Encanto on Broadway?

[BwayLB]

Posted: 11/28/21 at 3:28pm

Just went to go see Encanto yesterday. I loved it. Does anyone think it’ll be worthy of being a Broadway show in the future? Disney has got to hurry

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/28/21 at 3:34pm

Disney gave into the hype and rushed Frozen to the stage… this wouldn’t be surprising at all if this happens in a few years (and, of course, if Encanto becomes a GIGANTIC hit).

[BwayLB]

Posted: 11/28/21 at 7:32pm

^ The movie version of Frozen was good enough for me.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/28/21 at 8:27pm

Just watched "Encanto" - I actually think it could work quite well onstage. Lots of opportunities for cool (but also achievable) practical effects with the moving house. Plus I think it could've been a little longer, to flesh out the story more, and a sage adaptation could make room for that. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 9:28am

I don't understand the current mi dset that all Disney movies should become Broadway musicals. Why can't the Disney organization put their collective energies into producing new works?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 10:14am

I think Encanto is a better candidate, artistically, for being expanded into a full show than any other Disney film on the CG era. 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 10:20am

Granted Encanto is a movie I have yet to see. However, I do really want to. That said, I can’t speak to it being able to be adaptable for the stage or not. However, I am wondering if Disney learned their lesson with Frozen regarding rushing a popular movie to the stage. After all, I do recall reading an interview where Bobby and Kristin Anderson Lopez spoke about how they were pulling double duty by working on both the songs for Frozen the musical as well as the songs for Frozen 2 at the same time. And, to me, it showed. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 10:21am

“Disney has got to hurry”


this is the exact opposite of what they need to do. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 10:57am

^ You do have a point. But I hope it’ll happen eventually after the dust has cleared from the movie.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/29/21 at 11:26am

Dollypop said: "I don't understand the current mi dset that all Disney movies should become Broadway musicals. Why can't the Disney organization put their collective energies into producing new works?"

I think because of message boards wanting every movie they've ever seen on the Broadway stage, and Disney buying into the hype.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 10:48am

Lin wants this onstage and I don’t see how this works on Broadway at all, beyond being a one act or a Jr. show.

It’s a cute movie but there is hardly a big enough plot thrust to extend 2 hrs plus. The songs already stop the action more often. Where do you insert MORE songs?

She checks In with her relatives, they all get a song, she has a small confrontation and then it basically resolves. Where is there a compelling intermission?

The other Disney Broadway properties there’s enough plot that they could add more music to sequences that didn’t have songs in the film version.

It really felt like a movie that tailored itself to essentially being a short story with a few songs to pad it.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 10:52am

Well I would love the show to happen. But only because Miranda is a genius.

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 11:17am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "She checks In with her relatives, they all get a song, she has a small confrontation and then it basically resolves. Where is there a compelling intermission?"

Easy. Intermission after We Don't Talk About Bruno. I'm less concerned about the show flowing plot wise as I am with a set design. I think it could be very difficult to accomplish what the movie did on stage.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 11:50am

When I saw the movie I thought it was perfectly set up to be a musical but, the more I think about it - it would probably be a better fit for Disney World, similar to Finding Nemo the Musical. If they add more to the story, which I’m sure would happen given there are not too many songs in the movie itself, it could certainly be a hit on Broadway.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 11:58am

BwayLB said: "Just went to go see Encanto yesterday. I loved it. Does anyone think it’ll be worthy of being a Broadway show in the future? Disney has got to hurry"

Might be off topic but how do we feel like Coco for Broadway

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:24pm

I really didn't get all the hype surrounding the film. I thought it was merely fine. Nothing special. I honestly don't think this needs to be on Broadway.

[bdn223]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:38pm

Nolan LuPone said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "She checks In with her relatives, they all get a song, she has a small confrontation and then it basically resolves. Where is there a compelling intermission?"

Easy. Intermission after We Don't Talk About Bruno. I'm less concerned about the show flowing plot wise as I am with a set design. I think it could be very difficult to accomplish what the movie did on stage."

