Alex Timbers has Departed FROZEN! — Page 4

Kind of reminds me of Michael Cimino who did The Deer Hunter. United Artists gave him a blank check after that. As a result , the studio went out of business and he brought us Heavens Gate

"so I'm asking Ms. Taymor be involved asap. "



Oh. OK. If you're asking.

"I've liked the Liesl Tommy plays I've seen but has she ever directed a musical?"

You mean other than the awkward, near travesty of the DCA Frozen? No, not that I'm aware of. Hence why I said she needs be kept FAR away.

Mantello...yeah he has experience with big spectacles now, but he's not hurting for money, so I can see him passing on this. He did Wicked once, I don't think he would want to do it again...what we all know is a Disneyfied Wicked. I want something new myself.

As for that Taymor article...I nearly had a happy heart attack...but if she saying NEXT year, I don't think it's Frozen...the timeline doesn't seem to fit what she's talking about, especially if she's talking about Broadway itself for next year and Frozen doesn't come to NYC until 2018 as well all know. And it seems she's clueing us in with that talk of phones and virtual reality.

I can see where Timbers maybe wanted to 'reinvent the wheel' and Dosney didn't like it. I totally buy that. But I'll say again, it needs REWORKING and REWRITING. Not a whole reinvention. That why i still think Taymor would be the best choice. She reworked what needed to be reworked for LK, thought out of the box, but it's still works wonderfully on stage, AND it's still the brilliant movie we know and love. The movie was already brilliant. Frozen is not. Since it's not starting as something already good, it NEEDS reworking. A lot. to reinventing. Just a lot of reworking.

My second choice is still Brokaw with Ivey Long costumes.

Replacement: Michael Arden

Timbers was an interesting choice for sure. He tends to like low-tech shows, but high concept and relies a lot on lighting. Rocky was a big show, and he pulled it off okay, but Frozen is expected to run for 15+ years. I'm sure they don't want any hesitation. The show doesn't require a ton of "thinking." But I'd love to see what Matthew Warchus would create.

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Plot twist: the new director is Scott Schwartz



"

I just barfed in my mouth. Truly an awful director

A thin, blonde, white actress walks on stage and stops at center. She looks at the audience, and takes a snowball from the ground. She smears it on her face. Snow falls from the grid. Bells ring. Fifteen white people and two people of color surround her. They, too, smear snow on her face. She puts a snowflake in her hair. She is now Elsa.

As long as Taymor isn't writing the book/libretto then I'm sure she'd be fabulous. She only gets into trouble when she tries to be a writer.

Sauja said: "Liesl Tommy has done musicals besides the Disneyland Frozen--she did a big production of Les Miz a couple years back that was really surprising and very well received.



"

I completely forgot about that so I stand corrected. I do remember that one, and though I'm not a huge fan of a completely reinvented new takes on SUPER established material, I saw clips form that one, and it worked. It was kinda brilliant actually. But again, that's her niche, super heavy political pieces. Les Mis is certainly that, and her vision fit with her stylistic niche. Obviously Disney doesn't get all that super heavy or dark unless it's Hunchback or Pocahontas. Frankly, now that I think about it, her Hunchback could have been brills too...damn. Don't worry, belrowley, most people are disappointed with that Hunchback. AND GOOD GRIEF NO SCOTT ON THIS!! That was not even funny, BITE YOUR TONGUE AGAIN!! (Ok it was amusing, but still...since Stephen has no attachment to this, there will be no Scott. I can only hope).

"Timbers was an interesting choice for sure. He tends to like low-tech shows, but high concept and relies a lot on lighting."

THAT is actually why I thought Timbers COULD be good. Not perfect, but good. I've said it a million times, Frozen=crazy lighting shenanigans everywhere. I don't know how anyone currently still involved WOULDN'T be able see this in their vision. It just...GAH! Timbers may no longer be attached anymore, but please let them see the light (pun possibly intended). I once again compare to Wicked. Wicked works with more sets and practical effects, because not only is Elphaba's magic general in nature, but it's not THE biggest plot catalyst, not do we really SEE it all that often throughout the show. Quirky designed show, but still on the traditional side in it's presentation. Elsa's magic is a huge plot catalyst (duh) and we see it A TON. Hence the need for a more abstract design and presentation. I just can't see too many actual physical sets and practical effects working for it. Which I do like the DCA show for, it's less presentational and more abstract, and it works, but that's about it. I feel a need for a mix of all kinds of things, are what's needed-practical, psysical, projections...this will interesting indeed.

And I'm actually scared for Jenn doing anything with her own book...because of that, it's obvious because much of the original scenes and dialogue will remain as intact as possible when the same screenwriter writes their own book for the stage adaptation. She needs to understand what's is needed for this to work on stage is NOT what is written in the film, and I don't think she's written for the stage before either. The films' flow is less than stellar already, but that awkward screenplay will certainly not flow or read well on stage, the DCA show proves that. And for the love of heaven she needs to rid the script of the 'modernisms'...those have never NOT bothered me. It's obvious her writing the book isn't changing, but I hope someone leads her right about what works on stage, and as I've said WAY too many times...it NEEDS re working/re writing, not just for what works on a stage (those last few scenes are going to be SO awkward to stage well or watch if they're not rewritten/reconceived) but also for a story that's ACTUALLY compelling and not so shallow. That untapped potential is still there...please dig deeper.

Tiffany will most likely be occupied with Harry Potter

theatregoer3 said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "Tiffany will most likely be occupied with Harry Potter"



At first, I thought the same thing. But they're simply restaging it. I can't imagine this will take up a good deal of his time."



Even when "simply" restaging something it is still a huge time commitment, especially on a project the size of Cursed Child. Not that he couldn't do it, since we're still only looking at vague time-lines for both projects at this point so we don't know how they may or may not conflict with each other, but once Cursed Child is ready to move it will indeed take up a good deal of his time.

Has any Disney productions been good?