Disney theatrical musicals

[EricJ]

And quickly moving past the subjects of Little Mermaid and Tarzan--"The overseas markets like them!"

(Actually, Tarzan was supposed to be a different musical--Originally they wanted all the vines and aerial action to be in a Cirque du Soleil-wannabe theater-in-the-round, but all they had was the standard NY Broadway theaters, which was eventually fixed for the overseas releases.
It still didn't address the other major audience complaint, which Mermaid suffered from, ie. "So what's the friggin' point??" Which the article also alludes to in a side link to an article about Rocky: the Musical's failure.)

[Dan]

The La Jolla Playhouse announced that they are extended the US premiere run of Hunchback of Notre Dame an extra week, so the last show is now set for December 14.

[Dan]

Was able to see the show the other day and it was fantastic. While it could use tweaking before hitting Broadway, which I believe it's bound to go, the overall performance was amazing.

Like the Germany production, the show uses the animated film as a template and restores some of the darker aspects of the original novel. This includes a much somber ending and the heightening of Frollo's sexual desires for Esmeralda. New to the American production include a completely rewritten beginning and origin as well as the elimination of the comedic sidekicks. In their place is the Congregation (background cast) who act as omniscient narrators, play minor characters, and also play the gargoyles, who are implied more of being Quasimodo's hallucinations.

The staging was very nice, incorporating replicas of actual statues from Notre Dame and having a life choir in the back hitting those powerful musical notes (the video above doesn't really do justice just how phenomenal it is to hear the music live). The cast was well chosen, with Patrick Page as Claude Frollo being absolutely magnificent.

[Ben]

Looks great! Good to hear that they've gone back to the book to make it more of a "proper" stage musical than just a stage version of the film. Disney's best shows have been where the film is inspiration but the stage play can take on its own identity (things that I think sank Mermaid and Tarzan, though Aladdin looks a little close to that too even if word is that it works).

They seem to have, especially, removed or changed the elements from the film that made it "kid-friendly", and so going back to the material as something that could really rival something like Les Miserables dramatically, and not come off as something that's just an all-singing and dancing "Happy Hunchback The Musical".

Hoping it comes to London eventually, since it will wash the very bad memories of the very poor Notre Dame de Paris musical that debuted here in the early 2000s, which may or may not have had an impact on Disney waiting so long before mounting their own production. That was a terrible show, all rock anthems and power ballads that was all gloss and no substance or any decent tunes.

Whatever Menken and Schwartz's show is like, it will triumph over that one...but as a huge fan of the score anyway, I'm sure it's going to be a rare worthwhile trip to the theater for this one!

[Randall]

I'd love to see this. I always thought the film's score was brilliant. Great to hear of the changes, as they could have benefitted the film as well. If it does go to New York, that could be our trigger to finally do our "week of Broadway" dream trip.

Yes, Ben--- Or the West End. Whichever.

[Ben]

You know the rooms are always made up for you!

[Dan]

Someone managed to get away with taking a quick snap of the lovely stage.



Going over the cast list, I noticed that Alan Menken's daughter Nora participates in the show as a member of the Congregation.

[Ben]

A little more traditional than the projections on cubes style that the show had in Berlin...nice!

[Dan]

Video has leaked of the closing night performance of the Paper Mill Playhouse run in April. Let's see how long they stay up.

[EricJ]

And once again...nobody remembers the movie had any other scene in it.

(Oh, I'm sorry, two scenes--Insert clip of "God Help the Outcasts". )

[Dan]

A while back there was a six-hour delay at LaGuardia Airport. It just so happened that the Broadway cast for both The Lion King and Aladdin were around and decided to entertain the waiting passengers by having a sing off.



Disney loved the video and posted an abridged version through their YouTube and Facebook accounts, but this is believed to be the original.

[Randall]

Too cool. I wouldn't mind being stuck overnight if these guys were around.

[Dan]

While it appears that the show sill not be moving forward to Broadway at this time, a cast recording has been made and will be released sometime in January. iTunes will be taking pre-orders beginning December 4.

Alan Menken posted a pic on his Instagram of the cast gathering during one of the recording sessions:
https://instagram.com/p/8MJu7al7QL/

A look at the probable cover art and more information can be found here:
http://www.sh-k-boom.com/hunchback-of-notre-dame

[Ben]

Excellent...it shall be mine. Oh, yes, it shall be mine.

[Dan]

Let's see how long this stays up.

Here's the "Made of Stone" number from the show.