Disney’s HERCULES - Reviews & News Thread — Page 3

Babe_Williams said: "I wish that Disney would adapt Moana for the stage. I think it has 'good bones,' a lot of the songs are Broadway-esque and see built to be sung live, they could pull together some amazing effects, I'm sure LMM would be on board."

I have to side with Lin because of my doubts of how they'll bring the water to life.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced initial casting for the all-new musical production of Disney's Hercules. The production will feature Bradley Gibson (The Lion King, A Bronx Tale The Musical) as Hercules, Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley (Broadway's The Music Man 2022 revival, Oklahoma!) as Hades, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton) as Phil, and Isabelle McCalla (Aladdin, The Prom) as Meg.

Hercules features music by Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Alan Menken(Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) and lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel (City of Angels, Mulan) and a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director of London's Young Vic), based on the Disney film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, and Irene Mecchi, and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The music is supervised by Michael Kosarin and choreography is by Chase Brock and Tanisha Scott. Hercules is directed by Obie Award winner Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods).

Shuler Hensley as Hades? I adore him but this role doesn't seem like his shtick.

I agree that despite a couple high-profile cast members, this doesn't feel like a pre-Broadway tryout. If for some reason it's a huge hit I suppose they wouldn't rule it out, but like most of the other Disney-at-Papermill shows, this seems to be a way for them to have an original production (a 2.0 original in this case), a cast recording, and some publicity for the material before they send it out for licensing.

I've literally been saying on this board for 3 years that this project would skip Broadway and go to licensing. Not confirmed yet, so I guess I could still be wrong - but it's gratifying to see the writing on the wall align with what I've been trying to tell people all this time. And I think it's the right choice on Disney's part.

As I always say: I'll be happy to admit if I'm wrong, but I'll very surprised.

I wonder if Disney plans to bring this into NYC. They have not produced a new show in a long time.

It feels like it's all about getting these shows up and ready to license to regional and amateur companies.

Maybe a New York Times Critic Pix will change all that!

Updated On: 10/31/22 at 03:49 PM

I feel like they'll want Aladdin to get to the 10th anniversary at least which is in 2024. I'm still hopeful that they'll transfer the BATB revival over from the West End. Perhaps that could come to Broadway and Hercules could tour.

With the success of Into the Woods, that’s def a tick in the right box, but I’d think Disney would be silly to close a cash cow like Aladdin for something this experimental. I can’t imagine - even if it’s amazing - that it will have anywhere near the production value of Aladdin.

Hamilfan2 said: "Also fwiw I remember Frozen in Denver was specifically marketed as “pre-Broadway” so the fact that they haven’t used the same language for Hercules tells me that at the very least they are waiting to see what the reception to it is like before making a decision.

And while I agree this cast doesn’t scream “pre-Broadway tryout” neither do most Disney OBCs which for the most part cast unknowns/up-and-comers and rely on the show’s name recognition to sell the tickets."

True, but Hensley and Iglehart are fairly recognizable names by Disney musical standards (although Iglehart is probably now onto his second Disney loyalty card, given his work in Aladdin, Disenchanted, and numerous Disney Channel shows). I would personally prefer licensing, but I can see a Broadway transfer if it exceeds expectations...

ACL2006 said: "The rumored plan is that if this goes over well, Aladdin will close sometime in 2023 and Hercules will take the New Amsterdam during the 2023-24 season."

That's what I've heard, too. Disney doesn't think the market is strong enough to support 3 Disney shows, and found it challenging even pre-pandemic. And Lion King did a lot of publicity and marketing around its 25 Anni to give it the legs to continue being the cash cow. Aladdin is holding on, but we'll see how Hercules goes.

Full Cast announced

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Charity-Angl-Dawson-Rashidra-Scott-and-More-Join-HERCULES-at-Paper-Mill-Playhouse-Full-Cast-Announced-20230112

Updated On: 1/12/23 at 08:46 AM

Charity Angel Dawson AND Rashidra Scott AND Anastacia McCleskey as Muses? Boy am I glad I bought tickets when they were cheap and easy.

What ACL2006 said, this has Broadway transfer written ALL over it. (Though most definitely next season)

I wonder if Disney is open to having three shows running again.