Legitimate Theater Bonus #5: "Promises Promises" (1968)

Promises Promises

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

R.I.P. Neil Simon (1927-2018)

Neil Simon

On August 26, 2018, playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon died at the age of 91 in New York City, New York. Over the course of his storied career, he has become the most nominated writer for combined Tony and Oscar nominations. It's for good reason, as his work on stage has included such iconic hits as The Odd Couple and Sweet Charity. He has released a few dozen plays and just as many movies (some based on the plays) and became known for his penchant sympathetic humor that pitted the average man into odd situations. Along with being the only living playwright to have a New York theater named after him, he has had a legacy that is unmatched just in terms of output and laughs. He will be missed for everything that he contributed to the world of theater and film.