Disney's Tarzan will enjoy its European Premiere at the Circustheatre near Amsterdam, on April 15, 2007. The show is produced by Disney and Stage Entertainment, who previously collaborated on six Disney musicals in Europe, including The Lion King (in its sixth year in Germany), Beauty and the Beast on tour in (Germany and Holland), and Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (on tour in Germany).
Disney Theatrical Productions president and producer Thomas Schumacher comments, in the press release, "Our extraordinary partnership with Stage Entertainment has given Bob Crowley and I an opportunity in less than a year after opening on Broadway to revisit our show and create this new production for Joop van den Ende and his gifted team."
Ron Link, a 27-year old from Nijmegen who stars in the title role, beat out five semi-finalists in the reality television program, "Wie Wordt Tarzan?" (Who is going to be Tarzan?), created specifically to choose Holland's leading man for the musical. Over one million viewers tuned in to the live TV show and cast their votes to select the new Dutch Tarzan. Tarzan's love interest, Jane, will be Chantal Janzen, a 27-year old actress from Tegelen.
Tarzan, based on the Disney animated film and featuring music and lyrics by Phil Collins, made its world premiere on Broadway on May 10th, 2006 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The show celebrated its 350th performance earlier this month.
