Broadway was no landscape for the bottom-line ethos of corporate America. It was the domain of independent producers, singularly driven, often iconoclastic men and women (but mostly men) who assembled shows on the strength of their own instincts, and some ability at raising dough. The fear back then, elucidated in countless cocktail conversations and column inches, was that the Great White Way would now run green, primarily for deep-pocketed companies, and that the theater’s entrepreneurial class would be priced out of the neighborhood.
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Disney as a company is a major player in so many facets of everyday life for people in America as well as internationally that it’s presence in the theatrical world on such a large scope, that is only growing isn’t something that is surprising in any way. Disney, for me, present itself as a problematic company (any commercial corporation with that much money and influence is almost certainly problematic) but with that being said this article served me really well to be able to see the scope of the companies involvement mostly on but also off Broadway. It was interesting to have a glimpse of the companies history of success on Broadway and to have quotes from individuals leading their theatrical division implying they just throw things at the wall and hope they stick, if it does or doesn’t they aren’t really sure what happened either way. Of course it all comes back to making money on their investments and hearing how if something doesn’t find success on Broadway they’ll tour it and look for other countries where it would be more well received and it’s worked. The situation of Disney’s involvement is a clear cut right and wrong for me either as the article mentioned The Public’s Hercules production which I’ve heard of them doing great work on but of course there is some Disney influence as well.
Though the Disney shows are never actually the best shows on Broadway, and the concept is rather cheap and just contain the Disney movie, but adapted onstage- Disney still continues to be leaders on the forefronts in terms artistic and technologically innovative work on stage. Many people in the industry regard working for Disney as a government job, meaning that they can make enough money to raise a family and they hav relative job security. Some how some way, Disney has become on the most lucrative producers on Broadway and are currently leaders in keeping Broadway alive and running. I'm curious to see how much more they are able to squeeze out of their brand and how many other technical innovations they can make with their highly fantastical shows. The shows on broadway are moving towards a more Disney centric outlook, and with Disney still producing- I'm positive that the company will continue to make far more money than they should.
The Lion King was my first Broadway show I ever saw. It had be starstruck for almost two years afterwards, and I was probably the biggest 9 year old die-hard Lion King fan there ever was. I still am in love with the Lion King Broadway and everything about it; it is truly magical. Disney on the other hand, is a company I have a few ongoing vendettas with. A highly problematic company (that is getting better? Trying to? We still are not sure) that has a history of being rather exclusive and stereotypical- especially when it comes to gender stereotypes. Personally- I don’t think every Disney movie should be adapted into an on-stage spectacular. Because often, that is what they come out to be: a spectacular, rather than a technical show. Personally, I could have gone without a on-stage Frozen adaptation, but the blockbuster Disney is going to keep putting out content, whether we like it or not.
Disney and Broadway have a very interesting history. Some Disney shows that have gone on Broadway have been a complete disaster while others such as the Lion King have been a huge hit! The Lion King has been running for years and years and years and is not going anywhere fast, but other Disney shows did terribly. I think that there will always be people who love watching there favorite Disney movies as a live performance, but at the same time it is nice to see new and exciting material that is not just being recycled. Apparently Disney has big plans for what’s next on Broadway. There is even talk of a musical based on the fan favorite move the Princess Bride which was made in the 80s. I’m really curious to see what they do with that.
Disney is a strange company when it comes to the theatre industry. Disney is the company that touches and controls more things in the entertainment industry than anyone else and its not even really close. They seem to have something in absolutely every field. In the world of theatre they have had their fair share of misses but also some of the biggest hit shows broadway has seen. While the work isn’t necessarily original or technically interesting in its writing they always know how to put on a fantastic spectacle. They are the biggest entertainment company after all they should be able to captivate audiences like no other. From our side of things working for Disney will always come across as selling your soul and losing your work and your integrity. For the theatre maker while working for them may be fun to some it is a select job and it takes a certain kind of person to work for them.
Maybe I am just bitter, but as I’ve gotten older, I have been starting to feel more and more disdain towards the Disney company. I have always felt weird about t heDisney musicals. The kids at my high school would complain about our director wanting to do Disney shows, but I found myself agreeing with him. It is clear in this article just how much of a powerhouse Disney has become in the theatre world, and maybe that’s why I don’t like it. The article even starts with how theatre started with independent storytellers and stories. It feels like the popular kid in school who wants to outdo the nerds. It’s not that the shows aren’t good, but to me, it feels hollow and a chance for Disney to make money in another market without any real love for the craft. “The Lion King” is great though I will admit that.
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