海角大神

After the massive ratings success of NBC鈥檚 live broadcast of a production of 鈥淭he Sound of Music,鈥� the network is already planning another show.

NBC chairman of the entertainment division Robert Greenblatt told the New York Times that a new musical will arrive next holiday season. What show will be performed? No word yet, but Greenblatt says it would need to have lots of songs people know and that it would have to be appropriate for all ages.

Greenblatt says competition is already fierce.

鈥淎ll weekend, people have been calling us and emailing us,鈥� he said. 鈥淩ights holders of musicals have said, 鈥楶lease do one of our shows.鈥� We鈥檙e excited to try it again.鈥澛�

So what should be next? While NBC may not yet know (or maybe they do, and they鈥檙e just not telling), I have a few suggestions.

(鈥淐hicago鈥� director Rob Marshall may have stolen my first choice by making a big-screen version of 鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� but I鈥檓 too excited about Emily Blunt as the Baker鈥檚 Wife to mind.)

1. 鈥淲est Side Story鈥�

I suppose whether this story, a 1950s update of William Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� as played out between American and Puerto Rican street gangs, would be a viable choice depends on your definition of 鈥渇amily-friendly鈥� 鈥� as fans know, the show includes a lot of violence as well as a tragic ending that requires at least two boxes of Kleenex. So perhaps a few younger kids might have to leave the room for a few minutes but come back in for the flashy dance numbers. But don鈥檛 you want to see a live cast take on 鈥淎merica鈥�? And 鈥淭onight鈥�? And 鈥淛et Song鈥�? And 鈥淕ee, Officer Krupke鈥�?聽

You鈥檙e humming them already, aren鈥檛 you? I rest my case.

2. 鈥淥klahoma!鈥�

With undemanding sets as well as not too many effects, the frontier drama, which follows cowboy Curly, his love Laurey, and the goings-on among the other settlers in their small town, would be a good fit for a live broadcast. And with the last big-screen movie version having been released in 1955, there may be some members of younger generations who aren鈥檛 familiar with the story. Villain Jud Fry is a little scary, but parents could talk younger kids through those scenes.

And while the video of the 1999 production has played before on PBS, it would always be worth checking if 鈥淟es Miserables鈥� actor Hugh Jackman would be willing to reprise his wildly successful turn as cowboy Curly in the London revival of the show.

3. 鈥淕uys and Dolls鈥�

The fun story, following gamblers living in New York and their troubles with the women in their lives, would be enjoyable for all ages and the sets for 鈥淕uys,鈥� often consisting of skyscraper backdrops, are never too complicated.

4. 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar鈥�

Some may take issue with Andrew Lloyd Webber鈥檚 version of the life of Jesus, so this may not be the most likely pick, but the accessibility of the music 鈥� electric guitars are involved in so many of the songs! 鈥� and the novel way of telling the story of the New Testament would get the attention of younger viewers, if that鈥檚 what these broadcasts are going for. 聽

5. 鈥淢y Fair Lady鈥�

I asked my musical-loving colleague Marjorie Kehe, the Monitor鈥檚 book editor, for her pick for the next broadcast. She said she thinks the show based on 鈥淧ygmalion,鈥� following a young flower-seller who's taught how to speak like a high-born young woman by a stuffy phoneticist, would appeal to many TV-watchers. 鈥淚t's entertaining, it's a great story, it's great music,鈥� Kehe said of 鈥淔air.鈥�

You鈥檙e welcome, NBC.