Friday, March 18, 2016
9 Screen-to-Broadway Disney Musicals
Backstage: Disney Theatrical Productions, sometimes known as Disney on Broadway, is responsible for some of the most magical moments you’re likely to experience on the Great White Way. When Disney vet Ron Logan first founded Walt Disney Theatrical in 1993, fresh off the success of “Beauty and the Beast,” he could only have imagined how far the onstage empire would extend; with musical greats such as Alan Menken and Tim Rice writing brilliant tunes for big-screen hit after big-screen hit, theatrical productions were a logical—yet thrillingly ambitious—next step.
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11 comments:
I’ve seen Mary Poppins and Aladdin, both of which were fantastic, and I really want to see The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. Based on my experience with Mary Poppins and Aladdin, what makes Disney converting movies to musicals so successful is that they do interesting things and use the fact it is live theater to their advantage. This is really apparent in things like the set of Mary Poppins (which unfolds like a pop up book) as well as with the use of puppetry in the Lion King. They adapt the story for the stage, rather than just taking what they had and converting it into a musical that looks as close as possible. Because of that, the plot of Aladdin was actually quite different in the musical than in the movie. Three characters were added, and a lot of the aspects of the timeline were either removed, compressed, or slightly rearranged.
Disney's theatrical productions are always such a big hit because of their popular appeal. Recognizable plots and characters make most Disney musicals an instant success, and they also are important in making theatre relatable. Musicals based on Disney movies are such a great way to get kids interested in theatre, as it almost seems magical to see your favorite movie characters come to life on stage. The first musical I ever saw was a production of Mary Poppins on the West End when I was about five. I remember being completely blown away by the show, and thinking that the actress was actually Mary Poppins herself. Later when I moved to US the first two Broadway shows I saw were Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Those two productions brought back the feeling of wonder I had felt at Mary Poppins, especially during the Beast's transformation. These kinds of moments are something that every kid should get to have, and as long as Disney theatrical keeps creating shows with such high production quality then they will. I can't wait to see what they do with Frozen in the next couple of years.
I think by far Disney's best stage to screen translation has been The Lion King. The musical was and still is successful as a result of its visual character, which as opposed to recreating the movie's animated style simply shows another side of the story's potential. It lends itself to one specific style of music, one visually precise setting, one succinct and un-fussy storyline, while helping the audience to suspend their disbelief through abstract design elements which transform the actors far more than any literal representation. In this way, though it is still the Disney story and songs audiences know and love, it does not attempt to be just a Disney musical. It is a piece of its own for a very different type of viewing experience, and that is why it is believable, compelling, and worth taking the time and money to see. As an adaptation, the musical isn't something one could just as easily watch at home on their own couch through the miracle of modern technology. In order to continue to be successful in their adaptations, Disney needs to consider how they are giving the audience something onstage which they could not at all get from Netflix.
I’ve written two papers now that have to do with this subject for classes. The first was about The Lion King and how it changed commercial theatre (or rather defined it) and the second was about the commercialization of theatre since the 1960s. This article confirms the fact that Disney is dominating the commercial theatre industry and I could not even begin to imagine how anyone would compete with them. Even when Dreamworks produced Shrek and it had a huge backing and it did not even get on the same level I would argue as Disney has. There is just something about Disney as a powerhouse that is amazing and a little scary at the same time. Others have tried but there are just resources and experience that Disney has that I think can cripple other producers. The other thing that is interesting is that Disney does not need a show to be critically successful at all and it can still come out on top.
Disney has a very big part of Broadway. Most of the Disney shows are family friendly and most of the times have many kids in the audiences. I think that it is very important for children to see theatre at a young age because that could influence them in the future to be more interested in theatre and pursue a passion they never would have realized before. It is also important for them to see their favorite Disney movies live in front of them on stage. They are able to sing a long or at least know most of the music because it is from classic Disney movies. If they know the stories and music it will get them interested even when they are too young to appreciate the work and beauty of theatre. I really like how Disney is continuing to come out with different Broadway shows because it is linking the movie industry with the theatre industry.
