Movies dominate stage for new Broadway season

These days, theater producers look to the film community for juicy stage projects, turning movies like “Billy Elliot,” “The Producers” and “Hairspray” into Tony winners.

The new Broadway season is no exception. Among shows opening this fall are “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” based on the comic book and movie franchise; “Elf: The Musical,” inspired by the outrageous Will Ferrell comedy; and Pedro Almodovar's 1988 film farce, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”

Meanwhile, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical,” adapted from the 1994 road movie about drag queens and a transsexual and their cabaret act, opens for a pre-Broadway run in Toronto, Canada, on Oct. 26. It was first adapted for the stage in 2006 for a run in Sydney, Australia, and most recently had a successful turn on London's West End.

Many eyes, though, are on the US$50 million-plus “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” which was in the works for six years and long hung in limbo as it jumped financial hurdles. Based on the Marvel comic book hero, “Spider-Man” features music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge, with a book by its director, Julie Taymor, and Glen Berger.

U2's Bono and The Edge are cutting their teeth writing show tunes. The jump may not be so far, given the appeal of the hit series “Glee” and its occasional ability to transform rock anthems into show music. So it is not hard to believe that the Irish rockers can retrofit their stadium-oriented rock into the more intimate musical theater.

The big budget musical extravaganza boasts one of the largest budgets in Broadway history and bursts with producers that include Marvel Entertainment and Sony Entertainment. Above the pack is lead producer Michael Cohl.

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