Disney Eyes Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" for Stage Musical

[Overkill]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 5:28pm

Broadway may go through the lookingglass. Playbill.com has learned that Disney Theatrical Productions is creating a new stage musical based on the hit 2010 Tim Burton film adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."



Disney Theatrical Productions executives have met with key members of the film, including director Tim Burton and screenwriter Linda Woolverton, to develop the property as a stage musical. Woolverton authored the screenplay for Disney's "The Lion King" and is also the Tony Award-nominated book writer of Beauty and the Beast, Aida and Lestat.

Burton will oversee the production, though he will not direct. Woolverton will adapt her screenplay for the musical. A composer, or songwriting team, is not yet in place and there is no current timeline for a Broadway arrival.

Disney had no comment on the project.

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I personally think this is not a good idea. We already got Wonderland and countless other adaptations of the show. And this was NOT the best movie. The only reason it had some charm, was the special effects used...they can't save the show with that on Broadway. Disney has SO many other things they could be working on for theatre, but they choose this? Just a bit confusing to me.


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[rorschach37]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 5:34pm

Not to sound rude or anything, but they announced this awhile back.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:08pm

The film's okay but I'm not sure if it can be adapted into a musical, the selling point of the film was the 3D, the visual effects and Johnny Depp as the Hatter.

Disney seem to busy with theatrical projects with Peter and the Starcatcher, Aladdin, Newsies and now Alice. They say Aladdin and Newsies aren't aiming for Broadway but I think Aladdin has a shot of going to Broadway should the Seattle production prove a success.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:13pm

Lion King had a 'book?' Well if it's by the guy who wrote 'Lestat,' I guess that explains a lot...

I did hear about this a while back, and am equally unimpressed now as I was then. The movie was kind of terrible, and having just seen and ADORED Starcatcher, I'd rather them focus on that. It was such a fantastic night of theatre. Clever and without the gaudiness this or Aladdin might contain.

If they're going to bring a Burton/Disney property to the stage, can we get Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride first, please?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:15pm

Finally! I was wondering when we'd get a musical based on Wonderland!

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:20pm

Bernadette for the Mad Hatter.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:23pm

Alice: Anika Noni Rose
Cheshire Cat: Elaine Stritch
Mad Hatter: Patti LuPone
Tweedle Dum/ Tweedle Dee: Alice & Emily
Queen of Hearts: Harvey Fierstein

[The Josh]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 10:36pm

If Disney wants an Alice in Wonderland musical, why not base it off of the original movie? I would rather see that.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 11:12pm

Alice-an unknown
The Mad Hatter-Gavin Creel
The Red Queen-Idina Menzel
The White Queen-Sierra Boggess
Tweedledee and Tweedledum-The Two Brothers from "The Drowsy Chaperone"
The Knave of Hearts-Levi Kreis

[beach2732]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 12:02am

I personally did not care for the new Alice film. While Disney would probably make more money off of a musical of the original Alice film, they have so many other choices!
(Alice is cute, but it is already pulling in money with licensing to schools.)

[Moneyspider]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:27am

First off, Corpse Bride is WB.

What I dug about the movie was seeing the Hero's Journey done with a female lead. Rest of it, eh. But geez, I can almost picture the numbers and I feel like it's a generic overwrought score to sell Hot Topic tees. But I'm up for Alice and the White Queen singing love songs to eachother.

Really, I think it'd be more fun to see a show based on Tron or the Story of Menstruation (an actual Disney short).

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:35am

Blech.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:09am

I thought Disney's next musical project was Aladdin which is currently in workshops.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:01am

I will seriously punch a baby if this happens. Linda Woolverton is a pitiful excuse for a writer, and we already have the dreadful Frank Wildhorn fiasco of a musical which is another sequel to the story, much like the Alice film that was produced. It would be ridiculous to have two sequels of Alice on Broadway, especially if they're both awful.

[steveshack]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:48am

The worst part of the movie was the plot and dialogue.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:38am

Nothing will ever beat Looking Glass Alice, can we just bring that back to NYC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2V3wPXvsZc

[CarmenDeBris]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 11:57am

Ugh I was hoping this project died...I know its not Disney but if you are going to make a musical of a Tim Burton movie make Beetlejuice!

[trentsketch]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:32pm

Can't we just revive Swados' Alice in Concert?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:58pm

"I thought Disney's next musical project was Aladdin which is currently in workshops."

It is possible for a large corporation like Disney to have several projects in various stages of development at the same time.

[sueb1863]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 6:28pm

For me the best parts of the film were the costumes and visual effects, and Johnny Depp. The story was just OK and there wasn't anything remarkable about it that would translate well to stage. Obviously Depp won't be involved, and while they could do the costumes, they can't replicate the effects (such as the Cheshire cat). Nobody's going to pay big bucks to see costumes they could see for cheap (or even free) in the actual movie.