The Devil Wears ABBA

I was thoroughly pleased to read that Meryl Streep has signed on to play the lead role of Donna in the big screen adaptation of the musical Mamma Mia! For those of you who are Musically Challenged, Mamma Mia! uses 20 or so ABBA classics in a story revolving around a daughter trying to discover which of her mom's three lovers is her father- just in time for her wedding day! The show is loads of kitchy fun and will hopefully transfer well to the big screen. While we're on the topic of movie musicals, what's up with all these movies being turned into musicals? Legally Blonde? High Fidelity? Shrek? I know it's all a money game and that tourists and theatre goers around the country want to see stories they know with "Household Names" (I won't even get into discussing Ashlee Simpson playing Roxie in the London production of Chicago!). But can't there be a place for original stories with original music and super talented "no name" theatre performers. Wasn't that place once called Broadway? Sigh. Save Meryl in Mamma Mia! for the big screen. I'll pick Carolee Carmello in Parade over a film any day!