Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID To Close On Broadway 8/30- Page 5

[LoveIsCompany]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:42pm

I know that they're pretty dead set on having their "main alumni" come back... so one can only assume that'd mean Blanchard. I mean given this economy and everything who knows, maybe this won't happen, but I can tell you that they're actively starting to look at casting and seek out "alumni."

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:48pm

Would Terrance Mann be a candidate?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:48pm

Would you by any chance know if they are trying to get Steve Blanchard back?

Oh please god, no. He was so bored with that role. Phoned it in for the last 3 years or so.

If they're looking for "main alumni" that must mean they want Blanchard and Sarah Litzsinger.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:51pm

If Disney closed TLM to have a theater to bring B&B back that would be very ironic. Being as they closed B&B to "Make Way for The Little Mermaid".

& Terrence Mann is doing Adams Family later in the winter, so he prob would be unable to do the Beast since he is preparing for the other role.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:51pm

Or Ashley Brown...

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:56pm

Hahaha

[camncal]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:04pm

i hope they revive this in the future with better sets and direction. they really messed it up given the great material they had.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:16pm

So B&TB: Xmas version goes into the Lunt for two months. If White Christmas does return; where could it play??

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:16pm

I'm sure that Steve probably phoned it in some during his 8 year run, who wouldn't? But the several times I saw him in the last year of the run and the final weekend, final performance, he gave a wonderful performance! When he's into it he's really good so if they brought him back since it would be a limited run I'm sure he probably wouldn't be phoning it in.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:24pm

God, I hope that their theme park show that is transferring is not FINDING NEMO, how sad would that be? It'd make more sense if it was something like HUNCHBACK...actually, it'd make more sense if they stopped putting theme park shows on Broadway.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:26pm

I wish they'd get Brynn O'Malley to finally play Belle (I know she got to go on once when she covered it, but that doesn't count). She'd be fantastic, I think.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:52pm

^^^^ I agree! Brynn is a wonderful actress and a beautiful women. It would be great to see her as Belle!

and P.S. NOBODY SHOULD DOUBT LOVEISCOMPANY. I promise loveiscompany knows the scoop!

[LoveIsCompany]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:59pm

They tried to transfer Nemo a few years ago but with no luck. I've heard talk of both Aladdin (a more polished and refined version of the one that played in California Adventure, for those of you who saw it), as well as Hunchback building on the film. I think Disney learned their lesson with the backlash that came with the set for Mermaid, so here's to hoping that whatever comes next isn't flaunting heelies.

[winston89]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 12:01am

I am wondering. Might Disney at some point close Popins to bring back the production of Beauty and The Beast that originally played at The Palace rather then the one with the dumbed down sets that were from the tour that played for a few years at The Lunt?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 12:14am

It's doubtful, given the fact that not many people know the difference, and the newer production will make them just as much money, and cost a lot less.

[LoveIsCompany]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 12:25am

Adamgreer hit it on the head. I mean honestly, as much as I despise the mouse, it's pretty genius to run this show as a limited holiday engagement for all the families that come through and all those tourists that want holiday magic. Plus, with the new song(s?) that they'll be adding in with the Christmas component, I'm sure a few people will justify going back to see it :)

[degrassifan]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 12:25am

This is sad news. I had high hopes for it. I really liked most of the new songs, but the creative team made some dumb choices.
For example, who was the "smart" person that came up with the idea of having "Under the Sea" sung after the destruction of Ariel's grotto?

Anyway, hopefully it gets revived years from now with a better creative team (i.e. costumes, sets, etc). Or better yet, why not a live action movie based on the musical? If they can do Transformers, Harry Potter, etc, why not TLM? Just a thought.

Question: Is there a better way to portray mermaids on stage instead of using heelies or wires?

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 12:29am

I'm down for a Christmasy Beauty and the Beast.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 1:13am

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 1:20am

Apparently Disney has already sold Ariel to Chicken of the Sea and she'll be available in the 5 oz tins at a Fairway near you real soon.

Those Disney people waste nothing, I tell you, nothing!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 9:28am

"I'm not going to defend my legitimacy, just sharing the wisdom I have from firsthand encounters and information."

Disney's wanted to bring back Beauty and the Beast since opening night of The Little Mermaid. It isn't as if any of this news is revelatory.

"They tried to transfer Nemo a few years ago but with no luck."

No, they didn't. The show at Disney's Animal Kingdom is only two years old, and in no way was remotely ready for a Broadway transfer. They would have to do an entire re-design of the show for Broadway, and add at least one more hour to the running time.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 9:44am

NETworks is producing a tour of this show as a part of their 2009-2010 season. From an E-Mail, NETworks told me that the tour is going to be a never before seen production with a brand new lighting design, brand new set, ect...

NETworks rarely ever mounts their own original productions. As a matter of fact, every NETworks production that I can think of has been a tour of a former production. (The Wizard of Oz tour is a tour of the RSC production, The Sweeney Todd Tour was a tour of the Doyle Revival, ect...). Is there a chance that disney is mounting a never-before-seen production of BATB this holiday season and NETworks is going to use the same lighting design, staging, sets, props ect...

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:22am

Ooooo! That's a great idea!! They should do it! BaTB would be such a success for holiday tourists.

I thought all the actors in Little Mermaid were fantastic but the show itself belonged in an amusement park.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:25am

I may have actually just died.

[NewYorkYankee2006]

Posted: 7/1/09 at 11:26am

i can't believe they are closing THE LITTLE MERMAID!!!!! i am well gutted!!