh Jackman as the Beast. We could also see Anne Hathaway and Joe Manganiello taking on these roles, too. Tony winner Angela Lansbury would have to come back to play Mrs. Potts, with Johnny Depp as Lumiere, Josh Gad as Cogsworth, Zac Efron as Gaston and Rick Moranis as Maurice.
Lady Gaga
Who cares if there was a starry movie version in 2002? So what if it's not exactly kid-friendly fare? Kander and Ebb's Chicago starring Beyoncé and Lady Gaga as Roxie and Velma, respectively. Also cast Cyndi Lauper as Mama Morton, Matt Bomer as Billy Flynn, Seth Rogen as Amos Hart and RuPaul as Mary Sunshine.
The new jukebox musical featuring the songs of Huey Lewis and the News follows a Chicagoan whose failed band leads to him returning to corporate America.
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