Disney is developing Pinocchio for Broadway

Disney's cycle on Broadway continues as they begin developing the story of Pinocchio for the stage.

I found this out tonight while on AOL Instant Messenger with a friend from college. Our sophomore year, he was accepted into that Disney College Program (or whatever it's called). He's moved through the ranks and works there now.

He doesn't know much about the musical since it is in its early stages and doesn't deal with his area of Disney, but I figured that I would post here that it is being developed. Of course, things could fall through, yaddiyadda, but at the moment, it is a possibility for the future.

This is what we talked about:
[Note: I didn't edit for spelling or grammar or anything else because I wanted the transcript to be accurate.]

Me: Is Disney still planning to bring Little Mermaid to Broadway next year? Do you know?
Him: i believe so, they are also working on Pinnochio
Me: Whoa, I didn't hear that one.
Me: For Broadway or London?
Him: broadway, it is in like beginning phases
Him: i believe
Me: Wow.
Me: What do you know about it? Anything?
Him: nope
Him: nada
Me: Let me know when you find out!
Him: i know things that are happeneing here at WDW
Him: but not around the compny


....Then we went on to talk about the upcoming Princess movies and how we're excited that they will have music, etc.


Sorry it isn't much! I wanted to share what I could!

So what is everyone's opinion on this? Disney is making ANOTHER muscial. I'm not sure what I think. I haven't seen--and won't see Tarzan. It sounds like an abomination. Beauty and the Beast was alright. It was the first musical that I paid to see [I group those differently from school musicals...they're of a different caliber]. I mean, I loved the costumes, etc., and two of my favorite B&B songs are from the musical and not the movie. At the same time, it's JUST like the movie, which makes it a bit mundane.

I LOVED The Lion King, though. The choreography is just brilliant and "The Circle of Life" is still one of my favorite numbers because it's just so...gorgeous. I've seen that show a couple of times. I'm really excited to see The Little Mermaid because 1) it's a favorite Disney movie, and 2) it's 'allegedly' going to be as innovative as TLK was. Oh, and I also loved Aida, but that wasn't a Disney 'household name.'

I didn't see Chitty or, obviously, Hunchback. I'm not sure whether or not I'll see Mary Poppins...especially if it closes while I'm out of country since I'm here to stay for awhile.

As much as I loved TLK and want to see TLM, I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that Disney continues to churn out musicals. On the one hand, it gives people work and brings in money for Broadway. On the other, most of the shows are just....there. There isn't anything special about them. If Disney is going to continue making shows on Broadway, please give us quality over quantity!


What does everyone else think?

Updated On: 8/28/06 at 12:20 AM

Mmm, I've seen many of the opinion threads. I was trying to start discussion that stemmed from the latest news, especially concerning the fact that it's Pinocchio, which really hasn't been discussed...unless it was discussed a long time ago. I didn't go too far back in the search area when checking to see if this has been discussed before.

I'm sorry that I wasn't more clear with what I meant!

I wish they'd bring Hunchback over. I think that's a great movie. It has very dark themes and is just a beautiful show. I was listening to the soundtrack to the movie and I love it. It would really work on stage and could be beautiful. Pinocchio isn't going to be a big sell. It's not a big grand musical. Plus with all those kids it's going to be hell trying to get all these different rotating casts.

I personally love Disney shows, with the exception of Tarzan. I thought BATB was great, and Mary Poppins as well. Aida and The Lion King are also heavy-hitters. What's wrong with Disney, in my opinion? Nothin'. Keep 'em coming!

4 shows does not a monopoly make

Clear Channel currently has 5 shows on Broadway. Granted, their shows aren't properties that the created and then brought to broadway themselves, but more power to Disney for being able to do that with their own material.

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of course not, but when they're some of the biggest shows on Broadway, it's hard not to wonder what it will be like in a few years.

I love how people still make the mistake thinking that "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" was produced by Disney. It was a wonderful show, in my opinion, but I also think that if Disney had produced it that it would probably still be running. I mean Tarzan received some pretty nasty reviews as well and is almost half way to meeting Chitty's number of performances.

Oops, sorry! I just assumed that Chitty was Disney. I also assumed that the Hunchback musical in...was it Germany?...was Disney. I didn't really pay too much attention. Ahhh, you know what they say about the word assume!

I definitely feel like a Donkey right now.

Sorry, I would have replied sooner, but I was out all afternoon. Y'all are probably still asleep right now, and then I'll be sleeping when you reply. Sorry in advance!

Craig--He could have meant Geppetto. All he said was--well, I copy/pasted the convo. It doesn't do any good to rehash the same thing. What he told me is all that I know about it. If Gepetto has Disney attached, then this probably is what they're developing. If not, then it probably isn't because he works with the Disney Studios and not another company. His department doesn't really deal with musicals, so the fact that he knows that much is pretty good! Sorry that I don't have any more information for you at this time!

the Hunchback musical in German was Disney, just not Chitty.

Only 2 Disney cartoons i care to see live now would be Hunchback (once they stick to the German storyline) and if they would somehow do Pocahontas.

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saw "Hunchback" in Berlin a few years ago ... it definitely was disney. also, while the dialogue was in german, i will tell you that the books in the pit all were in english. someone was planning for the future ...

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There was NOTHING in Chitty that was geared toward anyone with an education past 2nd grade. Disney doesn't seem to know how to produce material for anyone who is even remotely capable of thinking, and god help us should they ever produce Pocahontas. It is one of the most offensively historically inaccurate portrayals I've ever seen, and there are a lot of historically inaccurate movies out there, this one was just horrendous.

Actually, "Pinocchio" makes a lot of sense.

It's a very theatrical story to begin with. And I've always loved the "darkness" of it.

The music is great (I can just see "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, an actor's life for me!" spiraling into a huge, clever production number)

And Pleasure Island could be terrific "eye candy" on a stage.

As for whether Tamor is involved or not (and I would LOVE it if she was!), there will be puppets, and in Monstro's case, I think a really clever rear-screen projection would be eye-popping for the effect.

Pinocchio really lends itself easily to a big-scale adaptation for Broadway.

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I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE Pinocchio!!!!!!