Disney's next Broadway venture is....(updated with more info)- Page 2

[starlyricist]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 12:34pm

Seriously, adamgreer, that's what I'm saying. If they can make Mary Poppins fly (and Julie Taymor actually pulls off make Spidey fly), getting a magic carpet in the air should be feasible. Although it is my understanding that Mary doesn't fly anymore (and Bert doesn't dance upside down anymore).

Really...what are they smoking up there at Disney Theatricals? I kinda want some.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 12:57pm

"Although it is my understanding that Mary doesn't fly anymore (and Bert doesn't dance upside down anymore). "

WHAT?! Those were two of my favorite moments in the show!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 1:27pm

Although it is my understanding that Mary doesn't fly anymore (and Bert doesn't dance upside down anymore).

Really? I hadn't heard that. They did in the Chicago production last year.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 1:44pm

They are flying on the tour!

I sat right in the front of the balcony and she winked at me as she went past.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 1:51pm

I'm going to keep an open mind on this. The story is pleasantly uncluttered and works on a different emotional level than TLM or Tarzan. It seems to me to be more akin to The Lion King in terms of the loss of a parent dynamic (albeit the mother doesn't die in Dumbo but the separation trauma is similar).

Plus, let's be honest, who doesn't want to see that Pink Elephant acid trip on stage?

Having said that, I still can't believe that they keep ignoring Hunchback.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:00pm

getting a magic carpet in the air should be feasible.

It would actually be quite easy. They could use the exact same tenchnology that allowed a car to fly in the disaster known as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The car effect was actually the second best part of the evening (the first was the magnificent Jan Maxwell).

Although it is my understanding that Mary doesn't fly anymore (and Bert doesn't dance upside down anymore).

They're most certainly still doing both things. They use brief images of both in their television commercials, as well.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:07pm

While Dumbo isn't my first choice for a Disney stage musical (I'm holding out for a Sleeping Beauty or Aladdin), I have to agree that it's definitely a more streamlined, uncluttered story than some of their other movies. It probably could be adapted very easily.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:19pm

I cannot picture this being good! How can people dress up like elephants? Puppets won't work like in "The Lion King" either. I hope this doesn't replace "Mary Poppins." I would've picked "Mulan," "Enchanted," "Pocahontas," or "Aladdin" instead.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:37pm

If this actually does come to Broadway (which it shouldn't), I hope it's a show that I will remember that I saw, unlike Tarzan.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:38pm

So I mentioned the idea of Dumbo to my partner in Spain and this was his response:

hahahaha
FLOP FLOP FLOP
Bad idea

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:28pm

Paging Kevin Chamberlin! Paging Kevin Chamberlin!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:31pm

Kevin might be available soon!

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:37pm

ummmm...ew. Unless they really do something special with it I think its gonna be bad. I agree on Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty. Those would be interesting. And since when has Mary Poppins and Bert not done their special effects? They did it when I saw it last.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:52pm

The carpet flies in the DCA version...I'd take this at DCA over Toy Story. I still want Pocahontas the musical soon

[Jonwo]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:55pm

Dumbo's a good film but it's quite short and unless it was to be a 90 minute show then they would have to add quite a lot of material.

Aladdin has the potential to work but it would be interesting how they could recreate key scenes of the film like Friend like Me and Prince Ali, Whole New World I think they could achieve using the same technology they used for Chitty,

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 4:36pm

Maybe Dumbo the film will be Act I, and Act II will be done more like a best-of collection from the Disney Channel original series Dumbo's Circus. (I'll bet the costumes and wagon are still lying around the boneyard somewhere, so think of the savings!)

[romgitsean]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 5:21pm

Aladdin might be able to work--but I have a feeling it would be another Little Mermaid. Hype and advertising galore, but fail to execute as a really well run production. myshikobit and I have also discussed Aladdin at great length--it simply looks dumb if it doesn't have the middle eastern cast it requires. Not to say Disney couldn't get an all middle eastern cast, because Lion King is all black, but I still don't think it would last--because it's just kind of mediocore.

