An Open Letter To Meryl Streep: Here Are Five More Broadway Roles You Must Play On Screen

Dear Meryl Streep,

Hey Mer (we heard that's what your friends call you). Hey. Like everyone else on the planet, we’re huge fans. We haven’t been able to take our eyes off of you since Kramer vs. Kramer, and don’t even get us started on Out of Africa or Sophie's Choice. But we’ve become even bigger fanatics since you’ve started singlehandedly working your way through the Broadway canon on screen. First it was a movie adaptation of Dancing at Lughnasa. Then Angels in America. Then you dipped your toe into musicals, with Mamma Mia! Then Doubt and August: Osage County. And the best part? You rocked them all. Absolutely rocked them. So of course, we can barely contain ourselves with this double whammy: The forthcoming film versions of Into the Woods and Master Class. YES!

This is an absolutely fantastic trend, Meryl. Below, for your approval, we’ve dreamed up five current Broadway roles we’d love to see you nail on the big screen. Just make sure to thank us when you win your next five Oscars.

Love,
Broadway.com


Helen Sinclair in Bullets Over Broadway
We know, this splashy musical was a movie first—but we’d love to see you chew the scenery as boozy diva Helen Sinclair in a new movie musical based on the Woody Allen comedy. Yes, yes, Meryl, we know this is a fabulous idea, but please, don’t speak! We still have four more fabulous ideas for you.


Katharine in Mothers and Sons
Tony winner Tyne Daly is giving a powerful performance as grieving mother Katharine in Terrence McNally’s Mothers and Sons. After wowing us in McNally's Master Class (a role also played by Daly), wouldn’t you like to give this meaty role a shot on the big screen? Bonus: At the end, you get to eat an Oreo.


Miss Trunchbull in Matilda
Sure, the Trunch is played by a dude in the Broadway musical. But that hasn’t stopped you before—remember when you tricked us all as that rabbi in Angels in America? Of course you do, you’re Meryl Streep. Anyway, think about it.


Rita in Casa Valentina
Come on, who wouldn’t want to spend weeks on end surrounded by drag queens? Meryl, this role is perfect for you: Rita is practical, supportive and stoic on the surface, but at her core, still waters run deep. Plus, she makes a mean meatloaf.


Madame Morrible in Wicked
Meryl, you’ve had fantastic success playing evil before (Miranda Priestly, hello?) so we think it’s high time you take a trip to Oz to play the Shiz headmistress in the long-awaited Wicked movie. Oh come on, let's face it: If it were up to us, we’d let you play Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero, too.