Passion, Murder and a Crime Spree: What More Could One Ask For In A Musical?

Clearly, that is one of Frank Wildhorn's (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dracula The Musical) thoughts with his new musical, Bonnie and Clyde which will premier at the La Jolla Playhouse in November of this year. It will run from November 10 - December 20, 2009 in The Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

With music by Frank Wildhorn, and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!), here's hoping Bonnie and Clyde will take off and bring something new to the table for musical lovers, instead of the recent trend of turning popular modern movies and tv shows into musicals. Not that all of these are bad, it would just be nice to see more fresh material.

There was of course the iconic film Bonnie and Clyde made in 1967 with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway which is considered a landmark, and is regarded as one of the first films of the "New Hollywood" era. It broke many taboos and was popular with the younger generation of that time. Its success motivated other filmmakers to be more straight forward about presenting sex and violence in their films. But, this musical version will reportedly not be based on the film, but on an original script by Ivan Menchell.

Broadway Musical Nut Recommends: Bonnie and Clyde

There is also a new film version in the works that will be directed by Tonya S. Holly (When I Find the Ocean). This new film will star Hilary Duff (Disney's Lizzie McGuire) which seemed to have stirred up a little back and forth sparring between Miss Duff and the film icon Faye Dunaway back in Feb. It was reported that when Faye was told that Hilary would be playing the character she made so famous, Faye supposedly zinged "Couldn't they atleast cast a real actress?" Evidently Hilary retaliated in an interview to E! with “I think that my fans that are going to go see the movie don’t even know who she is, so you know…. I think it was a little unnecessary but I might be mad if I looked like that now too.”

Ouch! Claws in kittens! Because now with the musical version, you'll need to scoot over and make a little more room at the Bonnie Parker actress table for Laura Osnes (Grease!, South Pacific) who will give her spin on the roll at La Jolla. So let's try to play nicely.

Osnes is set to co-star with Stark Sands (Journey's End) as Clyde Barrow, the troubled Texas teen, who with Bonnie at his side, sets out to become one of the most infamous couples in American Crime Culture.

If you're unfamiliar with the story of Bonnie and Clyde, it is based on the lives of the Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, whose notorious crime spree captured the country's attention with their shocking crimes and exploits. The musical is said to examine this fateful partnership, with a score by Wildhorn and Black that will combine rockabilly, blues and gospel music.

Composer Frank Wildhorn, when asked for more information on the venture, is quoted as saying "When I started working on this show, no one was talking about Bonnie & Clyde. Now, two new books have been published, a remake of the Warren Beatty/Faye Dunaway classic film is in production, and the FBI recently released close to a thousand pages of classified memos on the infamous couple. Clearly, they are once again piquing the interest of a troubled America.This has been a musical challenge unlike any I've known before. These are the most incredible and intriguing characters I've given a musical voice to. Until now, the characters I've written for have been fictional; I've taken theatrical emotions and tried to make them real. With Bonnie and Clyde, I'm taking real emotions and making them theatrical. The exciting libretto, with its danger, pathos and comedy, has inspired a score from country to Texas blues, from gospel to ragtime." (quote source Broadwayworld)

Well, Frank, this is one musical lover that hopes Bonnie and Clyde the Musical will translate well with musical lovers and be as exciting as you describe.

The Broadway Musical Nut
www.broadwaymusicalnut.com

Comments? Thoughts? Is this a good premise for a musical? Can Wildhorn turn this one into a hit? Talk to me!