What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Broadwaydancer2
Chorus Member Joined: 1/14/17
#1What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 3:44am
thoughts?
#2What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 3:54am
Homework?
Broadwaydancer2
Chorus Member Joined: 1/14/17
#3What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 3:54am
LizzieCurry said: "Homework?
"
Don't be stupid
Tiann Nerng Chong
Chorus Member Joined: 2/6/17
#4What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 4:06am
I really don't think you can say that Disney has hindered Broadway in any way.
1. Disney musicals tend to be big, splashy, expensive affairs = hiring more crew, cast etc = more jobs.
2. Disney musicals attract families to Broadway / theatre in general, and probably makes converts out of non-theatre-enthusiastic people. I'm sure many a child who first watched Beauty and the Beast /the Lion King / the Little Mermaid / Mary Poppins would credit their current love of theatre / musical theatre to these productions.
3. Licensing of past Disney productions such as BaTB = great opportunity for high schoolers / community theatre, partially due to family-friendliness, age appropriateness and the use of a huge ensemble = more kids getting into theatre.
Artistic merits of current and past Disney productions are a different subject altogether (personally I feel that TLM and Aladdin are not on par artistically with BaTB, Aida etc) - but I don't think it's relevant to whether this hinders / helps Broadway or the theatre industry in general.
Tiann Nerng Chong
Chorus Member Joined: 2/6/17
#4What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 4:06am
.
Updated On: 2/10/17 at 04:06 AM
#5What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 6:33am
I enjoy the Disney movie musicals. The songs are usually more clever than average. But I have absolutely no interest, personally, in seeing a stage adaptation. In my mind it is like paying $100+ for a story I basically already saw multiple times for a lot less. I just can't do it. I'm not interested.
Well, Except. Newsies, of course. But that goes without saying, right? - all those attractive guys up there dancing their hearts out. Tough to get tired of that.
#6What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 9:56am
They are generally long runs with large casts and provide steady long-term employment to actors, musicians, and crew, so in that economic way, they've helped Broadway overall.
I agree with others the creative side is a whole different discussion. Since Disney often produces mini versions of their movies in their theme parks, I'm bummed about the lack of new ideas coming to the stage.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#7What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:03am
Broadwaydancer2 said: "thoughts?"
You? Do you have any thoughts on the subject?
JennH
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#8What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 7:01pm
This is baassiiiccalllyyy the holy grail of questions for me. I love Disney, always have, always will, you'd be hard pressed to find someone Disnerdier than me. At least in terms of Disney knowledge, especially random info ;P
I don't outright majorly dislike any of the stage musicals, I adore B and the B and LK, they're still the best two that they've ever done, they're still the movie everyone knows and loves but expanded upon and adapted well for the stage. I like Aida pretty well, LM and Tarzan I have a small soft spot for, but I tend to believe they shouldn't have been attempted for various reason for each, number one being they never screamed "stage", Newsies and Hunchback I'll give a resounding DUH to for being on stage, they absolutely needed to be there, people clamored for those two for eons to be on stage, they deserved it, but the changes made were near unnecessary, and neither were given the justice for stage they deserved, ESPECIALLY Hunchback. I've given enough reviews on many threads here about my views on Hunchback so I'll leave it at that. Mary Poppins delighted me, but didn't wow me in any way, but considering Disney's penchant for returning to source material for the stage adaptations of their films lately, this was a better meshing of the books and the Disney film than others ;P Aladdin could have worked but it turned into the film merely being vomited onto the stage without any clever thought as to how to adapt it well.
Being that their stage musicals have been on the disappointing side to me lately it makes me nervous about Frozen and whether the necessary changes will be made for it to work on stage. The DL and now the even the DCL productions are proving that you can't just throw this one up on stage and expect it to work well.
Overall, I have no issue whatsoever with them doing stage musicals, if I could do them for the rest of my life I probably would. HOWEVER...even with my big love of Disney, I would never want to see every show on Broadway be a Disney musical.
And I agree with the artistic merits of Disney musicals being pretty separate from anything else. They will always be financially lucrative for theatre companies, but the artistic aspects of some are better than others. Which is sad because they'll always be well attended. Why not make them good and artful at the same time?
