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From The Producers to Hairspray: 17 Movies That Were Turned Into Plays

1 minute read

Throughout film history, American theaters have long been staging stories that first began as wildly popular movies.

Following in that tradition, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, the 2001 adrenaline-pumping modern musical movie, will be developed into a musical for the stage, the company Global Creatures announced recently.

Typically, a show like Chicago or Cabaret has to prove it can draw the crowds in the theater world before Hollywood takes it for a spin. But sometimes, things travel in the other direction. From the anger-purging gymnastics of Footloose to the inclusive, energetic cast of Hairspray, several beloved plays that thrilled theatergoers came from original films.

Here is TIME’s list of 17 movies that were turned into plays.

Movie: The Producers, 1968; Play: The Producers, 2001.
Movie: The Producers, 1968; Play: The Producers, 2001.Embassy Pictures
Movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975; Play: Spamalot, 2004.
Movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975; Play: Spamalot, 2004.EMI Films
Movie: Rocky, 1976; Play: Rocky the Musical, 2012.
Movie: Rocky, 1976; Play: Rocky the Musical, 2012.United Artists
Movie: The Evil Dead, 1981; Play: Evil Dead: The Musical, 2003.
Movie: The Evil Dead, 1981; Play: Evil Dead: The Musical, 2003.New Line Cinema
Movie: Footloose, 1984; Play: Footloose, 1998.
Movie: Footloose, 1984; Play: Footloose, 1998.Paramount Pictures
Movie: Dirty Dancing, 1987; Play: Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, 2004.
Movie: Dirty Dancing, 1987; Play: Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, 2004.Vestron Pictures
Movie: Hairspray, 1988; Play: Hairspray, 2002.
Movie: Hairspray, 1988; Play: Hairspray, 2002.New Line Cinema
Movie: The Little Mermaid, 1989; Play: The Little Mermaid, 2007.
Movie: The Little Mermaid, 1989; Play: The Little Mermaid, 2007.Disney
Movie: Edward Scissorhands, 1990; Play: Edward Scissorhands, 2005.
Movie: Edward Scissorhands, 1990; Play: Edward Scissorhands, 2005.20th Century Fox
Movie: Beauty and the Beast, 1991; Play: Beauty and the Beast, 1994.
Movie: Beauty and the Beast, 1991; Play: Beauty and the Beast, 1994.Disney
Movie: Sister Act, 1992; Play: Sister Act, 2009.
Movie: Sister Act, 1992; Play: Sister Act, 2009.Buena Vista Pictures
Movie: Muriel's Wedding, 1994; Play: Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical, 2017.
Movie: Muriel's Wedding, 1994; Play: Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical, 2017. Miramax Films
Movie: The Lion King, 1994; Play: The Lion King, 1997.
Movie: The Lion King, 1994; Play: The Lion King, 1997.Disney
Movie: The Wedding Singer, 1998; Play: The Wedding Singer, 2006.
Movie: The Wedding Singer, 1998; Play: The Wedding Singer, 2006.New Line Cinema
Movie: Legally Blonde, 2001; Play: Legally Blonde: The Musical, 2007.
Movie: Legally Blonde, 2001; Play: Legally Blonde: The Musical, 2007.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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Movie: Moulin Rouge!, 2001; Play: Not yet announced.20th Century Fox
Movie: School of Rock, 2003; Play: School of Rock, 2015.
Movie: School of Rock, 2003; Play: School of Rock, 2015.Paramount Pictures

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