10 Musicals We Would Love to See Telecast Live | Playbill

News 10 Musicals We Would Love to See Telecast Live The Wiz Live! has come and gone (and it's still all we can talk about). From the glitzy costumes to the incredible new orchestrations and flawless performances, we loved NBC's take on the "Wizard of Oz"-inspired story. But what comes next? We took to Twitter to ask our readers which musicals they'd love to see live telecast (and added a few of our own ideas in as well).

Little Shop of Horrors:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


This cult classic musical about an alien plant with plans to take over the world was an easy choice for us. We would love to see original stage and screen star Ellen Greene and Jake Gyllenhaal reprise their recent Encores! roles as Audrey and Seymour. Add in James Monroe Iglehart as the singing voice of Audrey II, and we're sold! Gypsy:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


Gypsy is due for a remake, so why not turn it into a live television event starring Meryl Streep as the stage mother to end all stage mothers, Rose? Her daughter Mamie, who is currently starring in Roundabout Theatre Company's Ugly Lies the Bone, would be an excellent choice to play Rose's daughter Louise. They could even bring back previous Broadway Roses, including Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Tyne Daly to play the "Gotta Get a Gimmick" strippers. My Fair Lady:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


The classic musical My Fair Lady would lend itself to a live telecast quite nicely. Anna Kendrick would be "Pitch Perfect" as Eliza Doolittle with her "Into the Woods" co-star Chris Pine as the lovesick Freddy Eynsford-Hill. We could imagine "dancing all night" with them. Sweeney Todd:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


This dark musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, would be quite different from what we're used to seeing in live telecasts, but imagine Taye Diggs as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, alongside Uzo Aduba as Mrs. Lovett. We would go wild to see Aduba's rendition of "By the Sea." The Music Man:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


There had been rumors circulating that Meredith Willson's The Music Man would be the 2015 NBC live musical event, so why not make those rumors reality? Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth could reprise her role as Marian Paroo from the 2003 film adaptation. Perhaps she could be joined by fellow Tony Award-winning actor Hugh Jackman as everyone's favorite con-man, Harold Hill. Ragtime:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


This musical, based on E.L. Doctorow's 1975 novel of the same name, might just be the heartbreaking live musical event that we all need. Of course, we would want to see Tony Award winners Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell return as Sarah and Coalhouse Walker Jr.  Next to Normal:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


Next to Normal won three Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2009, and we think it would make an excellent live musical event. Golden Globe Award winner Toni Colette proved that she had singing chops when she was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Queenie in The Wild Party, and we would love to see her portrayal of Diana Goodman. Perhaps with Zac Efron as her son Gabe? Dirty Rotten Scoundrels:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


This musical, based on the 1988 film of the same name, would leave us all in stitches as a live musical event. In the original film Steve Martin took on the role of Freddy Benson, but we would love to see him switch things up and step into Lawrence Jameson's shoes. We bet that Josh Gad could learn a few things from Martin if he hammed it up as Freddy. Mary Poppins:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


A new "Mary Poppins" adaptation has been announced, but why couldn't it become a telecast musical? Anne Hathaway would make a stunning Mary Poppins alongside Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris as chimney sweep Bert. We would love to see Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke take part in the musical as well — perhaps as The Bird Woman and Admiral Boom! In the Heights:

{asset::alt}
{asset::caption} {asset::credit}


While Lin-Manuel Miranda is currently busy starring in Hamilton and writing music for the new Disney movie "Moana," we would be eternally grateful if he took a little break to bring In the Heights to life on television (and bring the entire original Broadway cast along with him!).

 
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!