Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Since Disney hasn't been producing any animated feature musicals, what will the Theatrical Productions group do once they've played out 'Tarzan'? What are future plans for new Broadway shows? 'Apple Dumpling Gang: The Musical' just doesn't seem do-able.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Since Disney hasn't been producing any animated feature musicals, what will the Theatrical Productions group do once they've played out 'Tarzan'?>> Huh? The Little Mermaid is next from the same director as Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. Menken and Glenn Slater have written 9 new songs.
Originally Posted By cstephens I have a friend who's a huge "Little Mermaid" fan, and I expect she's as excited for that to finally get done as I was when I first heard about "Tarzan". After the German production, did "Hunchback" get shelved? /cs
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<'Apple Dumpling Gang: The Musical' just doesn't seem do-able. >> Now, I'd pay to see that ;-)
Originally Posted By leemac <<After the German production, did "Hunchback" get shelved?>> They are still trying to re-work it for a US market but without the post-modern staging. Ironically Alan Menken is trying to get King David re-staged too (albeit without Disney).
Originally Posted By leemac <<Okay, so after 'Little Mermaid' what's next?>> Theatrical has a few other ideas bubbling under. Some are non-Disney stories and one big idea is a Disney concept.
Originally Posted By Santa Monica <<After the German production, did "Hunchback" get shelved?>> A production opened in Korea. Why won't they bring it to the US??? I'd love to see it, but I'd love just to hear the score in English. The new songs are so great.
Originally Posted By pleddy36 "Geppetto and Son" a musical by Stephen Schwartz based on the Disney made for TV movie will open at the Coterie Theater in Kansas City this month. It opens June 27th and plays through August 6th.
Originally Posted By d_dreamer I've actually heard that they're planning on making a Aladdin musical *bounces* and the auditions have already started
Originally Posted By pleddy36 I just did a search and can't find any job posting for Alladin auditions. With the number of new musicals Disney is working on, I cant see them starting another so fast.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead Answering the question 'what's next'... From today's playbill.com: "Feiffer and Lippa to Team for New Disney Musical" Disney Theatricals has found its latest stage project. The Disney organization, whose latest Broadway venture is Tarzan (at the Richard Rodgers Theatre), has announced that it will produce a new musical based on the children's book "The Man in the Ceiling." Jules Feiffer, who penned the 1993 book, will write the libretto for the musical, which will feature a score by The Wild Party's Andrew Lippa. No timetable has been announced for a staged production of the work, which, according to press notes, "tells the tale of Jimmy Jibbet, a boy-cartoonist who dreams of becoming a successful artist despite the expectations of everyone around him." In a statement Disney Theatricals President Thomas Schumacher said, "We are delighted to begin work on bringing Jules Feiffer’s comically poignant book to life. I have been a fan of Andrew Lippa’s work for years and was thrilled when he approached me about developing 'The Man in the Ceiling.' Feiffer’s witty story voices all of our frustrations, fears, desires, and hopes through the deceptively simple and precocious eyes of a child. Andrew is one of today’s most exciting musical writers. He and the legendary Jules Feiffer have just started on what I know will be an exciting collaboration." <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/100839.html" target="_blank">http://www.playbill.com/news/a rticle/100839.html</a> I have to admit, I'm not really a big fan of Andrew Lippa. Does anyone know this book?
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >I've actually heard that they're planning on making a Aladdin musical *bounces* and the auditions have already started< "Aladdin" is not being done for Broadway, that rumor was going around awhile back and was originally referring to the DCA show. There is an "Aladdin Jr." show now available for children's theaters as well.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <"Feiffer and Lippa to Team for New Disney Musical"> While riskier for sure, I do like that Disney will take a chance on something 'untested.'
Originally Posted By Jim Here's an interview of interest with Thomas Schumacher. <a href="http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/102112.html" target="_blank">http://www.playbill.com/celebr itybuzz/article/102112.html</a> I thought it was interesting that TARZAN wasn't a "for sure" on the touring front. No one does a show today that can't be taken out on the road if there is interest (because the road is usually where shows make their money). If he says no, then he is either 1) aware that the show is a real snooze-fest or 2) loves the show but realizes that word-of-mouth isn't great.
Originally Posted By cstephens Or that because of the staging, it might be difficult to tour with. "The Lion King" has pretty elaborate staging as well, but I can think of particular scenes in "Tarzan" that might be difficult to accommodate unless in large theatres. /cs
Originally Posted By TheRedhead If they thought Tarzan would work out of town, they'd make the staging work. Lion King is insanely elaborate, but they made a tour work because they had quality. Tarzan, on the other hand, is a steaming pile. The rest of America is lucky it won't tour. The part of the article that I loved was the idea of Edward Albee writing a Winnie the Pooh play. Kind of like Salvadore Dali making a Disney cartoon. Crazy!
Originally Posted By cstephens OK, I actually read the article this time. Where did he say that he wasn't sure if "Tarzan" was going to tour? Here's the only quote on the subject I could find, where the question was: "Are there any plans for a tour of Tarzan?" and he doesn't actually answer the question: "TS: We're actually casting today for the [next] production. I'm going to do sit-downs, so the next one opens in Amsterdam. [When] most people here think . . . about Broadway or musicals, [they] think New York and maybe a tour, [and] think, "Oh, that's successful." But to us, that's not it. Look at Aida. We ran Aida five years on Broadway. We still have a production running in Japan, we have a production running in Germany, we have a production running in Korea. That's how [we] succeed. . . . I have to finish final casting in four weeks in Amsterdam. [Then] we open Mary Poppins and then, right away, race to Amsterdam to start rehearsing the new Tarzan there. We open Amsterdam, then we open Germany, and then I'm hoping for one more country." Here's one who didn't like specific aspects of the show but liked the show a lot in general. /cs
