Little Mermaid Broadway Coming Along

[lrodk]

Disney will have a round-table reading of it's up-coming Little Mermaid Broadway show this February in 2003. If all goes well we could see this show hit the stage somertime in 2004. Here's a clip from the variety article:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/playbill/20021104/en_playbill/113696

 

[Sarangel]

Other possibly upcoming projects include Hoopz, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan and Mary Poppins.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they already have The Hunchback of Notre Dame playing in Berlin?

Sarangel

 

[WDSearcher]

Yes ... but it would have to be re-worked to come to Broadway. The script and score are in German (not one of the most lyrical languages in the world) and the plot line is somewhat different. It's not a clone of the film like B&B and LK are. It couldn't just be lifted off the German stage and dropped onto the Broadway stage, which is why it's listed as a work-in-progress.

 

[lrodk]

Hunchback is indeed playing in Berlin. Unfortunately, there are several political and business hurdles that have stood in the way of a Hunchback show on broadway. My personal opinion regarding choosing between Mermaid and Hunchback is that the former is a much more valuable franchise. It has grossed more money and interest, and hence would probably do better from a commercial stand point here in the USA. This, plus the lack of an adaptation nearly 4 years since the show debuted in Berlin, have the odds stacked against it making it here in the near term. Mermaid however is getting the reading with the intention of opening here in the states. That makes it the front runner apparantly.

There's a very interesting article for anyone who's interested about the reasons surrounding the future of Hunchback as a live stage show, and why it opened in Berlin in the first place. This show stands apart from any other Disney theatrical show in that it is a joint venture with a second party. I highly recommend it. Here's the link:

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~paga/hunchback/mission.html

 

[Karend01]

lrodk - great article on the Berlin production - I hadn't seen that one before!

Sadly though, the show closed in Berlin back in late June. I remember seeing articles stating it had ended it's 3 year run.

Karen

 

[SnackyStacky]

They need to bring Hunchback in.

I don't know what they're doing with Mermaid, but Hunchback is a STUNNING piece, musically. I haven't seen it, but the orchestrations, new songs, and vocal and instrumental arrangements are AMAZING!!!!!

If you want to hear it, they used to sell it here. It's pricey, but bery much worth it!

 

[Greg K.]

...than Stephen Schwartz -- a fellow who knows his way around Broadway and film music -- has pronounced "Hunchback" Alan Menken's greatest score. Considering the other things Menken has written, that's a considerable compliment. Certainly, it's his most ambitious and diverse. I'd love to see and hear the Berlin production on Broadway.

 

[Bob O]

I also would much perfer to see A HunchBack Show than one based on the Little Mermaid. While both were excellant movies i also thought the music was far superior in HunchBack and think there is alot of material to work with to make a great show.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Greg K.
...than Stephen Schwartz -- a fellow who knows his way around Broadway and film music -- has pronounced "Hunchback" Alan Menken's greatest score. Considering the other things Menken has written, that's a considerable compliment. Certainly, it's his most ambitious and diverse. I'd love to see and hear the Berlin production on Broadway.

But don't you think Schwartz might be just a tad biased, since he wrote the lyrics and, likely, offered an opinion or two on the score via that collaboration?

 

[SnackyStacky]

But don't you think Schwartz might be just a tad biased, since he wrote the lyrics and, likely, offered an opinion or two on the score via that collaboration?

He very well could be, but the two of them have collaborated before. Pochontas is coming to mind, but I think there's maybe one or two others outside of Disney.

Also, Schwartz is usually the first one to give credit to another artist be he or she singer or songwriter.

Even if he is biased, I completely agree with him! I think Hunchback is one of Menken's BEST scores. And I do mean scores...the songs are some of the best too, but the score worked for the film SO amazingly well, and that's where a lot of the new songs come from in the Berlin production.

Check out the link I previously posted. It's worth every penny you have to pay for it!!!!!