FROZEN Broadway Details Revealed!- Page 2

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:32am

Frozen the musical will be a giant hit on broadway if they execute properly.

It runs some very similar themes to Wicked(which will play forever) and will have an endless supply of pre-tween and tween girls raised on the movie getting their moms to bring them.

I thought several of the songs were great, and Im certain they will get more from robert lopez....

Will it be an all time great musical to the standards of Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, A Chorus Line, and South Pacific, possibly not.

Will it be a really entertaining, all ages long running broadway musical that millions of people will really enjoy, and will have national tours, and a london production, and internaitonal tours...yes!

Maybe it can finally replace and retire The Lion King.....

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:38am

Why/how is Timbers a perfect fit for this?

He's an interesting director, but he's basically used his same bag of tricks for most of his shows. I don't see Frozen utilizing any neon lighting or some big element at the end that makes the audience relocate to another location (rocky, love never dies).

I just wonder how they will pull off the snowman parts. I think seeing some guy running around in a snowman costume sounds really lame. And there seems like there would be a ton of special effects involved.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:40am

I'm not sure that workshopping it is useful as the big challenges are technical. They already know that the story and songs work. How to create all of the effects onstage is the conundrum and a workshop is not going to answer those questions.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:40am

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 12:40 AM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:45am

I imagine this will have a year of workshops along with an intensive out of town tryout. I also imagine that Olaf will probably be a puppet (ala Lion King). The project is still in its early form, but think they have a good beginning foundation.

[Starship]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:47am

I have a feeling that Disney is going to try and incorporate lots of new technical/puppeteering elements into the show, which is exciting to think about. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a workshop period just for those new effects themselves. I know of a few shows that have had unusual technical/acrobatic/etc. elements that have undergone workshop sessions just for those elements themselves. I don't think the show itself will be too complex to stage, even with the additional material. However, I DO think the big challenge is going to be the scenic/technical aspects of the show which I'm sure Disney will put a lot of work into.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 12:47 AM

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:55am

"I DO think the big challenge is going to be the scenic/technical aspects of the show."

Exactly, and a workshop contract doesn't really allow for that.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 1:06am

"with no soul"

A bit harsh I'd say!

[Jonwo]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 1:17am

Olaf wouldn't be hard to do, he'd either be a puppet if they wanted him to be close to the film version or they'll reimagine him in the same way they did the objects in the Beauty and the Beast. Marshmallow would be harder to do on stage and I imagine Sven will be cut.

[firebolts]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 1:47am

I never understood the hype for this film, especially since Idina/Elsa sounded like a haggard 40 year-old (just my opinion), but this could be a huge hit if done correctly. But it's tricky because I thought that THE LITTLE MERMAID and NEWSIES would last longer than they did.

Who would you guys want as Elsa and Anna?

Elsa: Taylor Louderman, Mackenzie Mauzy, Whitney Bashor

Anna: Alexandra Socha, Laura Osnes

[devonian.t]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 3:47am

It's basically Wicked but cold, so why shouldn't it be a hit?

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 3:50am

^^ Exactly, the themes are very similar and they have mass appeal to young girls especially.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 4:08am

It's basically Wicked but cold, so why shouldn't it be a hit?

Isn't that essentially the mindset of any producer of something that's a hit and they decide to sequelize it out only for it to blow up in their faces? Just because something has the elements for success based on prior shows does not stop it from not being one. Little Mermaid had all the Disney elements to make a success and they royally F*CKED it up.

In order for Frozen to get any sort of traction it needs a better score because Let It Go blows its load far too quickly with nothing to top it.

I've seen the "It's just like Wicked!" reasoning when it's really not... sure the story is a bit similar, but Wicked like it or hate it has a score that is memorable for more than one song. It's got anthems for young people that they cling to. I'm not that Girl, Defying Gravity, As Long as You're Mine, No Good Deed, For Good, Dancing Through Life, Popular, What is This Feeling, The Wizard & I, What Is This Feeling.

Frozen has Let It Go. That's it. It's one note and it's boring.

[Natto]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 4:11am

I am confused why alex timbers is directing.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 7:20am

Minority opinion, but I find the whole score catchy and winning. More songs must be penned, as it's under composed for a Broadway show, but I've no doubt the team will deliver. Why is it a hit? No, it's not That Song. The show has one of the most subversive storylines in Disney or any other history, as the villain isn't one, and the heroine isn't saved by a male, let alone a prince. The story deconstructs the tropes of princess-led tales while honoring the need for satisfying resolution and even real romance. I felt the script was much under-appreciated, as its almost always enjoyable (the Olaf material is laugh out loud at times).

