Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/blogs/marshal-knight/2014/12/09/disney-theatricals-forgotten-on-the-record/" target="_blank"><b>12/9/14 Marshal Knight's Blog: Disney Theatricals' Forgotten: On the Record</b></a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros That plot sounds...interesting. I'm not terribly surprised that it didn't do well, since there really doesn't appear to be much to it. The music that I've heard is pretty good, but sounds more like a cabaret act than a Broadway musical, and I would assume that the tickets were priced more like a full-fledged musical which could easily lead to disappointment It's also interesting that Andrew Samonsky was in it, since he recently played Phoebus in the La Jolla Playhouse's production of Hunchback. I'm not sure if he'll also be in the Papermill version in March, but it wouldn't surprise me
Originally Posted By TheRedhead I saw this show when it came to DC. I paid $25 for a seat in the back row of the mezzanine, but when I went I got there the usher just told me to sit anywhere. That's how empty the theater was. I sat in the front row, and there were maybe three rows filled. The orchestra was a third filled, maybe. It's a cute show. Well done. But if I had paid $75 for that seat (the actual price) I would have been beyond annoyed. Usually juke box/revue musicals are awful because they always try to shoe horn a plot in with awkward, clunky dialogue. But the show was pretty much wall to wall music. Which was as it should be. The trouble is I have no idea what the audience was for this. NO WAY would this ever fly on Broadway. The whole thing takes place in the same set of a boring recording studio, so it's a terrible choice for a theme park or cruise ship. It really just exists because it's cheap. And touring audiences were simply too discerning to bite. I do love the recording. I agree totally with the author...Ashley Brown is great. I always felt 'meh' for Mulan's "Reflection" but her version is outstanding. And I LOVE her rendition of the song added to Bway Beauty and the Beast. It's phenomenal. The CD is definitely worth getting.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I actually saw this 3 times for the touring week in Kansas City and I have 2 copies of the cd.It always goes with me on my road trips from KC to Dallas. It is the perfect Disney record to listen to because it gives short renditions of most of the songs and it has helped me to actually learn the words to most of the Disney songs. Call me weird but I actually "got" the storyline, kinda. I think they should have included the actors watching video clips of the movies as they "recorded" the songs they were singing... and then maybe all those precious little children that showed up with their mommies on Broadway would not have given the show such bad reviews... These kids showed up in their little princess gowns and didn't recognize most of the history of Disney music. Wasn't this released during Disneys 50th Anniversary year to commemorate the history of Disney music in a storybook form? I was sorry it never made it across the country to California. I think they cancelled it after it was in Kansas City.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I do love the recording. I agree totally with the author...Ashley Brown is great. I always felt 'meh' for Mulan's "Reflection" but her version is outstanding. And I LOVE her rendition of the song added to Bway Beauty and the Beast. It's phenomenal. The CD is definitely worth getting.>> I found it all to be rather formulaic - David Chase's arrangements were all too similar - once you hard the first few it was obvious where it was going. There was an incredible amount of music but I'd rather the quantity have been dialled down and some more unusual numbers included. Ashley's A Change in Me is superb - but then she is a wonderful performer. I met her on the day she was cast for Mary Poppins and I was deeply skeptical as she was just too bubbly and personable. Having seen Laura Michelle Kelly play Mary as a cold and caustic nanny Ashley was very different. It was inspired casting though - she totally nailed it and with Gavin Lee they created a wonderful partnership. I'd have MP back in the New Am than the formulaic trite that is Aladdin.
Originally Posted By magic0214 Mary Poppins is my favorite Disney Theatricals production, more than Lion King. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE ASHLEY?!
