With the release of the Into the Woods teaser trailer this week, we’re continuing our look at books that have made the leap from page to stage. While the film is based on the hit musical, many of the characters in Into the Woods are in fact famous fairy tale characters.
Yes, before the film and before the show, there was the novel. Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, who is left broken hearted by her boyfriend. In a desperate attempt to win him back, she applies to Harvard to become a lawyer and gets in. Written by Amanda Brown, Amanda studied at Stanford Law School. While she never ended up obtaining her law degree, she wrote funny stories and letters during her time there. These letters and stories were based on experiences during her time spent at Stanford. She compiled the letters and stories and turned them into a manuscript, which would eventually turn into Legally Blonde. We all know the hit 2001 film of the same name, starring Reese Witherspoon and Victor Garber, but not many know that it was originally a novel, or that it was turned into a popular Broadway (and eventual West End) stage show in 2007. The show was a massive success, even grossing more than a million dollars a week several times. The show started out on Broadway, earning seven Tony nominations and ten Drama Desk nominations. Amongst the original cast members included Laura Bell Bundy (Elle), Christian Borle (Emmett) and Orfeh (Paulette). The London version starred Sheridan Smith as Elle and had even had Peter Davison of Doctor Who star as Professor Callahan. There were several tours launched. The show had far more success in the UK than in the USA.
All you need is a Golden Ticket. Well, at least, in the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, that’s what one needed to enter the mysterious chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. The story, penned by the great Roald Dahl, tells of Charlie Bucket, who is one of several children to find a Golden Ticket, hidden in a Willy Wonka chocolate bar. By obtaining one of these, the children have won a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Led by Willy himself, they are taken throughout the place, where several surprising events occur. While the show is a more contemporary version of the original story, it still maintains the magic of the original 1964 novel. Originally opening in London, the score and telling of the story received criticism. However, the actual physical production and performance quality were highly praised. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened in May, 2013, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, and four boys (Jack, Tom, Isaac and Louis) sharing the role of Charlie. Every performance featured one of the four Charlie’s.