Hunchback would be a *dream* but commercially I don't think would hold up. Not to say it doesn't have an audience, because it does, but I couldn't see it being another Beauty & The Beast or Lion King. Same with Sleeping Beauty, though, it wouldn't be a dream for me, as I find Sleeping Beauty to be one of the more boring princess movies...

But regarding what Mister Matt said:

"Dumbo is nowhere near one of my favorites of the Disney animated feature films (I often forget it exists), but I wouldn't write it off, conceptually. I remember when Lion King was announced and there was so much laughing about how it would be just actors in animal suits like the theme parks. But Disney will have to get a new creative director to oversee the project with a bit more objectivity so we don't have another Tarzan or Little Mermaid."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Dumbo was such an eyebrow raiser because NO ONE remembers Dumbo. TLK is a bit different in the sense that it's simply more manageable because the source material is quite good to start with. It also has a lot of memorable tunes; where as I remember nothing from Dumbo. I mean the idea I don't think is impossible, but it will take a really good creative director, and someone to come in with great additional music, lyrics and book. I think Winnie Holtzman could handle this pretty well...

But Hunchback would be a dream...though, it won't happen. I just feel like Mulan (which is already a Disney Theatricals piece) would be a great contender; and Emperors New Groove could be quite manageable to adapt (ahh, if only dearest Eartha Kitt was still alive). Disney could buy out the agency that owns Holes and take it Off-Broadway (or even take it a step further and musicalize it and put it on Broadway, because I don't think a straight play version of Holes could do well on Broadway). But Dumbo is just not the strongest choice, by any stretch of the imagination.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 5:27pm

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Dumbo mute for the entire movie?? Are they gonna have him talking and singing now? I just don't see this working out very well........

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 5:52pm

"Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Dumbo mute for the entire movie?? Are they gonna have him talking and singing now? I just don't see this working out very well........"

He is mute the whole movie. They'll probably have him sing in his head like they did with Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" in the songs "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" and "If Only."

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 6:15pm

Nooooo Hunchback!
I'll still pray for Hunchback no matter what. It's still to this day one of my favorite of Disney's strongest, most gorgeous scores.
But I've honestly never heard of Sleeping Beauty on stage. I actually like that idea! It has a lot of potential!

But where the hell did this whole no flying and tapping upside down in Mary Poppins thing come from?! Favorite parts!

[defygravity24]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 7:29pm

I don't know how they are gonna get me to take a man in an eleephant suit seriously and Dumbo is mute soooooo...... I don't think this is a good idea. What about Pocahontas?

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 8:05pm

I just told my family that Dumbo is going to Broadway and they're excited for it. I'm the only one in my family who hates the idea.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 8:20pm

Pocho is a great choice- I've been saying it for years.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 8:39pm

"I was going to joke that Obama had the ears to pull of the role, but I doubt a democrat would be willing to play an elephant. :)"

Thanks for the laugh, TonyVincent.

Seriously, though. I'm tired of actors wearing big dopey costumes (even "Dopey" costumes) on the Great White Way. Why not tackle some of their more semi-adult family fare that at least doesn't involve cutesy cartoon animals as the leads ... like a stage adaptation of Song of the South? Or Pollyanna? Or really think out of the box and do a Broadway version of Fantasia! Complete with abstract visuals, dancing hippos, and that Devil Dude on the rocks in Night on Bald Mountain? They could blow people's minds if they did that one right. It could be a real EVENT.

But some Shrektacular lumbering dude in a hephalump costume wanting to fly isn't going to. At least not with me.

I'd even take Escape to Witch Mountain or Freaky Friday over "Dumbo the Seussical" any day.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 10:10pm

Although it is my understanding that Mary doesn't fly anymore (and Bert doesn't dance upside down anymore).

They definitely still do both...I was at the show on Sunday and both happened.