The New AK theatre production

[heaven2dc]

Has anyone read about the new theatre production that will be opening in Animal Kingdom late this year? I found this under themouseforless.com link - tell me what you think

"The Theater in the Wild at Animal Kingdom is undergoing extensive renovation. Upon completion it will be completely enclosed and protected from the elements and will feature the new production – Finding Nemo: The Musical. Although Disney has not officially released dates for the opening of this new production, rehearsals for the new cast are scheduled to begin on September 18, 2006, first previews of the show are scheduled to begin November 5, 2006, and the opening is set for November 12, 2006. All dates are subject to change."

As a side note, now I will have to plan an early 2007 trip to see this!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I've heard it's going to be spectacular with elborate sets and costumes, I'm excited for this one, we love Nemo.

 

[byoung]

Looking forward to it.

 

[lorli]

I hope to be there in December to see it!

 

[Robo]

Press Release:

April 2006: Finding Nemo - The Musical press release

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 7, 2006) -- The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios smash-hit film “Finding Nemo” will come to life in an all-new musical stage show debuting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in late 2006.

Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning “Avenue Q” composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical “Along the Way” composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Finding Nemo -- The Musical” will immerse Walt Disney World guests in the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son, through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.

The show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical animated feature and transformed it into an original musical production. It will be presented in the newly enclosed Theater in the Wild.

“In ‘Finding Nemo,’ directors Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich and the talented team at Pixar created a film filled with unforgettable characters and a story rich with honest emotions that resonated with audiences everywhere,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The movie was a worldwide box-office success and an Academy Award winner.

“We are truly excited to bring this beloved story to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in this new musical spectacular.”

During “Finding Nemo -- The Musical,” Theater in the Wild will become a magical undersea environment through innovative lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.”

Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be represented by live performers operating larger-than-life puppets. Peripheral characters will be realized by a diverse array of puppetry styles, including rod, bunraku and shadow.

“It is our goal to bring the undersea ‘Nemo’ characters to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a live setting in a way that captures what is truly special about the film,” Rasulo continued. “This production will meet that challenge in a dynamic and wholly original way to bring us into the fantastical ocean world.”

The director for the new show, Peter Brosius, is artistic director of The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, winner of the 2003 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The Broadway “A Year With Frog and Toad,” nominated for the Best Musical Tony Award, originated at Children’s Theatre Company.

“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” is the first major musical produced for Walt Disney World Resort by Disney Creative Entertainment, which has received acclaim for its productions around the world, including “Disney’s Aladdin” (at Disneyland Resort in California), “The Lion King” (at Hong Kong Disneyland), “Twice Charmed” (on the Disney Cruise Line), and “The Golden Mickeys” (at Hong Kong Disneyland and on the Disney Cruise Line).

“It’s exciting to be involved in projects that introduce a new generation of future theatergoers to the work of internationally recognized creative talent through Broadway-caliber short-form shows that all audiences can appreciate,” said Anne Hamburger, executive vice president of Disney Creative Entertainment. “Millions of children experience live theater for the first time during a visit to a Disney park.”

“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” tells the story of a father clownfish, Marlin, and his son, Nemo, each on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and understand each other. The two have been separated – and Marlin will stop at nothing to get his son back, facing undersea challenges with his new friend Dory, who he has met along the way. Meanwhile, Nemo, relocated to a fish tank in Sydney, makes new friends who teach him that he’s stronger than he thinks. When news of his father’s heroic journey reaches the tank, Nemo is inspired to do whatever is necessary to escape the tank and see his father again.

“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” will be performed several times daily. Admission to Theater in the Wild is included with regular Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park admission.

 

[travelitis]

We're very disappointed that Tarzan Rocks closed for a Nemo show. This sounds so very much like Voyage of the Little Mermaid which is a cute show, but one of these is enough. Tarzan fits the theme of the park better. Frankly, I've seen the movies enough that I don't really care to watch shows that just rehash them. If they are based on a movie but aren't just condensing the movie, great. (I love Festival of the Lion King and loved Tarzan Rocks.) I like Beauty and the Beast (Broadway show feel) and Voyage of the Little Mermaid (4-D) shows, too, but Nemo sounds too much like Voyage of the Little Mermaid without a great story. To me Nemo's strength wasn't in the story but in the characters and their humor. I wish they had utilized another space and left Tarzan alone.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

I'm hoping for great things from the songs, seeing as one of the guys who created Avenue Q is involved Obviously I'm thinking they will be a bit more family friendly though

 

[Robo]

I'm hoping for great things from the songs, seeing as one of the guys who created Avenue Q is involved Obviously I'm thinking they will be a bit more family friendly though

Consider that this is not the first time Disney has chosen song-writing talent direct from a Broadway show, and that stage show material was intended for more mature audiences.

When Disney wanted to produce a new animated musical feature about a Little Mermaid, they chose the team responisble for creating the new musical version of a non-musical film, "Little Shop of Horrors".
That team was Howard Ashman (sadly, now passed-away) and Alan Menken.

That team turned out "pretty well" for a few productions.

Let's hope this new team will do some good work for Disney's family productions as well.

 

[PamNC]

We love Nemo so I'm very excited about this, and we HATED Tarzan so this is doubly exciting. The only thing I can say is I hope that it is different enough from The Little Mermaid as it sounds similar. I'm very excited about the new music!

PamNC

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Consider that this is not the first time Disney has chosen song-writing talent direct from a Broadway show, and that stage show material was intended for more mature audiences.

When Disney wanted to produce a new animated musical feature about a Little Mermaid, they chose the team responisble for creating the new musical version of a non-musical film, "Little Shop of Horrors".
That team was Howard Ashman (sadly, now passed-away) and Alan Menken.

That team turned out "pretty well" for a few productions.

Let's hope this new team will do some good work for Disney's family productions as well.

They certainly did - some of my favourite Disney movies were scored by them.

And I love LSOH too - played Audrey at university, my favourite part