New Disney musical WINNIE THE POOH will open at Theater Row this fall

https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/winnie-the-pooh-stage-musical-featuring-disney_92307.html

Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation is developed by family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller, whose puppetry is on display in Paddington Gets in a Jam and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Featuring an all new story set in the Hundred Acre Wood, the show will be performed with life-size puppetry and will have songs from Disney's Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, as well as songs by original creator A.A. Milne. 

The run will take place at Theatre Row beginning October 21 and is presented in association with Disney Theatrical Productions.

Updated On: 5/25/21 at 04:08 PM

Mike Costa said: "Curious Disney would release the characters and the Sherman Brothers songs without a class ABroadway production. Anyone know why that happened?

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As I said in my earlier post, they have done this a few times already with some of their other properties, namely Hercules and Pinocchio. I had an opportunity to speak with someone closely involved with the PublicWorks production of Hercules, and I asked them what led to the production being approved. They said that Lear DeBessonet, the director, approached Disney with the idea, and Disney approved it because they had no plans to turn the movie into a musical on their own terms. It so happens that the Public Works production has inspired them to continue developing it, but that wasn't the case before. I'm guessing it's the same thing here - Winnie the Pooh is a property that wouldn't be very well-suited for a big Broadway run. It makes more sense in a smaller, more traditional TYA setting, and that isn't really Disney's market when it comes to Broadway shows. They attract families, but they do so with big-budget spectacle aimed at all ages.

So they probably never bothered to try to develop Winnie the Pooh into a stage musical, and had no plans to do so. So I'm guessing Rockefeller came along with the idea, and Disney gave it the green light. I'm sure there are some rigid terms and conditions, which might even give Disney the rights to the stage adaptation after the initial Off-Broadway run has finished. But they had no real reason to say no to Rockefeller.

Agreed, seems pretty risk free for Disney, and could prove to be a nice little sleeper hit with children. And Theatre Row as Pip's Island next door so it seems it's turning into a children's theater area. I think it sounds great! 

I wish Pinocchio had another life to it. I think that could be very cool 

JBroadway said: "The theatre industry is an ecosystem, and hyper-commercialism has its place in it, even it’s not my favorite part. In any case, there are many off-Broadway houses, some of which don’t seem to be all that difficult to book. Disney taking up one of them won’t have much impact. Do we even expect Theatre Row to be booked solid after COVID?

Not to mention, a huge portion of the announcements for upcoming shows, particularly on Broadway, have been more serious, artsy, and decidedly non-corporate projects. So it’s not like we will be lacking in alternatives to Winnie the Pooh."

I am honestly just a hyper corporate production hater and that's the hill I'm dying on lol. But I understand your point.

jpbran said: "Your message reminded me to check on reopening news for Pips Island (bringing my 8-yr old in December). Their site says they’re permanently closed. No Gazillion Bubbble reopening news yet too. Anyone heard?"

Gazillion Bubble Show re-opens on 10/9. Looks like a modified schedule.

I would love to see Winnie The Pooh but no way I can see it during the week with those morning performances and my weekends are up in the air.

bway0 said: "Few weeks late but I saw the puppets were announced end of August. Did they announce a cast yet? Did I miss it?"

Edit: Answered my own question-  I missed that they announced the cast a few days ago! 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Cast-Announced-for-WINNIE-THE-POOH-THE-NEW-MUSICAL-STAGE-ADAPTATION-20210917

The actor who plays Winnie is spot on. I’ve come across him on TikTok a few times now, and his voice work is excellent.

It seems this has opened now, anyone caught it yet?

Updated On: 10/24/21 at 08:31 PM