The Surprising Broadway Musical Adaptations You Need to See, Including ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ and ‘Pretty Woman’

Producers of Broadway musicals often draw inspiration from various sources, one of which being popular films. Tina Fey, the writer of Mean Girls, hinted during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2017 that the musical adaptation of her 2000s hit film is in the works. Although Fey admits to having experience in movie musicals, she expressed excitement for this new venture.

"The key to success in movie musicals is that one can still shine even with mediocre talent. However, performing on stage is a different ballgame altogether, and these young performers are incredibly gifted. We have a stellar cast who have been rehearsing for a month now. Each member is like a young Justin Timberlake, with the ability to sing and dance flawlessly."

"Our creative team didn't limit themselves to recreating the iconic film performance, which was the best thing about bringing this musical to life," shared Henningsen, who portrayed Cady Heron on stage. "I knew I could never match Lindsay's performance but it was a privilege to recreate these characters in a new and current time period." She added, "I'm aware that Lindsay Lohan expressed interest in watching the show, and I hope she does. However, I prefer not to know if she's in the audience as it might make me nervous."

Sara Bareilles' rendition of Waitress is another example of a movie inspiring a Broadway production. The Tony Award-nominated musical, which premiered in April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City, brought new life to the Keri Russell-led film with its original songs. Bareilles, who played the titular role in both the Broadway and West End productions, described Waitress as a comforting tale filled with heart, humor, and themes of resilience, strength, and vulnerability. She expressed her pride in the show and hope that the world would come to see it.

Scroll below to see more movies that have been adapted into Broadway musicals from Legally Blonde to American Psycho:

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Movies That Have Been Turned Into Broadway Musicals: 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Pretty Woman' and More

Producers often look to beloved movies for inspiration when it comes to bringing a new musical to Broadway. Tina Fey, the writer of Mean Girls, teased during a May 2017 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that the musical adaptation of her '00s flick is now a reality. While Fey has experience with movie musicals, she finds it exciting to see her work come to life on stage.

According to the actress, "Movie musicals allow you to shine even if you're not that great, but on stage, these young performers are incredibly talented! We have the cast and we've been rehearsing for a month now. It's unbelievable how skilled they are - they sing powerfully and dance with such intensity." The musical, Mean Girls, was performed from April 2018 to March 2020, with an original cast including Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park (known for her role in Emily in Paris), Barrett Wilbert Weed, Grey Henson, Kyle Selig, and Kate Rockwell.

"Our creative team did not limit themselves to recreating the iconic film performance, which has been the most exciting aspect of bringing this musical to life," said Henningsen, who portrayed Cady Heron on stage. "I don't think anyone could deliver the performance that Lindsay did, including myself. However, it has been a rewarding experience to breathe new life into these characters for a musical adaptation that's relevant to today's audience." She added, "I've heard Lindsay Lohan is interested in seeing the show, and while I would be thrilled, I know I'll be too nervous to perform if I see her in the audience."

Sara Bareilles' rendition of Waitress hit Broadway in April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City, starring Jessie Mueller as the original Jenna. The Tony Award-nominated songs breathed new life into the Keri Russell-led film, and Bareilles eventually played the titular role in both Broadway and West End runs. In an exclusive interview with Us in February 2019, Bareilles expressed her pride in the show and its universal appeal, calling it "comfort food" with heart, humor, and themes of resilience, strength, and vulnerability.

Scroll below to see more movies that have been adapted into Broadway musicals from Legally Blonde to American Psycho:

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'La La Land'

Lionsgate announced their plans to bring the beloved 2016 Oscar-winning film to Broadway in February 2023. It has been confirmed that the stage adaptation will include music from the talented composer Justin Hurwitz, with lyrics provided by the composing duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. While fans eagerly await the show's debut, the official Broadway premiere date for La La Land has yet to be announced.

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'Back to the Future’

After a successful run on London's West End, Back to the Future: The Musical is gearing up for its Broadway premiere in June 2023. Familiar faces Roger Bart and Hugh Coles will take on the iconic roles of Doc Brown and Marty McFly once again. The musical is based on the beloved 1985 film of the same name.

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‘Almost Famous'

Almost Famous The Musical premiered on Broadway in October 2022, a month prior to its official opening. The show is based on the 2000 film of the same name, which revolves around the journey of an aspiring journalist, William Miller, who travels with a rising rock band in 1973. Chris Wood, known for his role in Supergirl, makes his debut on Broadway as the lead guitarist, Russell Hammond, and shares the stage with Solea Pfeiffer, Anika Larsen, Drew Gehling, and Rob Colletti.

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'Mrs. Doubtfire'

The classic 1993 film, starring Robin Williams, was adapted into a captivating stage production in March 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC. The musical beautifully captures the essence of the movie, featuring Chris Hilliard, an out-of-work actor who dons a Scottish nanny persona to stay connected with his children after his divorce. The show boasts the brilliant performance of Rob McClure as the Hillard family's housekeeper and reopened to a thrilled audience in April 2022, as Broadway resumed its shows post-shutdown. McClure's outstanding portrayal earned him a highly coveted 2022 Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

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'Mr. Saturday Night'

Billy Crystal's 1992 film "Mr. Saturday Night" has been adapted for the stage and has been nominated for five 2022 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. Crystal himself stars in the production, portraying the character of comedian Buddy Young, Jr. as he rises to fame, both in the past and present, spanning four decades.

