Disney AND Broadway - The Survival of the Musical- Page 2

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 5:58pm

"Also, CapnHook. Peter Pan is onstage with Kathy Rigby (It will be here in Denver for the second time in January). It has enjoyed a successful tour for a few years now. And I read that they want her to finish her very long run in the part on Broadway. Just my thoughts."

uncageg,

Not sure what you meant by this. I know about the tour and was there for Opening Night in La Mirdada, CA. (I own PeterPanFan.com ...shameless plug.)

I don't really have an issue with Disney adapting its animated musicals to the Broadway stage. Like any other show that comes to Broadway, it may be good or bad. It might be a success, or it may flop.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST was Disney's first try on Broadway. Their shows got better and better, LION KING then AIDA. (I, too, enjoyed AIDA more than the other two. But LION KING was better production-wise whereas AIDA was better story-wise, and IMHO, better songs.)

MARY POPPINS, I read, is the best thing to happen to theatre in a very long time. Can't wait for the wind to carry it to New York.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 7:52pm

Re-read your post. Sorry...I take it you meant that the movie would be bad on stage but the stge musical is fine.

[sanda]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 8:26pm

Great Post!

Just want to say, I love Lion King movie. It is my all time favorite animated movie. But, I don't like Lion King musical that much. It is fun. The music is still good. (of course, the music is the same in the movie). The stage scene is quite beautiful. There is something spetacular, like Mufasa's face, etc.
However, it cannot compete with movie. The movie is too good. The huge African plain, the river, the sky, all the huge animals...that is too much for small stage. The death of Mufasa in the movie is so overwhelming. I admit the stage version is quite smart. But smart is not enough.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 8:48pm

I don't really have anything to add to this. All I can say is I hope that they don't do SHREK on stage, cuz' ewww. Maybe a theme park show but not on Broadway for the love of god. Mermaid would be cool provided they stray as far from the design of the movie as possible and go Caribbean Lion King. I don't really see the point of it since we already have ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, but whatever, I don't have to go see it. I mean, it would be like addapting their peter Pan movie when we already have a wonderful stage version of Peter Pan or the annimated Cinderella instead of just producing a stage version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which I think they should do. I'd like to see Hunchback on Broadway with the new songs that I'm sure were written for the German production, but loose the talking gargoyles. Fine for the animated film, but on-stage I think they should just be spirits or something. And Tarzan is fine (rock musical would be awesome!) as long as they keep Adam Pascal in a loin cloth. Otherwise... ehh... Updated On: 12/18/04 at 08:48 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 12:59pm

Disney has a direct-to-DVD/video release of MULAN II planned for early next year. Has Alan Menken written songs for this, or is it another cheapquel?

Special Edition DVDs of THE LION KING, MULAN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and ALADDIN are already out. THE LITTLE MERMAID and HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME are planned for the same treatment.

I highly recommend these DVDs. They have 1-2 hour length documentaries on the making of the films. Alan Menken was interviewed for his work in them. Lots of tears when referring to Howard Ashman.

Also on the ALADDIN DVD are songs cut from the film, including "Proud of Your Boy" - a song written by Menken & Ashman. Ashman pleaded for Disney not to remove it and try to find a way to keep it in, but he knew the film was better off without it. Its a beautiful song, too. They also talk about their work on BEAUTY & THE BEAST on the BATB DVD. Eisner says why he didn't want to bring it to Broadway, and others why they did.

I hope those MTI Disney shows are of quality. Has anyone read any scripts yet? I'd be interested to see what Disney has done with these shows.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 1:17pm

When I said the Disney animated film is evolving, I meant changing---the 'movie musical' was the jackpot for Disney, currently it is the Pixar collaborated films. I didn't necessarily mean that Disney's animated films have gotten better (or that the computer animated films are better than the movie musicals). Just to clear up.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 1:33pm

I believe Jeneane Tesori wrote the music for Mulan II, i don't know who wrote the lyrcis, though

"Disney has a direct-to-DVD/video release of MULAN II planned for early next year. Has Alan Menken written songs for this, or is it another cheapquel?"

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 1:33pm

as long as they keep Adam Pascal in a loin cloth. Otherwise... ehh...

Sorry to burst your bubble, dear, but in Adam's own words: "hey hey. I'm not Tarzan, so don't get yourselves too worked up."

[futurebroadwaystar1]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 2:20pm

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. I have seen all three of Disney's Broadway musicals as well as the theme park shows.

-Beauty and the Beast-This was the first I saw of the three. I really liked it. The transition from "musical movie" to Broadway musical was well done(new songs and all).

-The Lion King-I didn't really like. After hearing everyone praise it for so long, I was a little disappointed with what I saw. It was good, just not as good as everyone made it seem.

-Aida-My favorite of the three! Really loved it. I think Disney made a smart move by producing a show that wasn't a Disney movie first. The adult/teen theme was also a good/bad move. I think it opened it up to more of an audience because it wasn't just a kiddy show. It could also be considered bad because when people see the name Disney, they think family/kids. I'm not saying Aida isn't a family show, but it's for more of a mature audience. I would hate to see Aida be cleaned up and made into an animated movie musical. IMO, it would ruin the show and the magic in the story.

-Tarzan-Ugh...not looking forward into this one. I don't think the music and the story are strong enough to make it a hit on Broadway. I thought the theme park show was awful because they made it into a stunt show instead of a normal Broadway style show like their other hit theme park shows(Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King). It's good for the theme park because it offers variety in their shows, but I don't think it belongs on Broadway.

-The Little Mermaid-Really looking forward into this! The movie did so much for Disney! I think the Broadway musical will do the same.