Okay, something rarely discussed: And why do little boys like it? And the box office proves they do. (I was at the local Y after Christmas, and saw two little boys watching the Olaf scenes on an ipad.) Because the male characters are cooler and more enjoyable to spend company with than the cleft-chinned princes. They are guy-guys, SPOILER, one is an a-hole, and his duplicity is fun to watch. Boys can see themselves in this story (what little boy wanted to be a prince? It's no fantasy, and the storytellers applied that winningly). Little boys don't want to rescue the princess, they want to have a good time. This movie says you don't have to be the best looking dude or have money or connections. Subversive stuff.

It will be critic-proof, but I suspect they will want to make magic that hasn't been done before. People will balk, but I'd rather see the risk taking that was done with TARZAN, a failure, than the debacle that was LITTLE MERMAID (the most garish of the Disney treatments, and least fun to sit through). An imagination might make this something new and different, because the elements of the story, the locale, the sense of isolation, many factors, are wonderful creative challenges. I'd love to see them abandon even the costume designs from the film, to start over. I suspect the paying public wants BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, but a real theatrical mind could make this dark and beautiful.

I'd buy a ticket.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 07:20 AM

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 7:35am

TheatreFan4 hit the nail on the head. It really only has one song of Broadway quality. Frozen really doesn't lend itself to the stage. Of course, this is all about money. If Tangled had gotten the praise and reception instead of Frozen then it would be getting pampered for Broadway. It has nothing to do with art or quality, it's all about what sells (garbage or not).

[sarahb22]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 7:35am

I feel sorry for whoever gets cast as Elsa. 'Let It Go' is nearly impossible to sing live - both times Idina Menzel has done it, it was less than spectacular. I can't even imagine having to sing it eight times a week, and having to nail it every time.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 7:37am

They will bring that final not down a step. Easy change.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 07:37 AM

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 7:44am

"The show has one of the most subversive storylines in Disney or any other history, as the villain isn't one, and the heroine isn't saved by a male, let alone a prince. The story deconstructs the tropes of princess-led tales while honoring the need for satisfying resolution and even real romance"

Not really. Look at Hunchback, Pocahontas and Princess and the Frog. Pocahontas saved her Prince and they didn't get married. They parted ways. Tiana saved her Prince also (although they did get married). Hunchback, the "princess" married the hot looking guy and didn't go with the man who saved her. Mulan saved Shang and all of China and they did not get married in the end.

Frozen isn't original in the Disney cannon or anything. There have been several Disney princess films that didn't end with romance or love.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 07:44 AM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:26am

For very selfish reasons... (she is really a sweetheart !!) would love to see this as well !!!

Once her CD drops (pretty soon, I believe), I am sure she will be touring, but this would be a great role for her !!!

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 9:57am

"It has nothing to do with art or quality, it's all about what sells (garbage or not)."
The movie "Newsies" was a flop but Disney obviously thought it had quality for a Broadway show and they were correct.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:01am

Disney's purpose for Newsies was to release it for community theatres. Only once they saw that it had legs, they decided to take it to Broadway. They didn't go in thinking "This could be our next Broadway show." They just road the coattails.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 10:01 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:04am

I am of the opinion it is not a national necessity to musicalize every Disney animated movie ever made.

Who said it was a national necessity? Do you think other musicals are a national necessity?

I also don't think that Disney has to musicalize every movie it has ever made either.

Disney has made well over 50 animated feature films (and far more live-action films). Since 1992, they have staged 7 animated feature films (and 1 at Radio City in the 70s). They also staged 2 of their live-action films, toured 1 revue and produced 1 original musical. In our lifetime, they could never stage all their movies.

Maybe it can finally replace and retire The Lion King.....

Why would they do that? The Lion King is still making bucketloads of money and still often the top-grossing show on Broadway.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:08am

"Exactly, and a workshop contract doesn't really allow for that."

A lot of shows have workshops specifically to try out conceptual elements. Three of Timbers' more complex shows have done so- Here Lies Love, Rocky, and Peter and the Starcatcher all had presentations with facsimiles of their staging elements. Here Lies Love and Rocky rehearsed in places like empty warehouses or school gyms in order to get a mock up of the design, before moving on to rehearsal spaces. Starcatcher and HLL each had a summer residency at Williamstown to sort that stuff out, too.

Timbers will almost certainly find a staging concept for the property and go on from there, with Disney throwing money at it to make sure it works.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 10:08 AM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:09am

"But you're right. It has other draws that I can certainly admit to.
And as a Disney fan, I'm very happy to see them continue in the tradition of providing good family entertainment, and not fleeing from the animation part of the company.
And the animation is indeed good.
I guess I just don't see it as a standout, far beyond the rest of the Disney canon. "

I was in Disneyworld in December and they already have both Anna and Elsa in their parades. They had a "Frozen" show by the castle during the Christmas season and it got extended into mid January. There is also a "do you want to build a snowman" play area which is pretty neat. They are also planning a "Frozen" ride in Epcot in the next couple of years. In other words, Disney has really pushed this movie quicker into it's parks than any other hits I have seen including "Beauty and The Beast".