Mrs. Doubtfire (BroadwayWorld.com)

Quiche2

Broadway Star
joined:7/20/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:25pm

Who else thinks that this would make a fantastic musical. I just watched the movie this morning, and it has always been a favorite of mine. I'm thinking Norbert Butz as Daniel/ Mrs. Doubtfire, and possibly Brooke Shields as Miranda?

Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.

little_sally

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:1/15/04

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:26pm

I really have been saying this for years. I'm surprised it's never been considered.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

Quiche2

Broadway Star
joined:7/20/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:27pm

I know right! It's a fantastic concept, and I'm sure it would do very well.

Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.

Jordan Catalano

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:10/9/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:30pm

Obviously Harvey would write the book. But I think Butz would make a really ugly Mithuth Doubtfire.

"I think Glee is way too sharp, smart, witty, clever and emotionally confronting for the masses." - Dave19 - "What's next? Snow Black and the 7 Swaggers? Shasquirta and the Beast? 101 Weavematians? Willis in Ghettoland?" - Dave19, in reference to the new ANNIE remake.

little_sally

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:1/15/04

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:31pm

It's still a very popular movie, and it's always on TV, and I think if it's done well, it'll be a hit.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

Quiche2

Broadway Star
joined:7/20/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:32pm

little_sally, it really is on TV all the time, watched it on TV last week, Thursday, and this morning. With the right cast and direction it could be a huge hit.

Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.

Playbilly

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:3/30/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:36pm

I'm sure the idea has occurred to Harvey. Must be some reason.

"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"

JohnyBroadway

Profile

Broadway Star
joined:4/10/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 04:36pm

This has Marc Shaiman and Scot Whitman written all over it.

Jordan Catalano

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:10/9/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 10:05pm

I spoke with Sally Field at THE HEIRESS this past week and she said how much she'd love to come back to Broadway, so maybe she can reprise her brilliant role.

"I think Glee is way too sharp, smart, witty, clever and emotionally confronting for the masses." - Dave19 - "What's next? Snow Black and the 7 Swaggers? Shasquirta and the Beast? 101 Weavematians? Willis in Ghettoland?" - Dave19, in reference to the new ANNIE remake.

CapnHook

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:5/12/03

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 10:33pm

A producer friend tried to acquire the stage rights but they were already nabbed up. This was four years ago.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

somethingwicked

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:5/27/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 10:56pm

The idea of making this into a musical was discussed relatively seriously several years ago, but there are legal entanglements that will probably prevent it from ever actually happening.

According to Harvey Fierstein (who I believe was involved in the idea of a stage adaptation,) Robin Williams and his ex-wife Marsha were the primary co-producers on the original film. Since their divorce five years ago was pretty nasty and relatively complicated, the odds of her being cooperative in granting the rights to the property are slim to none, so the idea has basically been permanently shelved out of respect to all parties.

Harvey said something along the lines that, while he thinks it would have been a great musical, he values his relationships with both Robin and Marsha more than he does the prospect of working on something that would cause problems for everyone involved. He also mentioned that there was an operatic adaptation that ran in Europe in the early 2000s that wasn't well received.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 10/13/12 at 10:56 PM

SondheimFan5

Broadway Legend
joined:6/20/10

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/13/12 at 11:46pm

But really...who could top Robin Williams as Mrs. D?

rosscoe(au)

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:8/20/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:35am

Nathan Lane would be perfect for this

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

rosscoe(au)

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:8/20/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:35am

Nathan Lane would be perfect for this

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

Jungle Red

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:8/13/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:56am

Twice as nice!

"Bill Clinton is the ultimate whore! He stole Madonna's crown." -Jim Colyer, on 10/29/2012

blueroses

Broadway Legend
joined:10/18/04

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/14/12 at 01:56am

I. Am. Job.

hanabana

Profile

Understudy
joined:5/12/12

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 01:55am

If this really happens, I will definitely go see it. Mrs. Doubtfire is hilarious, one of my favorite movies! And yes, I agree that there is definitely a lot of potential in making this into a great musical! Who knows, maybe it will happen one day!

castlestreet

Profile

Broadway Star
joined:7/2/10

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 09:15am

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this was done in Italy already... not sure how successful it was, but I did find this:

http://www.totaltheater.com/?q=node/2050

Patash

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:5/27/08

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 10:44am

Thanks for that link, castlestreet -- and yes, the "opera" production was mentioned above. From the link:

"Orchestral accompaniment is pre-recorded. There are no live musicians in the house. The story is easy to follow even if you have only a smattering of Italian. There are clever cultural references, as when the ex-wife visits Montesano's messy, sparse apartment and says, disparagingly in Italian: "It reminds me of La Boheme" - Puccini's opera about poor Bohemians. Montesano, feeling sorry for his fate, replies: "More like La Forza del Destino" - Verdi's opera about the tragic forces of destiny."

Uh, any guesses why this concept failed? Duh!

theaterfan862

Profile

Stand-by
joined:5/10/10

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 11:13am

Mrs. Doubtfire would be amazing as a musical! I also second Nathan Lane as Daniel and Shaiman and Whitman doing the score. I also think Beth Leavel would be a brilliant Miranda.

dreaming

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:4/24/09

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 11:17am

How about Douglas Hodge or Christopher Seiber as Daniel? I love Beth Leavel as Miranda.

castlestreet

Profile

Broadway Star
joined:7/2/10

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 11:21am

LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of Douglas Hodge

dreaming

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:4/24/09

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 11:27am

I love Hodge-he's great at being funny and tender.

darquegk

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:2/5/09

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 03:52pm

I"m absolutely feeling Norbert Leo Butz for this one.

JoeKv99

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:12/27/04

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 03:54pm

Patti LuPone would make an awesome Mrs. Doubtfire!

No good can possibly come from using this vast wasteland of error and deliberate deceit. You should get off of it and warn others away. You should make sure your children and grandchildren know what a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution it truly is.

Jordan Catalano

Profile

Broadway Legend
joined:10/9/05

Mrs. Doubtfire
Posted: 10/15/12 at 03:57pm

Makeup changes would be so minimal it would be silly NOT to have LuPone do it!

"I think Glee is way too sharp, smart, witty, clever and emotionally confronting for the masses." - Dave19 - "What's next? Snow Black and the 7 Swaggers? Shasquirta and the Beast? 101 Weavematians? Willis in Ghettoland?" - Dave19, in reference to the new ANNIE remake.