Menken Confirms

[CurtainPullDowner]

Why is everyone acting like this is a fact?
Picking a theatre?
C'mon it's Menken drunk twieeting.

Seriously, there's a better chance now that NEWSIES is a hit, but I'm not holding my breath either.

[JohnyBroadway]

While I didn't get the 5th avenue vid right, I guess I was on to something.

[PlayItAgain]

um Poppins is still pulling million dollar weeks, it ain't going anywhere.....

[TheatreKid3]

POPPINS isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It is still raking in money at the New Amsterdam, even outgrossing NEWSIES this past week (albeit it has a much higher gross potential).

My guess will be the Lunt, since I'm sure Disney is trying to get their hands back on that theatre. But it would also be great in the Palace, should ANNIE close up shop sooner rather than later.

[dreaming]

Eh, Disney will overstretch itself with four shows. And the New Amsterdam is big enough for the effects. By the end of 2013, Mary Poppins will have outworn its welcome.

[JohnyBroadway]

Hasn't Disney told the company another 5 years?

[finebydesign]

The only possibility I've heard about this show coming to Broadway was a tour-situation like Bring it On. The recent production didn't exactly thrill the brass at DT.

I don't understand why BWW is "reporting" this rumor and not just calling Disney Theatrical to get a statement from them.

[bwayphreak234]

After Newsies, I want Disney to stay away from Broadway. For a long time.

[bradk3]

Playbill says they asked and got a no comment.

I'm personally with you. From before it was even announced, I was under the impression it was intended to be regional at worst, a tour at best. No indication it was ever intended for Broadway.

But unless Menken has a talent for non sequiturs, those were his words, on record. Now admittedly it all could end at any time, but Menken says it's being developed for Broadway and apparently so does the Tuacahn Amphitheatre, for what little that may be worth.

[Jonwo]

Mary Poppins does very well in the summer months and holidays but not so well in the quieter months. I think Disney will probably do another out of town tryout before they bring Aladdin to Broadway.

[theaterdrew]

I skipped this one at the Muny, but from friends who attended, the reaction was pretty consistent that the book is weak, the music OK, and but for the comic turn of the actor playing the Genie, the whole thing was underwhelming. It was, however, the best attended show of the season. The Muny's production could in no way, shape or form be considered an out-of-town tryout, though.

[eatlasagna]

hey now... the 3D worked for the new Starlight Express tour a few years back! :)

[TheatreKid3]

Johny, I was told that Disney did tell some members of the company that they feel POPPINS has another 5 years left in it.

That aside, I still don't get all of the anti-Disney sentiments, some of which are already starting to appear in this thread. DIsney does a lot of fantastic work. Yes, they have had a couple of disappointments, but who hasn't? Even Sondheim and ALW had their flops.

[thinton]

Here's my BWW review of Tuacahn's production, including my assessment of the 3D...

http://saltlakecity.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-ALADDIN-Fills-Tuacahn-with-Disney-Magic-20120808

[JohnyBroadway]

I don't understand the hate for Disney?, yes they have produced some flops but it's not like your being forced to attend their productions, and it has provided a nice option for families and I do think Poppins has been their best project. They are like any other theatrical producer they strongly believe in taking and developing a property to the stage. And if it's because you they're stopping other shows from coming in where are those projects?

[jetts7]

I could see this show in the circle in the square! I think it would be awesome to see the flying carpet fly around that theatre.

[Jon]

is it going to be cast with actual Asians? Or is that only an issue with King and I, Flower Drum Song and Miss Saigon?

[ucjrdude902]

If Disney brings it to Broadway they aren't going into that small theatre, they'll go big.

[ChiChi]

I'm actually curious to see how this will turn out.

[ErinDillyFan]

Ameris25: Thanks... That's funny. Last year's schedule page must have been stuck in cache, when I went to look up this summer's scedule this spring...

[desiree armfeldt]

In regards to the 3D, that was specific to the Tuacahn production, not the Aladdin musical development process as a whole.

I also think Aladdin is on a faster timetable than Hunchback...my guess is that we'll see Aladdin way before Hunchback!

[PlayItAgain]

aladdin isn't asian in the movie version...

[ChiChi]

No 3D please.

[jv92]

If we get to hear some of the nice songs Menken and Ashman wrote for the original version of the film, I would be pleased. I still would rather see Disney use all of their resources to take a book, movie, whatever, NOT based on a popular family film, cartoon or otherwise, and turn it into a musical.

[ChiChi]

Well, AIDA wasn't based on a movie.

[darquegk]

Starcatcher was exactly that- its connection to Peter Pan the animated movie was nonexistent.