15 Movies We Would Like to See on Broadway

Robin Williams brooms in a scene from the film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, 1993. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)

11. Mrs. Doubtfire

First, let me state the obvious: no one can replace the incomparable Robin Williams. But a Mrs. Doubtfire musical would be hilarious. And it was almost a thing last year, when music composer extraordinaire Alan Menken announced the idea. (He’s the same man behind songs from films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. ) Unfortunately Menken got busy and had to put the project aside.

This version of Mrs. Doubtfire needs to come to Broadway. The story of a father willing to do anything to see his children after his divorce, including dressing up like a semi-British nanny/maid, is deeply funny and also a little sad. Combine that with the fact that Menken was going to write the songs and it’s a Broadway hit so close you can almost taste it. It is the movie musical of our childhood dreams and the more I think about the fact that it almost happened the sadder I get.

The best part of Mrs. Doubtfire is the physical comedy of Daniel Hillard (Williams) as he changes back and forth into his “Mrs. Doubtfire” disguise. Imagine seeing it all acted out onstage complete with costume malfunctions, singing, and dancing. I’m laughing already just thinking about it. Please Mr. Menken, now that the live action Beauty and the Beast film is done and Galavant is canceled, won’t you reconsider?