Sleeping Beauty wouldn't work as a musical, mainly because the main character has no personality. The original three princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora) were not fully-fleshed out characters, because animation was a novelty at the time.
"Sleeping Beauty wouldn't work as a musical, mainly because the main character has no personality. The original three princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora) were not fully-fleshed out characters, because animation was a novelty at the time."
Oh, I don't know. I think Cinderella could be a musical. Julie Andrews circa 1957 would be amazing in it.
But yeah, since Disney invented the stories for each of these princesses, it may not work.
I would almost like to see Tangled the Musical. And if they could expand Finding Nemo the musical from Disney World and bring to Broadway, I'd be a happy camper
When the Finian's Rainbow revival took off I was surprised Disney didn't fast track "Darby O'Gill & The Little People" for Mark Kudisch and Jen C. Cody.
I WISH! They could repurpose the star of "Chitty." Speaking of, could The Goofy Movie work onstage, or does the word "Movie" in the title make it unworkable?
After Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin, if I were Disney, I'd be a little careful about my next project for Broadway. They need to go back, and figure out what made Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aida work. Although, I will say it was the puppets/Julie Taymor who made The Lion King work.
What made each of them work: 1. A classic love story with a smart score. That as a whole was never dumb-downed for children. 2. Julie Taymor and her artists. 3. A show with a NEW score and wonderful design - plus the benefit of a classic love story.
Classic (yet a bit under the radar) love story + Julie Taymor-esque visionary + a NEW, smart score (or enough added to pre-existing score to make it feel new) = a hit musical?
Sleeping Beauty has the most lackluster score out of arguably any of the classic Disney movie. I can't remember one song. Isn't Alice allegedly Disney's next stage endeavor? With Ashford directing?
Yeah, that Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky was surely no patch on those other guys. :P
The reason Cinderella is highly unlikely is because there is already a musical of it. I know it isn't the Disney story, but Disney has tended to stay away from producing musicals of their movies that were already adapted prior. Same goes with Peter Pan.
"Classic (yet a bit under the radar) love story + Julie Taymor-esque visionary + a NEW, smart score (or enough added to pre-existing score to make it feel new) = a hit musical?"
This would lead me to believe that you would need all three of these to make a hit... which was not the case for BatB, TLK, and Aida..
Sorry I misunderstood the original post... oh and for including an "e". I am so glad you fixed that for me. I hope she isn't reading this board and sees I put that e.
joined:10/21/11
Posted: 4/30/12 at 03:23pm