Musical
Megan Thee Stallion, Nathan Lane, Bowen Yang, and Megan Mullally Join A24’s Fucking Identical Twins
In a collaboration we certainly couldn’t have predicted, musical theater icon Nathan Lane and recent college graduate Megan Thee Stallion will be joining Megan Mullally and SNL’s Bowen Yang in Fucking Identical Twins, a forthcoming musical comedy from A24. Described as a “subversive spin” on The Parent Trap, Fucking Identical Twins stars and is written by comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp. It’s based on the duo’s two-man stage show, which they premiered at New York’s iconic Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2014. Larry Charles (Borat) will direct the film, which is currently in production. Similar to the 1961 film (and the 1998 masterpiece of a remake), Fucking Identical Twins follows two rival businessmen who realize they’re, well, fucking identical tw...
Watch the Trailer for “Heart Failure,” the First-Ever EDM Musical
In some kind of raunchy, techno-fueled twist on West Side Story, the first-ever EDM musical is primed for the silver screen. “We were bored, angry, horny students watching the best years of our lives slip away, so we were just like, f**k it, let’s make a musical,” said Will Wightman, who wrote and directed Heart Failure, an upcoming short film produced by award-winning independent video production company Cool Bean. According to a press release shared with EDM.com, Heart Failure, which features an original soundtrack comprising electronic dance music, is the first of its kind. The film follows Frank, whose rollicking, hysterical one-night stand with Lizzie leads to a complex relationship and eventual breakup. Heart Failure/Kickstarter Recommended Articles Heart Failure&nbs...
Sorry, But the Story Part of West Side Story Sucks
The Pitch: On a very literal level, Steven Spielberg‘s West Side Story is a technically perfect film. Every detail on screen, from the period-accurate production design to the costumes to the choreography and sound design, is flawlessly rendered by some of today’s best artisans, and regular Spielberg collaborator Janusz Kamiński’s cinematography is unmatched, using the full frame at all times, playing with depth of field and brilliant lighting choices in ways that only enhance the cast’s brilliant performances. There is so much to admire about this new take on West Side Story, especially how it makes up for the 1961 original by casting actual Latinos in key roles, and takes a bilingual approach to the dialogue that adds to the authenticity. The problem, unfortunately, is that all of this i...
Ariana Grande to Star in Film Adaptation of Wicked
Ariana Grande is headed to Oz. The pop star has been cast as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked, the musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz. She announced the news on Instagram Thursday evening. “Thank goodness,” she wrote, sharing ecstatic photos of her reaction to the casting. Grande’s good witch will be joined by Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. In the Heights director Jon M. Chu leads the big screen adaption, while Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music to the original Broadway show, returns with Winnie Holzman to adapt the screenplay. Advertisement Related Video Though Grande’s become a world-renowned singer in recent years, she got her start as an actress, first on Broadway in the musical 13 and later as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon hit Victorious...
R.I.P. Leslie Bricusse, Willy Wonka and “Goldfinger” Songwriter Dead at 90
Leslie Bricusse, the Academy Award-winning songwriter who worked on numerous film and theater productions, has died at the age of 90. Some of Bricusse’s best-known works include “Pure Imagination” from Mel Stuart’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, as well as the James Bond themes “Goldfinger” and “You Only Live Twice.” His death was confirmed in an Instagram post by actress Joan Collins. “One of the giant songwriters of our time, writer of #candyman #goldfinger amongst so many other hits, and my great friend Leslie Bricusse has sadly died today,” Collins wrote with a photo of her and Bricusse together. “He and his beautiful Evie have been in my life for over 50 years. I will miss him terribly, as will his many friends.” His cause of death has not been publicly reported. Advert...
Timothée Chalamet Talks Willy Wonka and Recording Music at Abbey Road
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. revealed that critical darling Timothée Chalamet is set to star as a young Willy Wonka in an upcoming prequel film to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. After offering a first look over the weekend, Chalamet has now previewed his “off-center” character in a new interview with TIME. “It’s not mining the darker emotions in life,” Chalamet told TIME when asked about his role. “It’s a celebration of being off-center and of being okay with the weirder parts of you that don’t quite fit in.” Best of all, it looks like Chalamet’s confectionary role will double as a soundtrack opportunity. The movie, which is titled Wonka, is also a musical, which means fans will get to hear plenty of presumably charming songs belted by Hollywood’s young sweetheart. Advertisement Rel...
