Broadway Musical Mash-Ups: Combining Two Shows Into One
To start, this article has no intention of being serious. I was just sitting in my car musing about how you could take two Broadway shows and splice them together into one evening of entertainment. This would certainly cut back on my ticket expenditures and double the amount of Broadway musical viewing I can afford each year. So, strap on your sense of humor, get in the mood for corny ridiculousness, and see how I mashed-up Broadway musicals currently running (or set to open) on the Great White Way.
Once on This Island and King Kong
Go with me on this. What if Once on This Island’s Daniel was an American filmmaker who comes to Ti Moune’s Caribbean island to make his latest picture? What if Ti Moune meets and falls in love with Daniel and follows him across the island so they can be together? What if this is the same island where King Kong resides? Kong could become obsessed with Ti Moune, just as she pursues Daniel, and Daniel pursues the ape? What a compelling love triangle.
Mean Girls and Chicago
“Pop – Six – Fetch – Plastic – Cicero - Lipschitz” – I can hear it already. Though the six merry murderesses of the Cook County jail in Chicago are some pretty tough cookies, I think the Plastics of the musical Mean Girls could give them a run for their money. Mean Girls is set in Evanston, Illinois which is twelve miles north of downtown Chicago, and that fits perfectly. With their vicious streak, these girls are bound to need the talents of lawyer Billy Flynn sooner or later.
Dear Evan Hansen and Frozen
Two social outcasts, Evan Hansen from Dear Evan Hansen and Elsa from Frozen, realize they have a lot in common and team-up to ensure that no one else ever feels marginalized or left out of society. Donning polo shirts and arm casts, they accept the aid of an insufferably, giddy-ass snowman to bring acceptance to the world. Ok…never mind…just ….let it go.
The Phantom of the Opera and School of Rock
The Phantom of the Opera is obsessed with one student: Christine. Maybe he just needs to diversify his ability for finding talent in young people and kidnapping them for one-on-one instruction? Why not put him charge of a classroom of talented musicians and let him work his stalker-like magic on them. Parents love that one-on-one attention their kids get in private schools. The Phantom of the Rock Opera Waanyone?
Wicked and Come From Away
With all of those planes landing in Gander, Newfoundland, what would it matter if one witch on her broom joined the throngs? It seems like a good place for the misunderstood witch of Oz to do great works, helping people with her boundless magic, finding an open and loving community to start over.
Waitress and Anastasia
The Russian Duchess Anastasia avoids the slaughter of her family and escapes to the United States where she starts life anew as a Waitressin a diner. There, she becomes known for her signatures borscht recipes, each flavored to represent an event or an emotion in her life. At the story’s conclusion, we find out the diner is owned by her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, who gives Anastasia the establishment on her deathbed.
The Band’s Visit and Aladdin
When an Egyptian band mistakenly ends up in an Israeli town, an interesting clash of cultures results in a step toward acceptance. So what would happen if Prince Ali and his menagerie of monkeys, elephants, dancers, fakirs, and camels were to arrive also? One heck of a party, would be my guess. The Band’s Visit and Aladdin are similarly themed, two inspiring stories about people not being exactly what they seem.
Head Over Heels and Kinky Boots
“Sex in in the heel” is a lyric from the Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots, a musical that embraces diversity and being your authentic self. If sex is indeed in said heel, then that musical might make a good pairing with Head Over Heels, another musical that celebrates loving who you love and being who you are. Maybe their worlds can collide in a glorious lovefest where everyone is clad in perfectly spectacular foot paraphernalia?
My Fair Lady and Be More Chill
What if you could simply pop a pill and suddenly start speaking above your social station? Nothing could elevate Eliza Doolittle from flower girl to duchess faster than SQUIP, the popularity prescription that rewires your brain to know what to do and say in social situations. We could call the show Be Chill Lady.
Pretty Woman and Hamilton
Let’s face it: the only way any of us can afford good seats to Hamilton is if a millionaire takes us. I’m sure there are plenty of people who’d prostitute themselves for seats in orchestra-center. So why not make the story about Vivian, the hooker with a heart of gold, getting paid in a week’s worth of Hamilton tickets? Hell, if she doesn’t like the show, she can always scalp them.
Book of Mormon and The Lion King
This one practically writes itself. Mormon missionaries go to Africa to spread their faith, only to find that all of the anthropomorphized animals are being held captive to worshipping their god Scar. They help the creatures reclaim Pride Rock, upon which they find some new stone tablets left there by Joseph Smith with instructions for the new phase of their religion.
