Lively Hollywood-to-Broadway connection is thriving

NEW YORK – The opening of “Elling” on Broadway marks the latest in a long line of movie-based stories making their way to the stages of the Great White Way.

Some other movie-to-play translations that are currently on New York stages include:

“The 39 Steps” – This witty spoof on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 espionage thriller essentially follows the film story verbatim, except the thrills are played for laughs and all roles were frantically preformed by a cast of four actors.

“Brief Encounter” – This stage version of the sentimental 1945 British film from David Lean and Noel Coward is also a larky combination of affectionate spoof, nostalgic set piece and brilliant theater craft – at once a thing of the stage and a savvy homage to cinema melodrama.

“Elf” – For a limited holiday run, the towering elf, Buddy (with Sebastian Arcelus standing in for Will Ferrell), visits New York in a faithful stage adaptation of the Warner Bros. film. Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin provide music and lyrics.

“The Lion King” – The 1994 Disney animated feature film made a seamless safari from screen to stage and became a Broadway mainstay (as well as a worldwide touring money machine). It boasts innovative staging by director Julie Taymor, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, along with a musical score created by Hans Zimmer and choral arrangements by African composer Lebo M.