An ORIGINAL Disney musical? The world is coming to an end!...

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:12am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/100839.html

[Craig]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:14am

Oh for pete's sake. People complain about not enough original musicals and now you're going to complain about an original musical just because it's Disney helming?

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 10:14 AM

[folkyboy]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:14am

well i love Andrew Lippa and while i do loathe Disney with all my heart, i can't say i didn't see this coming.

it'd be pretty hard to turn Cars into a Broadway show. they have to go for original stuff.

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 10:14 AM

[west end artist1]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:15am

This sounds so unintresting.

Just what the world need's another disney musical.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:18am

Sorry. Are you familiar with the book. Because if you aren't, how can you say it's uninteresting?

Just curious. Personally, I have never heard of the book.

[west end artist1]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:22am

No i havent heard of the book and wont pretend to have.

What i find unintresting is another disney musical(all set and nos substance).Just my opinion because i can see why millions love them(i guess im on a disney downer after sitting through Mary Poppins FOUR bloody times now)

LOL

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:27am

I have no reason to believe that CapnHook was complaining. I think he must be plotzing. He recently saw something that was rated PG and it disturbed him.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:30am

Craig, "Hook" not "Munk."

And not complaining at all. Just saying it must be the apocalypse. Can't believe Disney is actually doing something new rather than bringing "Pinocchio" or "Mickey Mouse Sings Cole Porter" to the stage.

I mean, AIDA wasn't really "risky" by Disney standards - they had Tim Rice and Elton John on the project. They have the huge Elton fanbase on their side already.

Yes, there's a Lippa fanbase, but arguably not as large.

THIS project is more risky for them. When I get over my shock, I'll offer my kudos and good luck...

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 10:30 AM

[Barihunk]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:31am

The book is actually quite wonderful. It was a critical success when it was published in 1993 making a lot of "Best of the Year" lists. Sounds like a good idea to me as long as its kept on a small scale (the New Victory?) and Lippa seems an apt choice for composer... This just could end up surprising everyone.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:42am

Sounds good, so far. I remember the book getting a lot of good press too.

I think it's pretty great that we're not getting The Gnome Mobile live on stage, this time. It's very encouraging!

*checks the sky*

S'okay, Capn. It isn't falling.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 10:58am

As long as they change the title, I think it'd be okay.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 11:02am

I think AIDA was probably helped more not by hardcore Elton fans, but by the fact that he and Tim Rice had work with Disney several times before; people knew it was a collaboration that turned out some great stuff.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 11:02am

Thank you, Craig. I can see people showing disgust when a movie based show opens, but this could be enjoyable. As of now it's just an announcement, how can you judge it?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 11:17am

I feel like more than anything their goal isn't Broadway so much as creating a new Children's musical that will sell like hotcakes through MTI. I think they have found a profitable venture through their "Jr." titles, and an original musical, with parts for kids, and catchy songs (which Lippa is quite capable of) will sell really well.

Akiva

ps...I've never actually seen hotcakes sell though...

Posted: 7/13/06 at 11:29am

jules feiffer is a brilliant person...this is bound to be interesting.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 11:58am

IMO this is what Disney should be doing, instead of turning their movies into Broadway musicals.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:00pm

agreed

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:14pm

It's based on a book, doesn't that make it "unorignal"? Anyways this sounds really lame. I understand where there audience is, but this seems like another "On the Record" or "Hoopz." Crap.

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:24pm

I'm happy as long as it isn't based on another Disney movie.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:26pm

Aida was more of an original musical than this.

Why are people all in a huff about this?

Disney is damned if they do, damned if they don't with a lot of people here.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:29pm

Aida was NOT good material. It lasted because of Elton John, the B-list stars, and the damn fangirls.


Hopefully this won't be poor material like Aida.
Updated On: 7/13/06 at 12:29 PM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:29pm

Well look what they done with the place (bway).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 12:34pm

Whether or not Aida is good material is entirely subjective, of course. Clearly, many thought it was, because it lasted almost five years.

"Well look what they done with the place (bway)."

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but let's look at what they've done.

They refurbished and reopened a brand new theater that jump-started the cleaning up of 42nd Street.

They finally put a hit show in the Minskoff and brightened that alley.

Their shows have introduced entire new generations to Broadway.

Their productions have been honored with 11 Tony Awards.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 1:14pm

"This sounds so unintresting. Just what the world need's another disney musical."

I was thinking the same about Sondheim or Kander & Ebb even Lippa, I just get so tired of having people write musicals. Or even the same people Producing/Acting/Directing etc.


"It's based on a book, doesn't that make it "unorignal"?"

You're right! Thank God other musicals based on books don't come to broadway. Shh! Don't tell the cast of Piazza, TCP, Wicked, or POTO that their shows are based on books.


"Aida was more of an original musical than this."

Apparently being based on an Opera is original... the RENT fans will be happy.


Listen to how absurd everyone is being. Give it a rest. It's all theatre and we should be accepting at least until we see it come to fruition.

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 01:14 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 1:46pm

I mean, AIDA wasn't really "risky" by Disney standards - they had Tim Rice and Elton John on the project. They have the huge Elton fanbase on their side already.

Not true. Look at LESTAT.

There was no guarantee. Disney was taking a huge risk.