Netflix Unveils New Trailer for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tick, tick…BOOM!: Watch
“The time keeps ticking” until Netflix releases tick, tick…BOOM!, the highly-anticipated film adaptation of Rent composer Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical. The streamer has shared a new trailer for the forthcoming feature — which marks Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut — and it centers around Larson as he cuts his teeth in New York City as an aspiring playwright. Additionally, Netflix has also shared the soundtrack’s first single, “30/90.” tick, tick…BOOM! is slated to premiere in theaters November 12th, and will arrive on streaming November 19th. Starring Andrew Garfield, the musical follows the struggles of a burgeoning playwright amid the ongoing AIDS crisis. As the pressure from his peers and loved ones weigh on him, Larson feels his time is running out — a message ...
White House “Music Man” Played Show Tunes to Calm Donald Trump
It wasn’t 76 trombones leading the big parade, but Donald Trump’s White House did employ a “music man” who solved problems with show tunes. According to a new book by former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, the “music man” was the only person who could manage Trump’s “terrifying” temper, playing hit songs from musicals to help calm him down. Grisham, who in her nine months on the job never held a televised briefing with reporters, has written a tell-all book entitled, I’ll Take Your Questions Now. Via the New York Times, she wrote that, “When I began to see how his temper wasn’t just for shock value or the cameras, I began to regret my decision to go to the West Wing.” When Trump spiraled out of the control, the only remedy was the “Music Man” — an unnamed...
New The Karate Kid Musical Slated for 2022 Pre-Broadway Run in St. Louis
Meet me in St. Louis, Daniel-san! The new musical adaptation of The Karate Kid is headed to the home of the Gateway Arch for its pre-Broadway tryout. According to a report from Deadline, The Karate Kid — The Musical will kick off a limited month-long engagement through Stages St. Louis beginning May 22nd, 2022. Helmed by Japanese director Amon Miyamoto, the show will then run through June 26th. While casting for the new musical has yet to be announced, Robert Mark Kamen — the screenwriter of the original 1984 classic — is handling the script, with music and lyrics by Smash composer Drew Gasparini. (Yes, we have him to thank for helping write Hit List, the fictitious show-within-a-show that eventually spawned a real-life 2013 concert event starring Jeremy Jordan, Andy Mientus...
Sparks Release Annette Soundtrack Featuring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard: Stream
A month after making its premiere at Cannes, the new musical Annette has hit North America along with its star-studded soundtrack. With the majority written and recorded by art-pop duo Sparks, the Annette soundtrack is just as dynamic as the film that accompanies it — which is to say, these aren’t your mother’s show tunes. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. Annette stars Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, who do most of their own singing across the bulk of the soundtrack. It spans 15 songs in total, including preview singles like “So May We Start” and “We Love Each Other So Much.” Considering the music that became the Annette soundtrack was originally conceptualized as the next Sparks album, fans of the band will recognize their trademark idiosyncratic and theatrical approach to so...
Sparks Reveal Details of Annette Soundtrack, Share “So May We Start” Music Video: Watch
The Sparks-issance is in full swing this year. The art-pop icons had a documentary from Edgar Wright, The Sparks Brothers, debut at Sundance, and their new movie musical, Annette, just opened Cannes. Today, the duo have announced details of the Annette soundtrack, in addition to sharing a music video for the single “So May We Start”. Due out August 6th via Milan Records, Annette (Cannes Edition — Selections from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) collects 15 of the songs composed and performed by Sparks for the film. In addition to performing the band themselves, vocal performances come from Annette stars Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg. The vinyl release will also feature a gatefold sleeve and an exclusive version of the Annette pos...
Sparks Reveal Details of Annette Soundtrack, Share “So May We Start” Music Video: Watch
The Sparks-issance is in full swing this year. The art-pop icons had a documentary from Edgar Wright, The Sparks Brothers, debut at Sundance, and their new movie musical, Annette, just opened Cannes. Today, the duo have announced details of the Annette soundtrack, in addition to sharing a music video for the single “So May We Start”. Due out August 6th via Milan Records, Annette (Cannes Edition — Selections from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) collects 15 of the songs composed and performed by Sparks for the film. In addition to performing the band themselves, vocal performances come from Annette stars Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg. The vinyl release will also feature a gatefold sleeve and an exclusive version of the Annette pos...
