More interesting Disney theatrical news

[tazber]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:03am

At the end of Playbill's article on the Muppets musical this appeared:

Disney is also developing stage productions of "Shakespeare in Love" and "Father of the Bride." A revamped production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is also in development.

Thoughts?
Link

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:06am

Shakespeare in Love would make a great musical with the right creative team.

If it's a straight play, it will probably run three months.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:10am

Please God, make Hunchback happen.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:10am

Well it beats princesses. While I hated Shakespeare in Love, it might be really neat on stage. I think Father of the Bride is finished. Who knows what will ever come of Hunchback. They'll probably revive it when the Wicked movie comes out.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:13am

I just watched SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE last week for the first time in years and while I was watching it I was thinking to myself that it would make a good musical. I'm glad to know that it's actually something that may be happening.

I would also love to see HUNCHBACK, it's one of my favorite Disney films and I love the score. I actually think it would have been a better choice to bring that show instead of ALADDIN.

I'm not sure about FATHER OF THE BRIDE though. It could work. I'm surprised it hasn't been done before. If anything I think it would be a great vehicle for Laura Osnes.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:15am

HUNCHBACK HUNCHBACK HUNCHBACK! All I want is Hunchback! I really don't think Aladdin has enough Spectacle source material to get it on the level of Lion King and BATB but HUNCHBACK has some of the best music and songs from All of Disney!

Just imagine how "GOD HELP THE OUTCASTS" could look on stage with all the candles glowing and the huge set piece of the cathedral...UGH..It could be MAGNIFICENT!

PLEASE DISNEY..I have been waiting for Hunchabck to come to Broadway for 8 freaking years!! I need this show in my life!

Imagine how the opening could work with all the echoes and the bells ringing. Imagine the chills you could have when Quasi sings"OUT THERE". "HELLFIRE" would be amazing on stage with all the fake fire consuming the stage! HUNCHBACK could be one of Disney's best Broadway Musicals ever!!

In the words of Tim Gunn: Make it work!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:18am

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE could make a good musical, in my opinion, provided they resist the temptation to musicalize the Bard's words.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:19am

If we got Newsies, we can get Hunchback.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:28am

so Disney currently has, in the works, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, The Muppets, Dumbo, Hunchback, Shakespeare in Love & Father of the Bride. I'd say Disney has enough new shows to bring to Broadway for the next 10 years.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:29am

I was thinking the same thing Micheal Bennett.

I'm fairly certain Hunchback is coming sooner rather than later.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:31am

*Shakespeare in Love will be the perfect musical! I saw a tiny bit of it in high school and it was good. With the right cast and creative team, this would get Best Musical
*Yeah, Hunchback will come definitely! :)
*Father of the Bride? I don't think that's Disney, so where did that come from. It'll be interesting.

And speaking of non-Disney, what's going on with Anastasia? And the musical adaption of ALICE IN WONDERLAND?

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:35am

Honestly, I think Disney is Afraid to do Hunchback. I think they Know how amazing and wonderful it could be and they don't want to start working on it until they have the perfect vision for it. Disney hasn't had a BIG SPECTACLE hit in a awhile. I think they are still hurting from the misfire of Little Mermaid.

Hunchback should basically be the Broadway versions of Beauty and The beast and Les Miserable mixed into one hybrid. I have no doubt in my mind that HUNCHBACK could be the next BATB but in order for this to work they have to have the Perfect Direction and vision for it. What they should do is have Cameron Macintosh and Disney produce it with Robert Jess Roth and Lapine directing. Now THAT would be perfection.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:36am

FATHER OF THE BRIDE has been the most interesting project to follow since it was funneled through to Disney Theatrics a few years ago. My connection told me they spent nearly two years auditioning writing teams for this project, but I haven't heard a peep since. Will inquire.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:40am

Hunchback has been done for years. I recall reading that the creatives (Stephen Schwartz specifically) did not want to tone down the darkness of the German production for Broadway.

I believe they finally reached a compromise and it's just waiting its turn in the Disney on Broadway canon.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:01pm

They had a successful show In Germany but That production won't work on Broadway for a couple reasons. None the less its still a great version and its a good ground point to base the New york show on. I loved how they included "SOMEDAY" in the show and the finale in the German production was beautiful but there is no way they will keep it for the Broadway show.

Schwartz has said multiple times that they are working on bringing the HUNCHBACK to Broadway but he says that every 3 years :/. There is no way they are going to have Hunchback run on Broadway at the same time with Aladdin so Im guessing we aren't going to get Hunchback until Aladdin is gone.

Plus, HUNCHBACK might be a little hard to sell to the public because it doesn't necessarily have a target audience. It's not a children's show but it isn't necessarily Les Mis either. The Movie got **** on by many because of the Adult themes and people thought it was to scary for children. HUNCHBACK is really an odd case.

PERSONALLY I love the Movie. I would considerate it one of the best animated Disney films ever made. Its in my Top 3 with Beauty and the beast and Lion king being in front of it. The score is just beautiful and has some of the best music I have ever heard. The themes of the movie are completely universal and many could identify with them today. I really think its criminal how under appreciated this film is. Its ALMOST a Disney Masterpiece if you ask me. Some would even say its better than BATB. The characters in HUNCHBACK are much more 3 dimensional and I would almost even say the songs are better.

People always hate on Disney for this and that but you got to admit that Disney had some MEGA Balls to do Hunchback. They didn't make it a happy go Lucky story, they made it dark and beautiful and gigantic. Some of the cinematography in this film is Breathtaking! The art Direction is on a grand scale and really just transports you to Paris. It really is One of Disney's Best because Disney went outside the norm for this one. They knew they wanted to make something different and epic and I will always cherish this film in my heart.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:05pm

Just make Hunchback happen, that's all.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:13pm

Liza's Headband, I know Rice Elice was writing the book for Bride. I haven't heard of any composers attached.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:16pm

You're correct, finebydesign. Sorry. I was referring specifically to composers. No composers attached yet, that I know of. But I'm checking.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:20pm

They've been saying they want to stage "Hunchback" for years but no one has actually done it. Though I still am all for it and will be very interested to see what they have planned.

I must ask though...Father of the Bride...um...why?

Updated On: 6/12/13 at 12:20 PM

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:24pm

"I must ask though...Father of the Bride...um...why?"

Mamma Mia

[Jonwo]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:25pm

Shakespeare in Love I believe is going to be a play and its coproduced with Sonia Friedman, I've read that they've had problems developing it, Father of the Bride would make a great musical.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 3:50pm

"Just imagine how "GOD HELP THE OUTCASTS" could look on stage with all the candles glowing and the huge set piece of the cathedral...UGH..It could be MAGNIFICENT!"

This is *exactly* what I thought when I heard the news. That scene in the movie is absolutely stunning. Imagine the amped-up Broadway vocal arrangement! I already have goosebumps.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 3:58pm

Just imagine

[tazber]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 4:09pm

I do love that song. Bette Midler's version sweeps me away.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 4:14pm

finebydesign: How beautiful is that? Now imagine what it would sound like in English and on a bigger stage?! UGHhhhh its almost to much for me!!