I feel like, when we compare Disney shows, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins stand on their own. Tarzan, Aida, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, Hunchback, Aladdin, even On the Record can be together.
Beauty and the Beast was their first show, when they knew nothing. To me, it was more of a "Broadway musical" in the traditional sense. It wasn't about trying to exactly reproduce the animated film. Remember, it was called the "Best Musical on Broadway" in its animated form, and was created before the Thomas Schumacher era.
The Lion King had Julie Taymor, who took the story and adapted and brought a whole new level of theatrics to the show.
Mary Poppins was co-produced with Cameron Macintosh. I feel like he produced the show, and Disney was the "owners" of the property, therefore, they made a collaboration together.
Everything else to me is Disney/Thomas Schumacher making musicals of their movies.
Updated On: 2/26/18 at 11:08 AM