Jungle Book delays Broadway bow in favor of UK...

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 10:22am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-JUNGLE-BOOK-to-Travel-Overseas-Before-Broadway-20130722

Smart move on Disney's part, I'm more curious as to why this show was developed now as opposed to when Lion King was running out of steam...?

[jackieoh]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 11:24am

This is a smart move but I'm still sad I will have to wait so long to see it -- I'm moving out of the area and will miss the Boston run by only a couple of weeks. Sigh.

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 11:28am

Dodged a bullet.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 11:51am

"Smart move on Disney's part, I'm more curious as to why this show was developed now as opposed to when Lion King was running out of steam...?"

Because they didn't want to wait until the Apocalypse for that to happen?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:38pm

Smart move on Disney's part, I'm more curious as to why this show was developed now as opposed to when Lion King was running out of steam...?

Did you see Lion King's grosses last week? And the week before? And every week? How many decades should they wait?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:58pm

"Smart move on Disney's part, I'm more curious as to why this show was developed now as opposed to when Lion King was running out of steam...?"

Lion King ain't going anywhere soon. It's one of the few family friendly shows that everyone knows.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 2:01pm

I should hope that THE LION KING keeps on running. A very good friend of mine is in the ensemble.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 2:17pm

Lion King is not going anywhere for a LONG time. It's the highest grossing Broadway show ever.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 2:21pm

This might have been addressed before, but how much does this go back to the Kipling book? I feel like if it's based more on that than the Disney movie, going to Britain might not be a bad idea.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 2:54pm

Hardly any Kipling at all. Unless it's changed significantly from when I saw it a few weeks after opening.

There are a few flourishes, but it mostly felt like they were trying to put the movie on stage without much creativity. Which... is really too bad. The bits that seemed true to Kipling, or new to this adaptation were really marvelous... but they really seemed disconnected to the rest of the piece. Too bad... but maybe something can be worked out. I'm hopeful, but sad I probly won't get to see it.

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 2:55pm

It doesn't necessarily state the UK as where it would go, just Europe.

I think it would go more along the route of 'Tarzan' and 'The Little Mermaid' and end up somewhere in mainland Europe like Germany or the Netherlands.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 3:27pm

I thought The Jungle Book was going to be licensed but clearly Disney see a potential life in other countries,

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 3:48pm

brdwybound04, was there a Broadway bow scheduled that's now been "delayed?"

The reviews were as good as a tryout should expect. Some hoped for changes but all respected the vision on display and thought it had great potential. The audience response has been good.

Disney seems to believe it's got as much on Broadway or scheduled as they want for the present. This and Hunchback are being developed with licensing ahead of Broadway. The article confirms this, so no change in plans as far as I can tell.