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'Beetlejuice'

The Broadway musical Beetlejuice, which is based on Tim Burton's quirky film, premiered in April 2019 with Alex Brightman playing the legendary demon and Sophia Anne Caruso portraying Lydia, a teenage girl who becomes obsessed with death after moving into a haunted house with her domineering parents. Despite receiving eight Tony nominations, the show had to close in April 2020 due to the pandemic. After a two-year hiatus, it reopened at the Marquis Theatre, having originally been staged at the Winter Garden Theatre, which subsequently hosted previews for Hugh Jackman's The Music Man in early 2022.

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'Moulin Rouge!'

The Broadway adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s romantic musical, filled with popular songs ranging from Lorde’s “Royals” to Madonna’s “Material Girl,” opened in July 2019 and quickly became a hit. The production, which received 10 Tony Awards, continued to draw crowds even after Aaron Tveit, who won a Tony for his role as Christian, departed in May 2022.

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'The Lion King'

Attendees of The Lion King on Broadway are treated to a mesmerizing display of puppetry and choreography that tells the story of Simba, a lion cub who grows up to become the leader of his pride. Since its opening in November 1997, the show has consistently drawn sold-out crowds, cementing its status as one of the most successful productions in Broadway history.

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'Pretty Woman'

The beloved romantic comedy featuring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, directed by the late Garry Marshall in 1990, was adapted into a musical production in August 2018. Samantha Barks and Andy Karl starred in this rendition, bringing to life the timeless love story of Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis.

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'Mean Girls'

Fey, the writer of the 2004 teen movie with the same title, debuted the stage adaptation in April 2018. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show eventually had to close. However, the production did showcase rising talents such as Sabrina Carpenter, Renée Rapp, and Cameron Dallas, who each had brief stints as Cady Heron, Regina George, and Aaron Samuels, respectively.

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'Frozen'

Frozen made its Broadway debut in March 2018, featuring Caissie Levy and Patty Murin as Elsa and Anna, respectively. Along with the beloved soundtrack from the film, the stage adaptation introduced a number of new songs. Unfortunately, the show's run came to an end in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Christian Borle, known for his role in the popular TV series Smash, portrayed the iconic Willy Wonka in the Broadway adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The show, which debuted in 2017 after a successful run on London's West End, takes the audience on a whimsical tour of Wonka's fantastical chocolate factory, featuring an eclectic group of children and their parents.

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'Anastasia'

Anastasia, released in 1997, depicted the tragic history of the Romanov dynasty prior to their execution. The protagonist, Anya, who was originally named Anastasia, navigates through her quest to uncover her true identity and family heritage after being left behind as an orphan. Recently, a live rendition of the popular movie premiered in New York City in April 2017 and featured acclaimed performers such as Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo, and Derek Klena.

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'Groundhog Day'

Andy Karl starred in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day, which was based on the 1993 movie of the same name starring Bill Murray. The story follows weatherman Phil Collins as he becomes stuck in a time loop while covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

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'Amelie'

Amélie, a musical adaptation of the beloved French film featuring Audrey Tautou, made its debut on Broadway in April 2017. The production starred Phillipa Soo, known for her role in Hamilton, as the titular character who leaves her quiet life in the suburbs for the vibrant city of Paris. The show ran for 27 previews and 56 post-opening performances before closing in May 2017.

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'Tuck Everlasting'

A film adaptation of Tuck Everlasting was released in 2002, featuring Alexis Bledel as Winnie Foster and introducing audiences to the immortal Tuck family. In 2016, a Broadway production of the beloved story was launched, starring Sarah Charles Lewis, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Carolee Carmello, and Michael Park. Despite the talented cast, the show unfortunately closed after just 39 performances in May of that year.

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'Waitress'

Bareilles wrote both the book and lyrics for the musical adaptation of the 2007 film centered on a pie maker trapped in an unhappy marriage. The original cast included Nick Cordero (rest in peace), Kimiko Glenn, and Kaela Settle from The Greatest Showman. Mueller played the part of Jenna Hunterson, the baker, but there were other notable performers who sang the Tony-nominated songs such as Bareilles herself, Katharine McPhee, Nicolette Robinson, Jordin Sparks, and Jennifer Nettles.

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'American Psycho'

The 2016 Broadway musical, written by Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, shares a similar premise with Christian Bale's 2000 horror film about serial killer Patrick Bateman. Benjamin Walker starred in the production, which ran from March to June 2016. The musical was initially premiered in the West End featuring notable actors such as Matt Smith from The Crown and Jonathan Bailey from Bridgerton.

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'Legally Blonde'

A musical adaptation of the legal comedy film, Legally Blonde, premiered on Broadway with Laura Bella Bundy portraying the lead character, Elle Woods. The production received critical acclaim, earning seven Tony nominations, but unfortunately came to a close in October of 2008.

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'Sister Act'

Patina Miller brought the character of Deloris to life in the Broadway production of Sister Act, a musical inspired by Whoopi Goldberg's 1992 film of the same name. Featuring original music by Alan Menken, the show opened in April 2011 and also starred Victoria Clark and Fred Applegate. Raven-Symoné later took over the role of Deloris from Miller.

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'Billy Elliot'

Elton John composed the music for the award-winning stage adaptation of Billy Elliot, a story that follows a young boy's passion for ballet despite his family's disapproval. The musical debuted in Broadway from October 2008 through January 2012, while the London production featured a then-unknown Tom Holland in the lead role of Billy Elliot.

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'Newsies'

The 1992 portrayal of Jack Kelly by Bale in Newsies served as a source of inspiration for a 2012 stage adaptation featuring Jeremy Jordan in the lead role. Following a similar narrative to the movie, the musical delved into the life of Jack Kelly as a newsboy leading up to the Newsboys Strike of 1899. Having earned two Tony awards, the show came to a close in August 2014. However, almost three years later, the OBC reunited for a touring production, which was recorded and broadcasted in movie theaters in 2017.