Disney on Broadway

the rejuvination of 42nd street - look that up

i've always wondered... why do people hate Disney on Broadway... i've never truly understood the hatred some people have... is it the shows because they aren't excrutiatingly bad then most shows... what's the deal? thanks

A former director said he never wanted to see THE LION KING because he already knew the movie and liked it - and from the many clips he has seen of the show, it looks like too much of a spectacle. Special effects, outstanding costumes, great music, and great sets/lighting.

However, the acting is average. The plot becomes boring. With the plot already boring, you sort of know what happens next.

Some of the acting is bad. But I don't think its the actor's fault - I think its the direction. For instance, when Adult Simba says "I'm going back!", he just stands there, make a pose with his arms, runs in place, then leaves. VERY cheesey. This is an opportune time for a nice moment - but they corn it up.

AIDA is outstanding. The songs are exceptional (with the exception of "Like Father, Like Son," and "Another Pyramid." These two songs were just SO boring. Turning both into dialogue scenes would have been more effective. The choreography during "Another Pyramid" was especially cheesey. Unmoving. Pointless.

The sets were remarkable, the plot was OUTSTANDING, and the costumes doable. The only problem with the show (besides those two songs) were the acting. When they started bringing in those pop stars, the show wasn't worth seeing anymore because the acting turned the greatness of AIDA off. Heather Headley was supreme. You bring in MICHELLE T. WILLIAMS to replace Heather Headley? Forget about it! Might as well close!

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST had similar problems with LION KING. No real issues with acting. Sets were nice, songs were great, although some seemed to lack. I would have liked them to tone down the Disneyness even more and make it more darker. Belle's new song "Home" is a great addition, as is "If I Can't Love Her" that was added for the Beast. But these great songs are lost in a show that should be more emotionally stirring.

About Disney's impact on Broadway? Well, they restored the New Amsterdam Theatre for LION KING - and its beauty now shines again. Disney reinvented merchandising for Broadway. Instead of the average t-shirt with the logo from the show, Disney has several different shirts for each show. And there's unique items, too. They have LION KING puppets, each show has several different types of pins, etc.

And yes, you MUST watch disc 3 of the Broadway: The American Musical documentary. They have an entire segment devoted to Disney.

And just a brief schedule for Disney's upcoming projects:

2004/05: ON THE RECORD is now touring. Disney is looking into bringing this to Broadway.

2005: MARY POPPINS will make its Broadway debut after playing nearly a year in London.

2006: TARZAN

2007: THE LITTLE MERMAID

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Tarzan is in its very early stages right now; there have only been a handful (if that) of readings. If certain members of that cast remain (and no, I'm not just refering to my favorite singing guitar player) I think it has potential. The music is excellent.

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I think a major impact of Disney on Broadway is their shows ability to bring in new fans. People go to see the familiar Disney shows (Lion King and Beauty and the Beast), and its possible that these people become Broadway fans for life.

Down with Tarzan!!!

UP with Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Many people didn't like the influence Disney had in the cleaning up of Times Square. They felt it turned what was a unique "New York" experience into a theme park, and after my last visit to NYC, I can somewhat see what they mean (though I didn't see it as strongly before).

As for the musicals, I see no problem with them on Broadway. It is no different than the movie-to-stage shows others produce and Beaty and the BEast and The Lion King were of exceptionally high quality, though as most long-running shows, they are becoming tired and lifeless. Aida is the one Disney show I simply did not like. To me, the different elements of the show (book, score, set, lighting, costumes) worked against each other rather than together to attempt to tell an ancient Egyptian story without the use of anything ancient or Egyptian. There was nothing new or innovative happening and other than Sherie Rene Scott, I found little to like. I did see Hunchback in Germany and though the score (including a few new songs) and book are very good (other than a poorly placed first act ending), the staging, movement and choreography were painfully dull. I still think it could work on stage, but only the set for God Save the Outcasts is worth salvaging.

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"On the Record" isd a sleazy, cheesy marketing tool. It's a concert of old Disney tunes, disguised as an actual musical by using a phony "plot" about a group of people gathering in a recording studio to make a CD of Disney tunes. Of course, you can then go out to the theatre lobby and purchase the CD you "saw them record" on stage.

I have seen Lion King and Beauty and I liked both. It had magic and I think that's what Disney is all about.

But when I saw Hunchback in Berlin I was so dissapointed. They turned the family friendly movie, which was pretty good I thought, into this dramtatic heartles thing! That was the worst thing I have ever seen. It was dark, cold and heartless. And the direction of James Lapine was just bad. I liked his Into The Woods but this was just crap! The even changed the names of the gargoyles from Victor, Hugo and Laverne into Charles, Something (forgot his name)and Loni. The whole joke was gone.

I hope the TV Movie will be better. If Hunchback was your first Disney show you have seen, I can totally understand why people don't like Disney anymore. There was no Disney Magic!!!

And they let Esmaralda die at the end!! That is nothing for Kids.......they love female princess type. And those characters never die in a Disney Movie!!

Munk, I agree with you completely about The Lion King. Like you said, the costumes are cool, but I left being SO dissapointed. I've said many times that I much prefer to see the movie.

Now Beauty and the Beast and Aida on the other hand, I adored.

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Perhaps you could look up the gross revenues of each show. You also could compile figures of the numbers of actors who have gone into each show (and the road if possible). They've been there for 10 years now and that surely has had some major economic impact in NYC and across the country. Perhaps someone at Actors Equity could be interviewed.

I do understand why some in the Theatre community are upset by Disney's presence and in some ways, they are right. I, too am hoping they would develop more original work instead of bringing classics to the stage (even though some of them would be wonderful). With the rising costs of Broadway, Disney is among the elite "Corporate" producers willing to take a chance and put something up.

Some thoughts on structuring your report:
I. Physical impact on NYC (42nd Street)
II. Economic impact in NYC/USA
III. Artistic impact (could pull quotes from more recent books and interviews from industry leaders/actors if you can get a hold of them).
Good luck with your report.