BFI at home presents an online discussion with the creatives and cast behind Back To The Future – The Musical, available globally, for free, on BFI YouTube.
If you’re still missing stage and screen, BFI at Home have a little something for you tomorrow, for free! They’re streaming an in-depth conversation with the team behind the Back To The Future musical, discussing the challenges of adapting the iconic 1985 classic ahead of it’s opening in the Adelphi Theatre on the 20th August.
36 years on it still remains one of the most important sci-fi films in the history of cinema, and after spawning two sequels, an animated series and numerous books, Back To The Future is getting the musical theatre treatment. Led by a creative team that includes the co-writer of the original trilogy Bob Gale, and the Oscar-nominated composer behind the iconic score for the film Alan Silvestri, the hi-tech stafe musical had a limited opening in February 2020 to positive critical reviews.
Gale has spoken in the past about not wanting to make a 4th Back To The Future film without Marty McFly and so hopes this musical will give more to the fans, without adding to the film series. “It was critical to not do a slavish adaptation of the movie. This is a different medium and it was important to address the strengths of this medium. We do things in the show that you could never do in a movie and there’s things in the movie that you could never do on stage.”
The panel comprises Bob Gale, who, as well as co-writing the original trilogy, has written the book for the musical, and multi award-winning composer Alan Silverstri, who has written new music and lyrics for the show alongside six-time Grammy award winner Glen Ballard, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Also on the panel are key cast and creatives from the show including producer Colin Ingram, director John Rando and actors Olly Dobson (Marty McFly), Rosanna Hyland (Lorraine Baines), Cedric Neal (Goldie Wilson / Marvin Berry) and Courtney-Mae Briggs (Jennifer Parker).
Ballard spoke about coming on board with Silvestri for music and lyrics and how they developed it: “With something like Back To The Future, for me, the first thing I have to do is take the Hippocratic Oath, first do no harm. You’re looking at something that is a mountain of accomplishment.”
During the online event, the panel discusses how they went about adapting the hit film for the musical stage, what they did to make the story relevant to a new audience and what one studio exec wanted the film to be called before Steven Spielberg stepped in. The discussion is broadcasting globally, for free, on BFI YouTube at 19:00 on Thursday 29 April.
Back To The Future: The Musical is set to begin its run at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 20 August 2021.
Back To the Future: From Screen To Stage premieres on BFI YouTube on Thursday 29 April at 19:00, and will be available to watch for free: https://youtu.be/_HpO2HmPy64
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