Disney's next Broadway venture is....(updated with more info)- Page 3

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 10:22pm

romgitsean, Aurora is definitely one of the blandest of the Disney princesses. But the fairies! Maleficent! that music!

I think "Never Had a Friend Like Me" could work if they use projections. I'd be more worried about the Genie himself looking really cheesy, though.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 11:31pm

Although this is one of my favorite Disney movies, I'm not sure how it will work. But, I will not say anything because I did it to Shrek, and ended up loving it.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:55pm

Song of the South will never, ever, ever happen. Disney won't even release it on DVD. I love your idea for Fantasia, best12bars, but I don't think it would work for the kids - they'd become pretty bored and wouldn't understand that it's just a bunch of presentations and no storyline weaved throughout.

Dumbo is the stupidest idea ever. Are you really going to make Timothy as large as Dumbo and the big elephants? Having a child play him wouldn't work - he's too much of an adult character. And the crows are far too controversial. I just don't see any way this could work.

I wish they'd do HUNCHBACK - that movie is practically screaming to be brought to Broadway. It has some kid elements but is incredibly layered and has one of the best Disney movie scores there is. Or even Hercules! Those two movies are far too overlooked.

[Trainwreck]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 3:52pm

There are any number of classic Disney films that I think would make far better Broadway alternatives. Aladdin and Mulan top that chart, followed by Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Pinnochio.

Didn't they also do a 101 Dalmations stage play recently?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:04pm

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

Freaky Friday! That could be loads of fun. Personally, I'd love to see Newsies or Hercules on stage and I think Emperor's New Groove could work out well, though the film has not the high profile of some of the other animated features (though moreso than Dumbo, I would think). I saw Hunchback in Berlin and while it's a strong show, I would hope any transfer would include a new set design. Blocks and projections get really monotonous after the first 15-20 minutes.

The only songs I remember from Dumbo were Baby Mine (which is gorgeous) and the creepy Pink Elephant song, which is a scene I'm not especially excited to see recreated on stage.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:16pm

All the comments about how unmemorable or unknown Dumbo is make me sad. One of my all-time favorite Disney movies, and an absolutely beautiful, touching movie. Not to mention one of, like, two Disney movies that doesn't have a romantic storyline. My special toy when I was little (and I still have today) is a stuffed elephant named Miss Dumbo. So even though some of you may not remember it, many people do and love it.

Matt, there aren't many songs. There are the two you mentioned, "When I See an Elephant Fly," sung by the racist crows, and "Casey Junior," the opening song about the train. I think there might also be a song when the storks are delivering babies, or that might be part of "Casey Junior." I need to watch the movie again.

My biggest problem with this idea, aside from the issue of the mute, flying elephant, is that the movie is barely 60 minutes. They'd have to add a ton of material, and that never works out well, especially when the original writers are not around anymore to update their own work.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:26pm

I'd love to see Sleeping Beauty with music by Adam Guettel!

I do think Dumbo has great potential. It would be awesome to see this done really creatively on stage.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:42pm

If this happens as a full-length show, then half of the show will be the classic and beloved movie while the other half will be some slapdash padding. Dumbo is quick and uncluttered, padding it will ruin that.

On top of that, Dumbo didn't produce hit songs that would be very recognizable to modern audiences. The most memorable songs are "Baby Mine" and maybe "Pink Elephants on Parade".

It'll take some extremely creative and intelligent writers and designers to make this work. And even if it does, I think it'll be an uphill battle. Dumbo is a really great movie- but one that is indeed often forgotten by modern audiences that forget that Disney made films before The Little Mermaid.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:51pm

Aw Yero, don't get sad. My partner's favorite Disney character is Winnie the Pooh and I honestly couldn't tell you a thing that happened in that movie. I usually forget there was a movie. I know the books. And the plush dolls. And then I'm like, "Oh yeah, you're right. There was a movie, wasn't there?"

