Scott Sigler’s Roundup of Horror Musicals
One of the most prolific and amazing writers I know, who I am also lucky enough to have met a time or two, is Scott Sigler. He’s not, as far as I know, terribly musically inclined, even when he’s looking a lot like Elton John back in his feather-boa-and-big-glasses days. But he is also a writer for A&E online, specifically in their horror genre.
What does this have to do with the performing arts? Why, I’m glad you asked…
Everything’s Coming Up Musicals
I’ve written here before about the Creature From the Black Lagoon as a musical. But did you know there are others?
- Evil Dead the Musical
- Toxic Avenger the Musical
- The Fly
- Repo: the Genetic Opera
I didn’t know about some of these, until I read his column over on A&E. I was able to remind him of Point Break LIVE! which doesn’t really count, as it’s not a musical (but the fact that Keanu Reeves’ part is read by a random audience member off of cue cards is pretty interesting) . He also mentions the old standby, Rocky Horror Picture Show, but strangely enough missed the beginning of the genre, Little Shop of Horrors, and of course the newest Broadway fiasco noble effort, Young Frankenstein.
No, I’ve NOT Seen Dr. Horrible!
Of course, Joss Whedon is the talk of the town with his new Dr. Horrible , and no, I’ve not seen it yet (about four of my friends suggested I write about it when I started this entry). I will subscribe to it tonight, watch it tomorrow on my new iPhone, and give it a proper Fame or Famine review. OK? So leave me alone already!
It makes one wonder, though…are we in a new age of musicals, clever and witty and pretty and gay…?
4 Comments
I’m looking forward to Repo – it even has a Whedon connection with Tony Head playing one of the leads…
Evil Dead the Musical…sigh…maybe when I win the lottery I can produce a revival with Kevin Spacey in the lead, he does theater occasionally, right?
Reading Keanu’s lines off cue cards, you say? Heh, biting my tongue on that one. Although for my money, the Patrick Swayze movie they really need to musicalize is Black Dog. It’s got Meat Loaf AND Randy Travis in it…I’m picturing a Country Western Rock Opera with 50’s Do-Wop undertones…
I wouldn’t say I missed Young Frankenstein and Little Shop, I was trying to focus on some items that were out now and people might not know about (with the exception of Rocky Horror of course). Are Young Frankenstein and Little Shop currently in production anywhere?
Young Frankenstein is, definitely – it won Best Musical of 2008, in fact. http://www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com/ .
Little Shop, that I don’t believe is playing, but another one occurred to me while traveling yesterday: Phantom of the Opera. Wasn’t it originally a silent film? Now it’s the longest-running musical on Broadway.
Saw the original Phantom as part of a silent film series in the original Madison Civic Center, with a huge 3-story pipe organ accompanment, very cool…
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on Dr. Horrible.