I love disney musicals. They are always a fun time and usually come with with stunning tech. My one true love is The Lion King, which was that first Broadway musical I saw, when I was seven. It is really what got me into theatre in the first place. I find everything about it amazing, from the story line to the complex and intriguing costumes and puppetry that really makes the show what it is. While watching some of the videos within the article, my thoughts were reconfirmed. Disney shows have a certain sense of wonder and imagination that I love and could watch over and over. They also bring in a wider audience which is always a plus. I am excited for future Disney musicals. I hope that they continue the amazing things that I have seen before, while introducing new and surprising things at the same time.
I have always loved that Disney is a part of Broadway. I think that it brings in audiences to live theater that wouldn't have otherwise gone, had Disney not been in the title. Shows like Beauty and the Beast and Lion King get such big audience's because it is for everyone of any age. You can bring young children to see the show, and still enjoy it as an adult. As much as everyone loves Disney I wonder if people on the Broadway side don't agree with Disney having such a big hand on Broadway, because they may believe their are better pieces of musical theater out their that Disney is taking the spot of. I would find it interesting if this article had actually explored both sides of this. The more I think about it, the more I am sure that their are people who probably don't like the fact that Disney has so many titles on Broadway. When I used to work at a children's theater in high school almost every show we did with them was Disney which I wonder if we found other things for their age that wasn't Disney if we could have opened them up more to theater.
I too love Disney and the family-friendly productions they bring with them. It is a fantastic way to introduce children to the theater and draw varied audiences to the industry. The "Lion King" is, of course, phenomenal, and, as Ben King has already said, it changed the very nature of commercial theater. Still, sometimes I worry that Disney is doing too much. I feel like every successful Disney film is being turned into a musical. The article mentions that the musical version of "Frozen" is soon to grace Broadway. You're not re-imagining it. You're not reviving an old classic. Why would you make this show for any reason other than money? It's like Disney is beating a dead horse (or rather, piggy bank) and wont stop until every last coin has been collected. Why is this what commercial theater is now? why don't we do things for the art, for the audience anymore. Stop putting every successful film on the stage. Some of Disney's films do deserve a live rendition. Just not all of them.
There is no secret that Disney Theatrical kind of runs Broadway. They shows they produce are not only fan favorites, but because of the budgets Disney Theatrical is able to work with, they are huge, incredible and beautiful shows. Some snotty critics might discount some of Disney’s work because it is just aimed at crowd pleasing, but I have to say, first of all, they are crowd pleasers, but crowd pleasers with really great stories that are important to share. Secondly, Disney is an entertainment company! There business is to make people have a magical experience and live performance is hard to beat in that field. The article ends with a little info on Frozen the Musical. It says that it will be produced in 2018 and I am sure it will be an incredible production. Ticket sales will probably be great and the budget will be through the roof, I am sure. I do not know if I have a major desire to see the show, but I certainly want to see how they make the production happen.
Lion king is still to this day my favorite movie and it is to this day my favorite Broadway musical. Ever since Disney introduced The Lion King to the live stage, a path has been paved for so many more Disney film to stage adaptations. Exposing Disney movie lovers to the wonderful world of live theatre and telling their favorite stories right in front of the fans, is just incredible. Disney on Broadway has become a powerhouse that no one can really compete with. The fact that they have the budget to create magic, just highlights the reason for much of their success on stage. I agree with previous comments in that along with attracting audiences from around the world, Disney's Broadway shows are cash magnets. The same way the entire family needs to be a part of the Disney Park experience, the whole family needs to be a part of this experience as well, especially families with lots of kids. If I was a child and I found out that I would be able to see my favorite Disney characters live on stage, I would beg my parents for the chance. I'm looking forward to hear more about the production process and opening of Frozen as it is announced to go on Broadway in 2018. It was going to make its way to the stage sooner or later.
This article, or rather, list, sort of had me saying "Well, yeah."
As everyone's favorite ever-present, commercially-dominating company, Disney really is everywhere. Disney Theatrical is just one installment of the always-growing empire of the Walt Disney Company. But the really wonderful thing about Disney on Broadway is the really wonderful thing about almost every branch of the company: it never feels in the moment like you are experiencing something highly commercialized, or plastic, or made of money. Of course some of these things are true, and as theatre artists we are able to see that very clearly, but to a child, or to someone fully immersed in the story, Disney Theatrical is magic. It really is. And I think it is fantastic that Disney magic has been translated onto the stage so many times, since Disney and theatre are two of the most transformative experiences in my mind.
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