One Disney film I really love that almost everyone forgets is Robin Hood. And I think The Rescuers was the first Disney animated feature I saw in the theatre. The Rescuers Down Under was actually quite good as well and NOBODY ever mentions it. I wonder if people even remember that it wasn't a made-for-video sequel, but had a full theatrical release.

But the true black hole of Disney animated feature films is probably 1981-1988 with the releases of The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Company. Second place (not counting their computer animated features) goes to Atlantis through Home on the Range. Yikes.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:54pm

Robbin Hood is in my top 5, Matt!

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:57pm

I own Robin Hood (and Oliver and Company, with The Fox and the Hound next on my list), and I used to love Rescuers Down Under more than the original. I think it was the handsome Australian mouse. (I also saw the sequel first.)

I'm such a Disney nerd, though, I'm probably not representative of most people. I walked into the kitchen at work this morning and a group of people there were having a conversation about something when one turned to me suddenly and said, "When did The Little Mermaid come out?" Without thinking I said, "1989."

Never saw The Great Mouse Detective in its entirety, and if I saw The Black Cauldron, it was years ago and I don't remember.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:57pm

I actually really like Atlantis and Treasure Planet (at least they were trying to do something really different, they had good characters and were gorgeous to look at). I like Rescuers Down Under, too...the animation is far superior to the original. I really love Great Mouse Detective, I think it's too often thrown in with the other failures of the 80s.

That said, none of the above should ever be put onstage...

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:59pm

I have a very eclectic and unusual Disney collection. I'm quite proud of it, actually. But most of the movies that everyone else forgets are right there on my shelf.

When I get home tonight, if anyone is still interested, maybe I'll put a list of my collection. Just cuz.

Updated On: 3/4/10 at 04:59 PM

[Trainwreck]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:01pm

I'm glad to see what everyone's favorite Disney movies are (and I'm curious to keep hearing this), but I'd also like to see which ones you think would be a good stage musical. For example, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver and Company, The Fox And the Hound, and The Rescuers are all good movies, but I doubt any one of them would make a good musical on stage.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:09pm

Another problem with Dumbo is that Disney never really featured it as prominently as their other early animated features. It didn't really have a major signature tune and Dumbo was the only iconic character, unlike Bambi, Peter Pan, Pinocchio or Winnie the Pooh which featured memorable supporting characters/sidekicks. Dumbo was usually released on video or DVD with little fanfare and often priced lower than the other films, though hopefully, the Blu-Ray release this year will draw more attention. And with the huge blitz of the Disney Princess and Fairies marketing lines, Dumbo is still left out in the cold. Go to any Disney store and you will find little evidence of Dumbo outside a plush toy and a DVD.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:09pm

The only film I think really needs to be put onstage in this country is Hunchback.

That said, I really liked someone's idea earlier (can't remember who...) of doing Fantasia as a big spectacle show. Especially if they mixed up Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 (which I think I actually like more.)

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:11pm

My all-time favorite is The Little Mermaid, and we all know how that turned out as a stage musical. The rest of my top five are Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo, Bambi, and Aladdin, with The Aristocats, The Jungle Book, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and The Rescuers Down Under as Honorable Mentions. (See how hard that was? Disney. Nerd.)

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:47pm

"Aurora is definitely one of the blandest of the Disney princesses"

The reason why is because she only appeared in the film for eighteen minutes (excluding her time as a baby). After she is told that she will never see the young man she met in the forest (who she doesn't realize is Prince Phillip) she has no more lines for the rest of the movie. She doesn't even speak before being put under the spell nor does she talk after being awaken.

"Didn't they also do a 101 Dalmations stage play recently?"

