Is LITTLE MERMAID still aiming for Broadway in 2007?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:50pm

According to the FIRST WIVES CLUB - The Musical website Francesca Zambello's three upcoming projects are listed as: “Little Mermaid” for Disney which will premier on Broadway in 2007. Her “Rebecca” will open in Vienna in September of 2006, and of course "The First Wives Club" in 2008.

But I've heard nothing about workshops or anything having to do with plans for an out-of-town tryout or even other members of the production staff. With what is probably Disney's most highly-anticipated stage musical, I can't understand why we've heard nothing with 2007 fast approaching.

Any word/rumors circulating?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:51pm

I think those in Little Mermaid will work for scale

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:53pm

That was...humorous.

Posted: 8/25/06 at 8:21pm

What I want to know is what theatre do they plan on using?

MARY POPPINS will be at the New Amsterdam for quite a while. THE LION KING just made a huge transfer so that's not going anywhere. LEGALLY BLONDE and THE PIRATE QUEEN will likely be at their theatres for at least a year, unless they're absolutely horrid. And we all know WICKED will be at the Gershwin until the apocalypse.

That pretty much kills all the larger venues. And I'd hope Disney learned their lesson with TARZAN about putting a large scale show in a small theatre. It feels way too boxy and there are major seating issues.

So, the question is, where will MERMAID end up?

The only thing I can think of is the Lunt-Fontanne.

Posted: 8/25/06 at 8:51pm

I thought Disney had a rule.
Only 3 DISNEY shows can be on Broadway at one time
Which would mean LION KING, TARZAN or BEAUTY AND THE BEAST would need to close.

LION KING wont because its, the freaking LION KING which kicks major butt and sells tickets like mad.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST would be guess because its been on Broadway for so long and is losing steam.

Not TARZAN, because its doing pretty well, isnt it?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 9:01pm

I don't think that's an official rule.

MARY POPPINS begins performances in a little over a month and I've heard nothing about BEAUTY closing or even rumors.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 09:01 PM

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 9:03pm

I'd guess The Producers will close soon. Then, that theatre would be open.

I still don't want Little Mermaid to take up a theatre, however...

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:13pm

I was just saying as a joke that disney would do this next hahah

I want to play sebastian

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:21pm

Guys, I think once the tourists see Tarzan, it might just begin to slump. It's their weakest show.

On the topic of the Little Mermaid show itself- I hope Menken writes good music. The last new song the man wrote (that I heard) was from the Disneyland Aladdin show and I really hated it. It sounded like a first draft of something from Wicked. Perhaps he needed Howard Ashman, because post-Aladdin, although it wasn't bad, it wasn't nearly as good as before.

[Aqualline2]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:24pm

Of all the Disney shows on Broadway right now Tarzan is definatley the weakest so it could take it's place in the "three shows at a time rule"

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:28pm

I don't think the regular theater goers are the only ones who have disliked Tarzan. I've talked to some people who you'd classify as "tourists" who have really hated it. Any show with a score that awful should close opening night.

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:30pm

I heard somewhere BEAUTY is to close in 2009 and LION KING is to close in 2010. I think that was rumor someone told me, I highly doubt its true.

I was at Tarzan's stage door the other night and the people at the stage door were insane, it seemd pretty packed and little kids were saying they wanted to see it again. Thats how DISNEY works, you see the show with a little kid and the kid wants to see it again and again.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:31pm

Well considering Mary Poppins is starting, it would be 4 shows assuming Mermaid replaces Tarzan. Also, Beauty and the Beast isn't going anywhere anytime soon according to the box office people. The only reason it would close is if Disney simply decided it was time to move on. I highly doubt this will happen though, since Disney is a big money making machine company.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:50pm

I think little children are wonderful and I know this is extremely cruel, but they don't know a good show from their ass.

(I'm probably misusing the saying as well.)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:59pm

Hmm.... no one seems to know Disney's plot on HERE it seems..

Just one random note.. I don't think the box office would tell you they were closing unless they had a closing notice.. which they'd get when the public gets. All you recieved was a stock empty answer.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:10pm

JV92 - the Aladdin show you are referring to, is it the show playing at the Hyperion Theater at Disney's California Adventure? Or was there an Aladdin show at Disneyland before that I'm not aware of? Otherwise, I saw that show at Cali Adventure and don't remember any new music in the show. I had just seen the DVD too since it was in October and the DVD has just been released the week before.

Also, I can't imagine anyone would make plans to close their show in 2009 or in X number of years. If a show is doing great business, I would imagine they would want to keep it open as long as possible. If Disney could have a show running in every single Broadway theater, they probably would.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:10pm

TARZAN will have, at least, a three year run. There's lots of tourists out there and PLENTY of Disney fanatics.

That alone will keep TARZAN afloat, plus the fact that children will bug their parents to see it again and again. These are the kind of people that don't really read reviews.

But, if MERMAID plans to hit Broadway next year...I can't seem to see where it will fit. Unless BEAUTY closes...that's the only logical theatre choice in my mind.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:16pm

Rotel-
It was at California Adventure. Sorry about not being specific. And yes, there was a new song put in the show when I saw it and I didn't find it particulary good. It's on the cast album of the DCA show as well. The character of Jasmine sings it.
Updated On: 8/25/06 at 11:16 PM

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:22pm

Someone told me about the whole closing in 2009 and 2010 thing and I said its probably not true.

Disney can have as many shows on Broadway as they want, I mean, I think MERMAID would be an awesome musical, I'd go see it. I'm going to see TARZAN in September, and I've see BEAUTY and LION KING.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:27pm

I guess it was pretty forgettable because I forgot it existed.

I did a search, here's the lyrics:

http://www.aladdincentral.org/music/musicallyrics.html

Did enjoy the show, and the theater is beautiful, shame they can't have full length shows there.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:39pm

I couldnt handle Disney having 4 shows on Bway at once. Times Square has been sanitized enough. I dont want Bway becoming a Disney franchise.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:45pm

4 out of 39 theatres is hardly a franchise.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:52pm

It's still a strong presence and Disney is the anti-christ IMO. They exploit families and collectors and even their own legendary cartoons for cash. I'm not saying I dont like many of their animated features, I just dont care for their politics or business practices.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 11:52 PM

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:56pm

"They exploit families"

The families know what their going to.
Its not like they were blind folded by DISNEY into believing it was something brand new and original, they know their going to see a Broadway musical verison of Disney's animated hits.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/26/06 at 12:07am

It's just a political belief I hold, it's nothing personal. If you do a web search you will find info on ways Disney does some shady things like aggressvely marketing towards children and parents, producing their merchandise (probably even their Tarzan merch on sale at the Richard Rogers) in third world countries that pay little to poor families, and the obvious piece about the selling of gender roles in their animated features. Theres more issues than those, but those are a few. Again, these are just some of my views and not meant to offend anyone. Just how I feel.