"New" TARZAN to open in Atlanta

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 7:22pm

and San Jose, Raleigh, and Dallas.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114006.html

"A new stage production of the Disney musical Tarzan — based on the animated film of the same name — will debut in January 2009 at Atlanta's Theater of the Stars before playing several other theatres.

The new production, which will feature the Phil Collins Broadway score and the David Henry Hwang book, will boast direction and choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, scenic design by Kenneth Foy, aerial design by Paul Rubin and lighting design by Ken Billington. Additional members of the creative team will be announced shortly.

Following the Atlanta run, Tarzan will then play the other co-producing theatres: American Musical Theatre of San Jose, CA, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (February); North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, NC, at the Progress Energy Center (March); and Dallas Summer Musicals in Dallas, TX, at the Music Hall at Fair Park (April).

In a statement Theater of the Stars' Chris Manos (producer) and Nick Manos (president) said, "We are delighted with the collaboration between Theater of the Stars and our three co-producing partners on the stage production of Tarzan. One of the best known stories of all time will once again spring to life on stage with unforgettable music by the legendary Phil Collins. We are excited to introduce this exceptional show to our theatre-loving communities across the country.""

[sesot]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 7:35pm

I wonder if the touring show will include the changes made before it opened in Europe? Supposedly the Broadway production was going to add these changes before it suddenly closed. It will be interesting to see the differences; the Theater of the Stars productions are never as elaborate or well done as the official Broadway touring shows.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 7:37pm

Very true. "Dreamgirls" was a bit of a disappointment in the technical department. I'm surprised that Disney opted for this rather than touring the show themselves.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 7:54pm

They should've tried to tour with the changes. By all accounts I heard, it was an enormous improvement.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:04pm

Yeah. I mean, honestly, anything would have been an improvement.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 9:57pm

oooooohhhh...........I'm excited! Sure I can hardly get through the cast recording, but not many big things happen in the world of theatre in NC.

[bwaybound865]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 2:51am

So does that mean it's gonna be the same version as the Broadway one? or will it be completely re-imagined?

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:09am

They think they're revamping the show in every aspect while leaving in Collins' "legendary" score. Too bad the score was one of the biggest upsets of the whole show as it is.

[me2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 4:40pm

I think two of the big problems with the show were the book and lyrics. Without some major fixes to those, I wonder how much improved it can be?
Broadway Blog: In Celebration of Wicked

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 5:49pm

I love the fact that something "big" is happening in Atlanta when I won't be here.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 5:56pm

What are the odds of Disney trying this again on Broadway with the revamped changes?

I hope they don't. One Tarzan was enough for me.

But, I can't help but think that Disney is going to for the sake of trying to milk more money out of it if it becomes successful.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 6:00pm

Well its a totally different design team, so it will definitely be a re-imagined version in a visual and staging sense.

Akiva

[jbdc]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 9:23pm

Lynn is an excellent director, and the Broadway production had a scenic designer directing it, so it (the new one) has to be better.
Updated On: 1/5/08 at 09:23 PM

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 9:27pm

Ugh, I would have loved to see the original. I love me some Merle Dandridge!!!!

[winston89]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 10:44pm

I hope that this doesn't do to the some of the crew what the original did.

That is having them count down the days till thier contract was done because they HATED the show and HATED working there.

This was at least what the MD of the show said. He was good friends with the director of a production of Carousel I was in. Came by to see one of the rehersals and that was what he told ups bout working on Tarzan.

[brainlessorwise]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 11:30pm

I was one of the ones who liked Tarzan, although it was mainly because Andy Pellick danced in it, but I would really like to see this re-imagined, restaged, re-thought out. I think it could be amazing, if done right.