Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID To Close On Broadway 8/30- Page 3

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:37pm

Ben Brantley is dancing down the streets of New York right now. (if someone sees him, get a picture for us!)

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Disney has other ways to make money.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:43pm

I would really like to see Aladdin on Broadway. Though, I'd rather Menken write the lyrics for the new songs if Tim Rice is unavailable. Jasmine's new song, "To Be Free", in the California Adventure show is way better than anything Slater provided for Mermaid.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:44pm

Disney should just bring in "Hunchback"

[sally1112]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:47pm

This was a flawed show, but I liked it and am glad it I was lucky enough to see it on one of my trips. If I lived in NYC I would definitely see it again before it goes...

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:55pm

-- "The Little Mermaid will have played 50 previews and 685 performances by the time it closes."


That's 735 performances too many.

Disney had a perfect gem in "The Little Mermaid" (the film) and could have worked magic with it on stage. Instead, we got this travesty. Thomas Schumacher should be ashamed of himself.

[crushgroove]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:55pm

I don't understand how this show hasn't re-couped...in the article it says it it has made $78 million to date...how much did this show cost to mount?

I'm still not sure why it's closing...it made $863,000+ this past week...which is pretty good right?

I mean I have no interest in seeing the show cause it's crap...but kids apparently love it...

Mary Poppins made 20,000 less this week...doesn't really make much sense. Updated On: 6/30/09 at 06:55 PM

[broadway122]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 6:56pm

I agree with rosscoe(au). Bring in Hunchback, I was never a fan of Aladdin as a kid.

[HBP]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:10pm

"Disney had a perfect gem in "The Little Mermaid" (the film) and could have worked magic with it on stage. Instead, we got this travesty. Thomas Schumacher should be ashamed of himself."

I completely and utterly agree. When it was first announced, I was thrilled. I figured that Disney planned on making up for the sh*tshow that was Tarzan, but apparently they just wanted to turn it blue.

If Disney does another musical, it should be Hunchback. The German production was (is?) wonderful.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:33pm

It's closing on my Birthday. Thanks for the wonderful present Disney. What a pile of crap.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:36pm

I thought the show was OK, but based on the material they could have done so much more.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:39pm

I honestly thought it would have had a longer run than this, but come on, it's going to have through-the-roof success on tour so even fans of the show can fall back on that.

Me? I'm looking forward to it being revived twenty years from now. That way we can still hear the amazing music (including the new additions, most of which I find lovely) without having to look at that dreadful set with its plastic coves and Christmas light props. Hopefully then it will have a director, set designer and costumer who can live up to the show's potential.

"Mermaid" wasn't a bad show. It had an amazing cast (and most of the current replacements are quite good) and, as stated previously, beautiful melodies...but there were just so many things wrong with it that I could never really like the show either.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:42pm

I don't think Hunchback would find an audience. It's not really for the younger kids and if they made it more kid friendly the adults may turn on it.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:42pm

Oh, and I'm all for bringing "Hunchback" to Broadway as long as they change the unnecessary, atrocious dark ending that brings down the otherwise amazing overseas stage production.

And, knowing that this is Disney on Broadway, I'm guessing they will. So yay!
Updated On: 6/30/09 at 07:42 PM

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 7:59pm

I don't understand how this show hasn't re-couped...in the article it says it it has made $78 million to date...how much did this show cost to mount?

Thats got to be grosses, not profit.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:06pm

B&B Christmas...

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:06pm

TLM was a hot mess on wheels. I've seen better drag shows. Rest in peace tragic hot mess. They destroyed a classic on that stage. There was so much possibility that they just desecrated with the same tacky production values that plagued Tarzan.

Updated On: 6/30/09 at 08:06 PM

[James885]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:07pm

I feel sorry for the cast but I'm not really sad to see this show go. The only thing good about it was the score. The cast did the best they could with the horrible direction and choreography they were given. Hopefully it'll be revived in the future with better sets, costumes, a re-tooled book, and a director who can do justice to the material.

Updated On: 6/30/09 at 08:07 PM

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:07pm

That is what I'm thinking Neverandy.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:24pm

It would make sense. Costs would be minimal (existing sets and costumes from one of any number of the international productions that have been staged since 94) compared to the potential money that could be made (Grinch, White Christmas,etc.)

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 8:30pm

I would think they would do it based off of 'Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas' from 1997.



The big question is will Steve Blanchard don the makeup again?
Updated On: 6/30/09 at 08:30 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:06pm

They're talking about bringing Beauty and the Beast back for Christmas. Not mounting a stage adaptation of Enchanted Christmas. Personally, I don't see that happening with the forthcoming non-equity national tour. Seems like they wouldn't have allowed a tour if they were planning on bringing the show back to New York anytime soon.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:09pm

Isn't it kinda too soon to bring it back? I loved the show, but let it come back later with bigger hype.

[LoveIsCompany]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:13pm

Yes, they're bringing back Beauty & The Beast and throwing in a Christmas number. Expect it to be a seasonal show starting this next season.

[LoveIsCompany]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:13pm

Yes, they're bringing back Beauty & The Beast and throwing in a Christmas number. Expect it to be a seasonal show starting this next season.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:21pm

Um...OK.