Disney's JUNGLE BOOK Broadway Engagement??

[brdwybound04]

Just wondering about the viability and likelihood that Disney may be readying this property for either a Broadway engagement or eventual tour? This marks the 2nd staging of this version, with its premiere last year in Chicago...

[broadwaybelter]

The Goodman Engagement is a Co-Production with Huntington Theatre. Performances begin June 21st.
http://www.goodmantheatre.org/season/jungle-book/

[brdwybound04]

The link doesn't work regardless of it being a co-production, do u think it is being readied for a Broadway bow or eventual tour in the same way Disney launched NEWSIES??

[rorschach37]

It wouldn't surprise me. Disney has a habit of saying they're mounting regional try-out productions for amateur licensing and then turning around and bringing them to Broadway because they end up selling so well.

[finebydesign]

The sets, design, and conception of this new show are incredible. Much like the Lion King brought in an African influence, Jungle Book does the same with an Indian-infusion. It's pretty damn fantastic.

It is starkly different than Lion King when it comes to puppets and animals. At first you might assume it would cannibalize the Lion King audience (I did) but it is so different. I would be surprised if it didn't at least go the Newsies route. It will win every design Tony if it does come, it is just beautiful.

Given the huge and what I would consider an authentic Indian influence, I wouldn't be surprised if this opened on the West End first. It looks like the Wizard of Oz set in a Ramayana-wonderland.

[wicked4l]

FinebyDesign, where have you seen the designs? I would love to see what they're doing!

[RippedMan]

I doubt it would come in this next season though. With Aladdin coming, I doubt Disney would want to compete against itself. Is it considered a full-fledged musical?

[eperkins]

Use this link:
Jungle Book at Goodman

[finebydesign]

Sorry can't share too much. Other than my complete surprise at how incredible it looks.

It does feel like direct competition with Aladdin and Lion King but like I said, the West End would be a good home.

This is by no means a Disney "spectacular," the sets are mostly flats but just stunning and ingenious. I'll post some pictures of what it looks like.

[finebydesign]

[finebydesign]

[finebydesign]

[finebydesign]

[ACL2006]

This is one of my favorite Disney movies and have always felt it to be the most underrated Disney movie. I hope this comes to Broadway after it's regional productions. Clearly not for the 2013-14 season with Aladdin arriving, but hopefully the following season(a Fall 2014 opening??).

[finebydesign]

Sorry for these weird sized images. I just wanted to show you something similar to what I've seen.

The stage is framed in these very large illustrated flowers. Very bright colors. It looks like a GIANT cut-outs of the images above...but cohesive. The stage floor is a a diamond pattern that reflects.

The "band" is also on stage, but not at all time's from what I've seen. The elephants are massive cut-outs that rise to the top of the canopy. The look very similar to the one I posted.

I hate to mention Julie Taymor but Mary Zimmerman and her team are up-to-snuff. I've been to India and I can tell you my jaw dropped when I saw this concept.

IGNORE THE LOGO. It looks nothing like the production in any way...well other than to let you know it is not the animated film.

I do not know if there is traditional Indian "shadow" puppetry involved but it does have cut-out elements that look like the image above.

[DEClarke]

I'm super skeptical about this...

I like the photo album on the Goodman's site. I like the strong Indian vibe (especially since I have a huge passion for Indian art and culture).

I'm curious.... BUT...

[finebydesign]

Trust me the designs are stunning. I really hope this show picks up some buzz.

I can't say enough about the physical design of the show. It is just great, I don't know a ton about the new story though. The cut-songs are good that they are adding back in. Especially "I Knew I Belonged to Her"

Who knows if this stylization is for everyone, but Mary Zimmerman has it coming together like Taymors efforts on Lion King.

[South Fl Marc]

Mary Zimmerman is amazing.

I just revisited her Metamorpheses at Arena Stage. I saw it years ago at Circle in Square. The staging, the show is genius.

I also love her Candide. She took the Bernstein score and completely rewrote the book, going back the Voltaire novella. While I love Prince's 1978 adaptation, hers was the closest to the original source and was incredible. I was so sorry it never made it to NYC.

Her work at the MET, especially her gripping Lucia , are aloso noteworthy.

I had no desire to see this until I learned she was involved. Now I cant wait.

[finebydesign]

It feels like she was given carte blanche with this and a realistic budget. To me the challenge is huge, a pretty good movie, some non-musical songs, some extras, animals, stiff comparisons to the Lion King, Disney spectacular shows...and then you see what she/they have done.

[South Fl Marc]

Unlike Julie Taymor, Mary Zimmerman is very good at making a script work.

[EricMontreal22]

" also love her Candide. She took the Bernstein score and completely rewrote the book, going back the Voltaire novella. While I love Prince's 1978 adaptation, hers was the closest to the original source and was incredible. I was so sorry it never made it to NYC. "

I wonder how it compares to John Caird's version? It's very close to the Voltaire, and I thought it was brilliant when I saw it in London.

Is the new music all traditionally Indian based? are the Sherman Bros (and the non Sherman Bros songs from the movie) songs orchestrated that way too? Meaning--how do they mesh, just because with Lion King you had pop songs that had already been orchestrated by Zimmer to have an African element, and they were versatile enough to be able to fit into different styles--but with Jungle Book.

Which songs do they use anyway? It seems like it might be hard to make a swing band style pastiche or a British Invasion harmony pastiche fit into the style.

[finebydesign]

There is a blog video on their site that goes into the sound of the show. The "band" is on stage a lot, so music is a huge part of the show. The band is actually dressed as either a "Swing Band" or in traditional Indian garb. There is no allusion that this music or the show for that matter is realistic. It is a hyper-fantastical world.

I haven't heard anything other than that video or the demos of the cut songs. The Terry Gilkyson songs are from an earlier version of the movie. Much of that story was darker and more in-tune with the Kipling book. I'm sure she found a home for at least 5 of them! There is a 6th Gilkyson monkey song that seems to be where "I Wanna Be Like You" is. So that one is probably gone.

I haven't heard it mentioned, but much like the Hans Zimmer/Lebo M material, she also has the George Bruns complete score to work with, including a beautiful overture. Some of those leitmotifs might be used to develop new songs.

Richard Sherman saw a workshop I believe but I don't think he was writing anything new. There are two sequel songs from the canon but those are post-story so I doubt they would be used.
Video

[TheGingerBreadMan]

I hope not.

[Matt Rogers]

Only problem is there is this little thing called a script that doesn't quite exist yet. Ms. Z apparently writes it during production. WTF??

[Jonwo]

I wonder if they'll follow the films plot but expand it or a new story based on both sets of material.

[finebydesign]

"Only problem is there is this little thing called a script that doesn't quite exist yet. Ms. Z apparently writes it during production. WTF??"

I haven't heard or seen anything about them not working having a book. The show is in a developmental state, I doubt they would mount those two productions without an approved book of some kind. Also the designs I've seen are final and there are a lot of scenes. I know it's done to design an entire show without a book but it's asinine budget-wise.