As many of you know, Frank is working on MYRIAD theatrical assignments. I thought I would get the ball rolling on an interesting exercise about what he could do next?

I don't have any ideas yet, but I may well soon, so... over to you :D

Well, I always thought Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs had some potential as a musical.

The title character is Gwynplaine, a performer in a circus show who had his face permanently carved into a clown smile as a child. I recall that the movie version had a happier ending than the original novel.

I thought it was wonderfully written. I managed to find a full length summary of the tale for anyone who hasn't read it here: The Man Who Laughs

Ooooh, I LOVE that novel... I'm a big Victor Hugo fan. I was thinking it would make a great musical too... I've often thought about doing it myself, but never have. :)

I've often read the short stories of H.G. Wells, A.C. Doyle and E.A. Poe and thought "hmm, these would make really great gothic mini-musicals..." Especially in the hands of Frank.

Other than that, "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Goethe would be an excellent Wildhorn show.

And, slightly irrelevant, but I keep turning back to "Trilby" on my bookshelf, flipping through it and thinking "how could a show based on this fail?"

I would love to see Frank adapt something by Edgar Allen Poe.

Or a story on his life. Frank seems to like the biographical stuff, i.e. Camille Claudel, F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Mary Shelley... I'd also like to see him tackle something to do with "The Wizard of Oz"

Read "The Premature Burial" by Edgar Allan Poe for one of the most disturbing reads you'll EVER have.

Has anyone read Poe's "Bernice"? That is the only story to have ever made me uncomfortable about teeth. *shudders*

A while ago I read a poem by Alfred Noyes entitled "The Highwayman." With some more elaboration on the characters, I think this could be pulled off in a musical format. It was made into a song that was sung by Loreena McKennill (sp?) which is simply beautiful.

I am currently working on a script based on the life story of King Pedro I of Portugal and his mistress Inês de Castro, who was crowned Queen after death. I may eventually produce an english version of the script and I would DEFINITLY love to have Frank working on the music for it. *goesondreaming*

Anyway, info here Link1 or for those who like History and don't mind reading a longer text Link 2

Now tell me if this story doesn't have MUSIC BY FRANK WILDHORN written all over it! :D

I recalled...wouldn't it be wonderful if Frank and Nan Knighton joined forces to create a musical of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray?
It's in public domain...:)