If any when it does get adapted into a stage version Lin will not make the same mistake that the Lopez' did when they let Disney convinced them into somehow reworking Let It Go from being the end of the first act of a 3 act film into into being the Act I closer of a two act musical. While We Don't Talk About Bruno sets up the internal family conflict at the crux of Encanto, it does not leave the audience asking, "What's next? What cliffhanger does this leave us on that makes me want to come back for act 2?" A natural end of Act I be the aftermath of the dinner, either right after Bruno "saves" Mirabel, and then immediately says "Bye" and runs away, only for Mirabel, to cry out, "Wait!!" Black Out...

The question for Lin and the rest of the creative team is do you end how do you end Act I and start Act II: As there are two options that could close Act I or start Act II.

1. Bruno's song- this explores his struggles of his gift being a double edged sword and everyone hating him causing him to think its best for him to just leave, This leads up to him describing the last straw being the vision of Mirabel and running away to keep her safe from Abuela. This could end the act with Mirabel countering by saying you didn't see everything and has a plan to fix it only to be interrupted by Antonio saying "The Rats told me Everything" End of Act I as the house starts to shake...(This could also be the act 2 opener as the plot could simply continue with them going to Antonio's room for the vision)
2. We Don't Talk About Bruno Reprise  (We Don't Talk About Mirabel) The Guzman's return to the village after the dinner to describe how Mirabel ruined the proposal...and as she did this the house began to crumble...simultaneously the Madrigals are also fighting about how Mirabel ruined the proposal leading to the final line of when Julieta and Agustin try to defend their daughter and push the blame onto Abuela she utters the line..."That's it We don't talk about Mirabel!" end of act 1 or to start act II this scene is immediately followed by Bruno and Mirabel in Antonio's room trying to see the complete vision. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 1:27pm

bdn223 said: "Lin will not make the same mistake that the Lopez' did when they let Disney convinced them into somehow reworking Let It Go from being the end of the first act of a 3 act film into into being the Act I closer of a two act musical."

 

This would've been Jennifer Lee's "mistake," not the Lopezes, as the song itself remained mostly unchanged from a storytelling standpoint. And she might not have had much choice, if it came from The Mouse. Though Lin might be in a slightly more powerful position because of his name recognition, and because he has a story credit on the film (and therefore might share some book-writing responsibilities). 

But in any case, I think it's moot, because I don't it's a comparable situation. "Let It Go" occurs 30 minutes into a 90 minute story (the end of the 1st of 3 acts, as you said), whereas "We Don't Talk About Bruno" occurs almost exactly halfway through the story. 

And as for a "what's next?" moment. If I remember correctly, doesn't "Bruno" end with Mirabel putting together the shards of the prophesy, and seeing herself in front of the breaking house? A reasonably significant "reveal" in the plot. So there's your "what's next?" moment! 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 2:24pm

spicemonkey said: "BwayLB said: "Just went to go see Encanto yesterday. I loved it. Does anyone think it’ll be worthy of being a Broadway show in the future? Disney has got to hurry"

Might be off topic but how do we feel like Coco for Broadway"

 

The popularity of the soundtrack makes sense but not from a storytelling perspective.

 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 7:59pm

JBroadway said: "And as for a "what's next?" moment. If I remember correctly, doesn't "Bruno" end with Mirabel putting together the shards of the prophesy, and seeing herself in front of the breaking house? A reasonably significant "reveal" in the plot. So there's your "what's next?" moment!"

Thank you JBroadway. You are correct. I was about to write a long winded explanation for why it works right before I saw your post.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 2/10/22 at 5:50pm

Yawn. This is said so easily when a film or tv musical does well, and they are all excited because Bruno is in the charts.
 

it won’t happen.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/11/22 at 5:24am

Dolly80 said: "Yawn. This is said so easily when a film or tv musical does well, and they are all excited because Bruno is in the charts.

it won’t happen."

https://people.com/movies/lin-manuel-miranda-wants-encanto-broadway-musical/

[JennH]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 2:02pm

Please no...I truly don't get this hype. It's a wonkily put together story that I could barely follow, with what is the most subpar music Lin has ever penned. I love him as much as the next person, but I really wanted a more cohesive music palette. It's one of my biggest pet peeves about musical theatre type writing these days. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 6:25pm

Absolutely, 100% not necessary *right now*. Maybe in a few seasons, but how often do we complain about original work instead of movie adaptations? 

[adotburr]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 6:38pm

^ I haven't seen Encanto so I can't speak to the movie itself but I do love original work soooo I would see.