#9What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 7:33pm
Without Disney, The New Amsterdam would have been an Applebee's
musicals1989
Understudy Joined: 9/16/11
#10What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 7:34pm
Disney completely changed 42nd Street. For the better. Without Disney and the restoration of the New Amsterdam, what would 42nd Street be today?
http://www.frankrose.com/can-disney-tame-42nd-street.html
#11What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:10pm
I prefer 42nd street the way that it was to the gigantic, cloned, sterile mall that it has become.
MarkBearSF
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/11
#12What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 12:56am
As a Broadway fan for years, and an active ticket buyer for 20, I think that we owe a debt of gratitude to DIsney Theatricals. I'm not a big fan of the mouse, and was disdainful of what I read and heard about 42nd Street in the mid-late 90s. I then saw the original production of Lion King at the newly-restored New Amsterdam theatre. What a coup de theatre! (both meanings apply).
Since then, I've not seen most of their productions because of personal prioritization, but I respect how they've consistently put their money where their mouse is and continue to work with and develop some of the best talent out there.
I'm far from the typical Disney fanboy, but I think there have been some very savvy folks who have been able to tread a very fine line to enlist some of Broadway's best talent to work within the unique limitations of DIsney world.
I wish we lived in those Dorothy Parker/Margo Channing days, but the Disney empire seems to respect the unique world of Broadway and will put their money behind talent. I've gotta' respect that.
And, although I believe Disney funding is unique, they've evidently had some great folks supporting talent and development of adaptations and projects that would have likely died in other multimedia conglomerates.
#13What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 6:30am
I am big fan of the Disney Classics, such as Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, etc. They were my whole childhood. In a way, these classics kind of shaped my vision of beauty in life. The combination of the fluid animation combined with the great stories and orchestra and voices is pure magic.
The quality of the newer classic went downhill in my opinion, with Hercules, Tarzan, Lilo &Stitch, Mulan, etc, which lacked that kind of beauty and quality in my opinion. Then we got the whole CGI era, where everything has to be cool and fast and funny. Princesses need to be cool and say things like "It's like 7.15" and every romantic moment has to be thrown away with at least 1 cool or funny oneliner.
I feel that the stage adaptations (even the ones that had a great animated film) lack any kind of this beauty, fluidity and magic. I couldn't stand the Little Mermaid on stage, it felt like a bunch of potato sacks dressed up in costumes. Sitting on stage like a pudding. No fluidity, no magic. It was just embarrassing. Then the silly added lines, such as "Ariel treats me like shashimi left over from last week". I hope that line made the show more successful than it would have been without it. In the Lion King I can't stand the 7 minute tapdance break for the Hyena's. Why on earth? But even Beauty and the Beast, nothing fluid, no hair or fabric flowing, maybe it would have worked better if they made the show completely different, but not copy the scenes, costumes, hairdo's, character designs from the animated film.
The magic of these films really is the animation.
So I feel that even though some of these shows are successful, because obviously they are an easy pick for families, in the end it kind of harms Broadway, as people will think that Broadway is silly.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#14What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 11:31am
It is a good thing they have introduced young people to Broadway, hopefully they will continue to come when they get older and enjoy other type shows. Disney has been very succesful for the most part but I wish they would understand that some of their movies just will not work on the stage.
GhostXmasPast
Understudy Joined: 11/4/16
#15What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 4:36pm
There is no doubt that Disney's arrival on Broadway contributed to a Renaissance - or a reinvention - of The theater landscape, both figuratively and literally. They have brought new users to the genre - by creating destination works, and taking their shown on the road - in both cases generally building upon the Disney name and library.
as their legacy source material becomes tapped out - it will be interesting to see if Disney can leverage their creative resources to launch more original projects -as they did with Aida.
The ultimate success will be a briadway show that inspires an animated or live action film.
GhostXmasPast
Understudy Joined: 11/4/16
#16What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 4:36pm
There is no doubt that Disney's arrival on Broadway contributed to a Renaissance - or a reinvention - of The theater landscape, both figuratively and literally. They have brought new users to the genre - by creating destination works, and taking their shows on the road - in both cases generally building upon the Disney name and library.
as their legacy source material becomes tapped out - it will be interesting to see if Disney can leverage their creative resources to launch more original projects -as they did with Aida.
The ultimate success will be a broadway show that inspires an animated or live action film - instead of vice versa.
