(Relaxnews) - With Rock of Ages coming to US cinemas this weekend, New York's Broadway hit musical about the 1980s glam rock scene is making the transition from stage to screen, although recently there have been more adaptations going in the other direction -- from screen to stage.

Historically, theatrical productions have moved from Broadway to Hollywood, such as The Sound of Music and, more recently, Mamma Mia!. There were a couple films that hit the stage such as the 1960s cult film Little Shop of Horrors, which became a hit off-Broadway in 1982.

But the screen-to-stage trend began in earnest with 1991's Beauty and the Beast and 1994's The Lion King capitalizing on box office appeal and continues with the indie film Once and the 1992 film Newsies, whose stage adaptations both won Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10.

The upcoming season features an astounding dozen new plays and musicals based on films.

Movies turning into plays and musicals include Woody Allen's Oscar winner Bullets Over Broadway, Tim Burton's Big Fish and Oscar winner Barry Levinson's 1982 hit film Diner, with updated music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow.

Other screen-to-stage productions in the coming season include:

• Flashdance, after a stint in Toronto (from the 1983 film)
• Dirty Dancing from the 1987 hit with Patrick Swayze
• Guess Who's Coming to Dinner based on the 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier
• The Nutty Professor (1963, 1996)
• Pure Country (1992)
• Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964, with Frank Sinatra)
• Father of the Bride (1991)

As Hollywood relies more on sequels, video games and comic book hits to make films a less risky proposition, Broadway is leaning on known hits. Currently on Broadway are Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, from the 1994 cult film, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, Ghost, and Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.

On London's West End, Shrek the Musical is playing, as is Top Hat, based on the 1935 film featuring the music of Irving Berlin. Coming this November is The Bodyguard, based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.

And the all-time longest running musical on Broadway and the West End, Phantom of the Opera, is actually based on the 1925 film with Lon Chaney.

RC