These are just my opinions. I'm sure whatever Disney puts on Broadway will do fine. I (being a lover of Broadway as well as owning Disney stock)want to keep seeing Disney do well on Broadway.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 5:29pm

After buying the Mulan DVD and viewing their cut scenes/ideas, I think Mulan would be an excellent movie to adapt on stage.

The movie itself is very short, and there are only, I think 5 songs, all together, but Disney (with the right team) can really turn this into something great. I liked the ideas that they scrapped in the beginning, with the shadow puppets telling the story and the Emperor having that dream with the cut song about China.

Just imagine the choreography they could have with this. The fight scenes could be stylized martial arts dancing, and they can incorporate new songs that will show off more Eastern dancing.

The character of Mulan, herself, is a great role that any actress would want to play. She has to have excellent physical comedic timing, and yet still be able to convey emotion.

The only thing I'm unsure about is how they can incorporate Mushu and the Beatle in this story. I wonder if they should have a puppet on strings with a talented comedic actor doing the voice, ala Little Shop of Horrors, or have someone actually on stage to be Mushu.

Anyway, it is my opinion that Mulan would be the perfect movie for Disney to choose to adapt to stage.

BTW, can you imagine the last musical number with the Ancestors singing "True to Your Heart"?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/19/04 at 5:54pm

Of all the Disney animated musicals, I think MULAN would be the hardest to do on stage. They would have to go in either of two directions: comedy or dramatic. Either have it be a funny adventure tale, as the film was, or change it to really focus on the need for Mulan to pretend to be a man, join the army, and fight for the Emporer. They would really need to focus on the seriousness of what Mulan is trying to accomplish. Possibly cut the cricket. Mushu is needed, but GET RID OF THE EDDIE MURPHY style humour. He can be funny, but not Eddie Murphy funny. That only worked on film.

Its difficult to say what I am thinking. Let's just leave it at this: it would be very difficult to do.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 8:40pm

Well, I am a huge fan of their movies. But, to be honest, I want them out of Broadway. I want them out of West End. I want them back into Hollywood and STAY THERE! While their family-friendly shows are running, and turning Broadway into a tourist attraction (a la Disneyworld), us original composers and writers are losing work. Thousands of shows are being un-produced, because they do not have the family 'touristy' formula. So Disney are responsible with that. Because of them, incidentally, Sondheim has had relative failures with Frogs and Assassins - artistic works, rather than theme parks. So hundreds, thousands of 'artists' are losing in the face of commercial giganticism. If it continues, there will be a revolution - either on Broadway - or in the entire world. The artists will figure out that Broadway is redundant, that it's a broken hole, that they can stage works anywhere and use the INTERNET for their marketing. Think about it. And blame Disney if this happens :)

Updated On: 12/20/04 at 08:40 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 11:08pm

Broadway IS a tourist attraction - and has been for many years. When people go to NY - they know they can see unique theatre they can't see anywhere else.

Sometimes, a show may draw people to NY JUST for a show, ie LION KING, THE PRODUCERS, or WICKED (I am referring to people who vacation, not theatre-lovers).

If a show fails, its because of its artistry or failure in publicity. Simply not good enough to compete.

Think about it - if Disney did a BAD show...horrific in every way possible - I don't think it would be open too long. They could advertise it to death, but word will get out and audiences will not come.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 5:36am

Because of them, incidentally, Sondheim has had relative failures with Frogs and Assassins - artistic works, rather than theme parks.

Didn't Sondheim also have (commercial) failures with Anyone Can Whistle, Follies, Pacific Overtures and Merrily We Roll Along before Disney came to Broadway? Whilst I'm not denying that Disneys four shows have had an effect on the West End and Broadway, I agree with CapnHook - that it has been resistant to 'non-touristy' shows for years. I'm sorry, but the Sound of Music is hardly Caroline or Change is it? As with the majority of the successful musicals, it was a well written show with catchy songs and an engaging story.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 10:50am

rockfenris2005: Ummm, where do you think a lot of original composers look to find work so they can continue to eat while they work on other pieces? Your post appears rather disrespectful to Messrs. Mencken and Schwartz, who have written for both the animated musical and musical theatre itself...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 11:58am

CATSNY - Actually, the gargoyles were the most beautiful part of Hunchback in Germany. Their staging and costumes were the most inspired part of the production and their costumes were gorgeous. One of them was female, which added a new dynamic to the trio in both characterization and voice. And their new music, a quintet with Quasimodo and Esmerelda, was one of the best songs of the evening. Without them, the show would lose a lot of the sympathy for Quasimodo as well as seriously alter the emotional balance of the entire production.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:02pm

"CATSNY - Actually, the gargoyles were the most beautiful part of Hunchback in Germany. Their staging and costumes were the most inspired part of the production and their costumes were gorgeous. One of them was female, which added a new dynamic to the trio in both characterization and voice. And their new music, a quintet with Quasimodo and Esmerelda, was one of the best songs of the evening. Without them, the show would lose a lot of the sympathy for Quasimodo as well as seriously alter the emotional balance of the entire production."

One was female in the film as well, unless it was supposed to be a male that was voiced by a female. But at the stage show in MGM Studios, it was acted by a female?

Were the original Menken songs from the animated musical also in Notre Dame de Paris? Was were they all new?

(Is the Paris production different from the one in Berlin?)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 2:00pm

The three gargoyles in the film were all male voiced by Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, and Paul Kandel. From what I remember (and I'll have to pull out my CD) all the film songs were used including the song over the end credits and there were about 3-5 news songs. I don't remember the exact count of new material, but it was quite a bit including a gypsy dance sequence. Also, the ending was changed to the original story ending in which Esmerelda dies.

The Paris production is Notre Dame de Paris, which is entirely different. It is a pop-concert spectacle with virtually no book and a chorus of Cirque du Soleil-style acrobats. I saw it in London and it remains one of the worst "musicals" I have ever seen.