Shaiman hears 'inner song' in 'Bob' musical
By Borys Kit Fri Nov 4, 3:17 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Tony-winning composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman has signed on for musical duties on Disney's "Bob the Musical."
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Mark Waters ("Mean Girls") is attached to direct the comedy, which follows a mild-mannered man who suddenly hears the "inner song" of people's hearts after being struck in the head.
"Once I read the script, I felt I had to do it," said Shaiman, who was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the song "Blame Canada" in 1999's "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut."
"I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if someone else did it. It's a very sweet valentine to musicals, but (it) sends them up at the same time."
Shaiman said the script will show why people sing in musicals.
"The emotions are so strong that dialogue is not enough. It takes that and shows it in a literal sense and a magical sense. And each person he comes across, male and female, has a different point of view and different emotion, and they'll be different generationally and socially, so each song will be unique. It's our way to have our cake and eat it, too, with many different styles."
Shaiman, who won a Tony as composer and co-lyricist on Broadway's "Hairspray," is a five-time Academy Award nominee for his work on such movies as "The First Wives Club" and "The American President." He is working on the stage musical of "Catch Me If You Can."