It has no references to the Disney movie at all. It's based off of the 1957 novel.
Updated On: 3/4/10 at 05:47 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 5:52pm

She's also one of the few Disney princesses who has no control over her own destiny. Partly it's because of the story, but she doesn't DO anything. When she's a baby, she's shipped off to live with three fairies in the woods. When she gets older, does she question it? Once she meets Phillip in the woods, does she attempt to find him again? She falls under some silly spell and just HAS to touch that spindle. Even Snow White runs from her stepmother and finds herself a place to live, and she at least hesitates about eating the apple. The movie is absolutely gorgeous and Maleficent is the best Disney villain EVER, but Aurora? Meh.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 6:23pm

I actually like most of the Disney movies that people forget about far more than the ones that don't. The exception for me is Beauty and the Beast. But, if I had to choose between Dumbo, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, I'd probably choose Dumbo. I used to want to watch it everyday, and then gave myself nightmares from the pink elephants. I thought they were going to come in my room and get me at night. Of course, that still didn't stop me from watching it frequently.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 6:32pm

I would love to see NEWSIES on stage!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 6:35pm

I'd just like to say that I would LOVE to see The Emperor's New Groove on Broadway!

[romgitsean]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 6:36pm

"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."

Best12Bars, it's an interesting point you make. Fantasia would be great, but with the lack of coherent plot it would sink. Kids wouldn't be entertained, as one poster said. Also, Song of the South will never become ANYTHING because of it's racist overtones. If Disney will ever tackle anything adult, I really wish they'd pick up on Return to Oz...it's hands down my favorite Disney film and it's not even getting a twenty fifth anniversary DVD release. Wtf

Yero, I agree with you about Aurora's character and how her lifelessness is crucial to the story, however, it's hard to really revolve a story around a character around a princess like that and not characterize her. We like Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine and Ariel because they all had conflicts (namely parents) but were able to work around them, and we felt like we got to know them. But as an audience, we don't KNOW Aurora. Plus, the songs in Sleeping Beauty are rather dull and I don't remember them at all.

The problem with a lot of these titles is you have to think how many of these shows could you invision could be around for years. I couldn't see Hunchback lasting more than two or three years, same for Sleeping Beauty or Fantasia. I could see Emperors New Groove, Freaky Friday or Mulan lasting a lot longer.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 7:18pm

When I mentioned "Song of the South" I was thinking of adapting it! Not just throwing it up on stage, as is. I know that's the trend now. Very little imagination. Just put the movie up on stage with a gimmick or two, rearrange some songs, and call it "new."

The basic premise of "Song of the South" is very compelling The music is terrific, and the characters are strong and memorable.

ADAPT it. Make it something new. Take out the "smiling slave" stuff, and add a real story with many levels of conflict. Make it realistic. That way all the fantasy stuff with Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear, etc. will be that much more magical. When Uncle Remus sits down to tell his stories, it could be incredible on stage.

I'd love to see someone with imagination tackle it.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 7:37pm

Yero, I'd love to see your list of Disney movies! I'm a huge Disney nerd as well.

And best12bars, even if they did adapt it, people would still go crazy just by hearing the name "Song of the South". And to work with that controversy right from step one definitely wouldn't be easy.

I think Sleeping Beauty would be gorgeous on stage, but Aurora is such a DULL character. I worked at Disney World for about seven months last year, and I just don't understand why Aurora is such a popular character, and why they're expanding Fantasyland and including her cottage. Why not Snow White or Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Esmeralda or Meg? Sleeping Beauty is a beautiful movie, but Aurora is so boring. Every character in that story is more interesting than she is!

My favorite Disney movie is Hunchback of Notre Dame, followed by Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, A Goofy Movie, and Peter Pan. I really love Lilo and Stitch and Cinderella as well, and of course Aladdin and Pocahontas.

But in case of musical adaptation, Dumbo is:
- too short, at just over an hour. Expanding it would complicate the story.
- a mix of animals, which has worked for THE LION KING, but definitely did not for TARZAN and MERMAID. Timothy can NOT be the same size as the other elephants or Dumbo.
- a little bit racist. The crows would need to totally be rewritten.
- Not as popular as it should be to be a possible theatrical venture. While everyone can identify Dumbo, not many can name any of the songs from the movie.