Disney's The Little Mermaid On Broadway

[DisneyHottie]

Disney's The Litle Mermaid, A Broadway Musical

Its coming to broadway! http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelitt...aid/index.html?

Cant wait!

[Justin M]

Now this will be interesting to see! I can't wait to see what kind technical wizardry they come up with for this one. Some of the things they did in Tarzan were absolutely amazing. And of course Lion King and Beauty and the Beast are already classics . . .

[fortuosity]

Nearly every show on Broadway presented by Disney is also a show in WDW. Festival of the Lion King, Beauty And The Beast - Live On Stage, Tarzan Rocks, and now The Voyage Of The Little Mermaid. I know they're different from thoses shows, but they can't be a little more creative. The only shows that are exceptions are Aida and Mary Poppins (both of which never got any real attention to in the parks). This doesn't maen that I don't like the shows. I can't wait to see Little Mermaid. I just hope that it's not just an extended version of the MGM show.

[MandaBella]

Nearly every show on Broadway presented by Disney is also a show in WDW. Festival of the Lion King, Beauty And The Beast - Live On Stage, Tarzan Rocks, and now The Voyage Of The Little Mermaid. I know they're different from thoses shows, but they can't be a little more creative. The only shows that are exceptions are Aida and Mary Poppins (both of which never got any real attention to in the parks). This doesn't maen that I don't like the shows. I can't wait to see Little Mermaid. I just hope that it's not just an extended version of the MGM show.

No offense, but do you really know they are different? If anything the Broadway productions are extended and fleshed out versions of the films, not what the parks have produced. I have seen a great many shows on Broadway, some of which are the Disney ones, and quite frankly it's not just Disney who is putting unoriginal ideas on the stage right now. The Broadway productions of these Disney films make the parks versions pale in comparison IMHO. I'm not a fan of the BatB in MGM or the FOTLK in AK because I saw their Broadway productions before I saw what the parks did with them. And, I'm a HUGE fan of BatB in general...yet I can't be bothered to watch it in MGM. I can't speak to Tarzan vs. Tarzan Rocks as I haven't seen Tarzan on Broadway as many of the reviews from critics and people I know hasn't been good.


BTW, related TLM on B'way threads:
http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/for...ad.php?t=11549
http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/for...ad.php?t=10436

[Hakuna Matata]

I want to go see this!!

[Justin M]

Tarzan didn't get favorable reviews - which is a shame, but understandable. The broadway critics are a pretty stuffy bunch and they didn't see much value in Tarzan. Admittedly, the music isn't anywhere near as amazing as Lion King (or even Aida) for that matter, and it can't musically be placed anywhere near the same category as Broadway classics like Rent, Les Mis, Phantom, West Side Story, etc, etc, etc, HOWEVER, the Disney braintrust that put it on did do some really cool technical things, especially with the opening sequences. Plus, everytime the Apes or Tarzan are swinging around on stage it really is a sight to see.

[Justin M]

As for their similarities to the shows in the parks . . . that's called synergy, cross-promotion, marketing - what ever you want to refer to it as, it's typically a good business plan. Perhaps not always creative, but usually pretty profitable. (If the product is good, of course). Plus, please keep in mind that the two forms serve vastly different purposes. The Broadway shows are complete stories designed to transport the audience for a couple of hours and tell a full, in-depth story. In the parks, they are more summaries, brief synopsis' of the movies designed to entertain and celebrate, all in 30 minutes or less. Of course there will be similarities between the two, but one can't really take the place of the other.

[Justin M]

Sorry . . . one more thing! (In case you can't tell, I'm a big musical theater fan) . . . the other thing that I'm not sure critics consider is the long term benefit of child-friendly live theater shows. For a long time Broadway has been the domain of adults only. Disney opening the doors (they aren't the first, i.e. 'Annie', 'Peter Pan', and others) to a family market is helping to introduce kids to the wonders of theater at an earlier age. Some shows, like Tarzan, aren't supposed to be like everything else on Broadway. They serve a different purpose. While I am not the biggest 'Little Mermaid' fan (I'd much rather see a stage adaptation of Aladdin myself!) I'm excited that Disney will push the technical envelope forward (as they did with Lion King, Tarzan, and even the Nemo show in AK) and they will introduce thousands of kids to the wonderful art form of LIVE theater.

[MandaBella]

The broadway critics are a pretty stuffy bunch and they didn't see much value in Tarzan. HOWEVER, the Disney braintrust that put it on did do some really cool technical things, especially with the opening sequences. Plus, everytime the Apes or Tarzan are swinging around on stage it really is a sight to see.

I agree about the critics in NY, they are sharks. It's no surprise so many shows have pre-NYC try outs. Look at some of the longest running productions and take a look at their initial critical reviews...hmmm...

As far as Tarzan, I do appreciate technical achievement in shows. However, the advances in technology do not take the place of a well crafted book and music in a Broadway musical. That's not to say I don't like the film version of Tazarn, I do. I just don't normally buy tickets to Broadway shows because of their technical achievements....but because of the book, music, and/or even the cast. Maybe one day I'll see Tarzan, but there's too many other productions I want to see first...

Plus, please keep in mind that the two forms serve vastly different purposes. The Broadway shows are complete stories designed to transport the audience for a couple of hours and tell a full, in-depth story. In the parks, they are more summaries, brief synopsis' of the movies designed to entertain and celebrate, all in 30 minutes or less. Of course there will be similarities between the two, but one can't really take the place of the other.

Excellent point.

. For a long time Broadway has been the domain of adults only. Disney opening the doors (they aren't the first, i.e. 'Annie', 'Peter Pan', and others) to a family market is helping to introduce kids to the wonders of theater at an earlier age.

This is a very good point. So when people complain about the Disneyfication of the Great White Way, I like to point this out. Annie can only do so much by introducing kids to the world of theatre. So, I'm glad Disney decided to take the plunge and put the film Beauty and the Beast on the stage in the first place. Of course watching that movie it screams Broadway musical thanks to Howard Ashman.

I don't even remember what my first Broadway show was, but I do know I fell in love with the Broadway stage a long time before I ever got to Walt Disney World. There's just something about live theatre.

You mentioned Aladdin. Did you see what DCA did with a ~30-40 minute production of it?

Also since you are a big musical theatre fan, have you checked out our Non-Disney Musicals thread?

[Justin M]

Thanks Manda Bella - - - no, I haven't checked out that thread, but I certainly will. Also, I haven't had the chance to get to DCA, and honestly (I'm ashamed!) I didn't even know they had an Aladdin production. What did they do with it?

As for your point about the book/score, etc. I completely agree. Broadway shows are about the story and the music, which is why I said it is almost understandable that the critics didn't love Tarzan. I was just trying to point out a redeeming quality!

[Creambunni]

I'm excited about Little Mermaid coming to Broadway. I'm so excited to see what Disney does with it.

[fortuosity]

Justin, I agree with you. I was nearly making a personal observation that nearly every show on Broadway has already been tested in WDW to see if it could withstand the stage. I LOVE Broadway especially Disney shows. I just want to see new storylines on stage. I'd love to see Aladdin, Hercules, or Pocahontas. I love the songs in those movies. Or perhaps a new Disney version of Peter Pan. BTW my first show was Ragtime... not the best show for kids.