I love reading. I love musical theatre. What is all this talk of making books into movies and tv shows? Wouldn’t it be much more epic if our favorite books were made into hit Broadway shows? Here are some books I think would be great for the stage.
The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. If you’ve ever seen the Starkid musicals, including “The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier,” you know The Wrath & The Dawn would be perfect on stage. It’s a Shahrazad retelling, where she must keep the boy king from killing her by enrapturing him with stories. You’ve got love, swordfights, magic, betrayal. You’d need a song like “A Whole New World” from Aladdin.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. A freshman in college finds her way through life through writing fanfiction. I think this would be a cool, quirky musical reminiscent of musicals like “Legally Blonde,” “High School Musical,” and “Prom.” There are so many shows set in high school but very few, if any, set in undergraduate school. Probably needs a song like “Watch What Happens” from “Newsies.”
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. A twenty-something girl becomes internet famous after discovering a statue that turned out to be an alien. There’s plenty of action–after all there is aliens. But there is also the navigation of how to balance fame and friends, your internet life and your real life. Plus, the main character is bisexual, which is good representation. Probably would need a song like “What’s This?” from Nightmare Before Christmas.
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume. I think this would be reminiscent of “13! the musical” only this time it’s puberty through a girl’s perspective. Any coming of age story makes for a good tale. Could probably have a song like “What it Means to Be a Friend” from “13!”
The Clique by Lisi Harrison. Since Mean Girls was such a hit both on screen and on stage, why not try a clique of a younger generation? Claire just moved to town and is trying to fit in with Massie and her popular, rich friends. Feature a song like “Where do you belong?” from “Mean Girls.”
What books do you think would make good musicals?
Living For Literature 