#17What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 4:51pm
"as their legacy source material becomes tapped out - it will be interesting to see if Disney can leverage their creative resources to launch more original projects..."
That's a key point to me. Disney can corral the most creative people. They do it for their films. Why not harness all that creativity for original works, especially since every film that's become a Broadway show had a previous incarnation as an abbreviated version in their theme parks.
True, I understand the economics of brand recognition -- I doubt Frozen would have as much buzz if kids didn't already know the brand by heart due to the film. And producers prefer to back projects that have a higher guarantee of ROI.
GhostXmasPast
Understudy Joined: 11/4/16
#18What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 7:29pm
PatrickDC said: ""as their legacy source material becomes tapped out - it will be interesting to see if Disney can leverage their creative resources to launch more original projects..."
That's a key point to me. Disney can corral the most creative people. They do it for their films. Why not harness all that creativity for original works, especially since every film that's become a Broadway show had a previous incarnation as an abbreviated version in their theme parks.
True, I understand the economics of brand recognition -- I doubt Frozen would have as much buzz if kids didn't already know the brand by heart due to the film. And producers prefer to back projects that have a higher guarantee of ROI.
"
Risk is at the core of the DNA of Broadway Producers and investors. While Disney has enjoyed the luxury of some "slam dunk" material - with built in fan bases, the soul of Broadway is embodied in those writers, composers, directors and investors - willing to invest their precious time and treasure to bring an original vision to the stage.
Broadway is unique among entertainment genres. Films can be shot - and experienced - anywhere. Now on the Palm of your hand even. Same for books and music. Broadway is rooted in a small sliver of midtown manhatten. While Disney has - to be sure - enhanced "Broadway" - it is hard for me to accept them as true "Broadway."
I would love for Disney to prove me wrong. To take risks, support new generations of creative talent as they toil to bring their visions to life. While the opening bars of The Lion King still inspire, the magic of seeing something completely new and original on stage - Hamilton, Great Comet, Evan Hansen - or phantom, Wicked - Cats, A Chorus Line ... these are the driving force of Broadway - built upon the backs of legions of "failed shows" - each a unique work, crashing under the weight of economic realities in days, weeks or months. And each supported by producers and investors who understood the risks - and yet pressed ahead.
BroadwayMan5
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/15
#19What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 7:36pm
I see Disney musicals as a "way in" for many kids that grow to love theatre. Even if they aren't the greatest artistic triumphs, they are fun and if it means a kid is "hooked" than that is a great thing
Updated On: 2/11/17 at 07:36 PM
#20What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 8:19pm
What amoni said. Three words: THE NEW AMSTERDAM
#21What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 8:32pm
I'd love if they produced original works.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#22What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 9:25pm
It's not all reimagined stage versions of Disney films. Disney produced Aida - which was an original musical based on pre-existing material. Disney also produced Peter and the Starcatcher - a play with music. Disney also was behind the screen to stage production of Sister Act - which had all original music.
#23What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/11/17 at 11:48pm
ggersten said: "It's not all reimagined stage versions of Disney films. Disney produced Aida - which was an original musical based on pre-existing material. Disney also produced Peter and the Starcatcher - a play with music. Disney also was behind the screen to stage production of Sister Act - which had all original music. "
Yes ... and Verdi did it better. Luckily, Verdi's Aida will be be still around when Elton John's earsore of a score is long forgotten.
openstage2
Understudy Joined: 1/16/17
#24What do people think of Disney and in particular the musicals they produce and has this hindered Broadway or helped Broadway?
Posted: 2/12/17 at 11:00am
Many thoughts on this. Their impact is far reaching. I agree with other posters that blockbuster shows help to employs thousands of people, not only in NY but on tour. I also think for tourists, it gives them a "safe bet" to spend their hard earned money on. What worries me about the Disney invasion is what it does to the art form as a whole? Will audiences seek out theatre that pushes the art forward? Kind of like what I see with radio in America. If we see more and more safe bets filling the seats, will it become to expensive and too risky to spend money on innovative shows like RENT or Hamilton? Why create something new when you can recycle a cartoon and spend unlimited funds on it? Also when you have the built in audience and marketing of Disney, will tickets continue to skyrocket? Your answer to the Disney question could be summed up by your answer to this: Does your family usually try the new exotic restaurant or go to Applebees?
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