Sunday Special: From the Pride Lands to Notre Dame - Disney's Animated Musicals on Stage
By: BWW Special Coverage Nov. 02, 2014
Disney entered a whole new world when its animated classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST waltzed onto the stage in 1994, followed by Julie Taymor's inspired take on THE LION KING three years later (the musical is now Broadway's fourth longest-running and top-grossing show in history).
Both of these paved the way for more animated-to-stage adaptations, from the high-flying TARZAN to Disney's latest stage transplant THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, which just opened in San Diego.
To celebrate HUNCHBACK's run, we've gone in-depth on Disney's animated films that have brought their music, magic, comedy and romance to the stage. Scroll down to learn more, and be sure to tell us which Disney film you'd like to see adapted next!
THE LION KING
At the Box Office: The Lion King was released on June 15, 1994 to a positive reaction from critics, who praised the film for its music, story and animation; it finished its run as the highest-grossing release of 1994. Following a 3D re-release in 2011, with earnings of over US $987 million worldwide as of 2011, the film is the highest-grossing hand-drawn film in history, the highest-grossing 2D animated film in the United States and the 20th-highest-grossing feature film of all time. The Lion King garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
Broadway Run: The musical, which features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets, debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997. On June 13, 2006, the Broadway production moved to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running It is Broadway's fourth longest-running show in history and the highest grossing Broadway production of all time, having grossed more than $1 billion.
Original Cast: Jason Raize, John Vickery, Samuel E. Wright, Heather Headley, Tsidii Le Loka, Max Casella, Tom Alan Robbins and Geoff Hoyle
Added Songs: "They Live in You," "Shadowland," "One By One," "Endless Night," "Grasslands Chant"
The Story: The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as king; however, after Simba's uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is fooled into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile in shame and despair. Upon maturation living with two wastrels, Simba is given some valuable perspective from his friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny.
THE LITTLE MERMAID
At the Box Office: The 28th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, The Little Mermaid was released to theaters on November 17, 1989 to largely positive reviews, garnering $84 million at the domestic box office during its initial release, and $211 million in total lifetime gross worldwide.
Broadway Run: After a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado from July to September 2007, the musical began Broadway previews in November 2007 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, replacing Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The production officially opened on January 10, 2008 and closed on August 30, 2009 after 685 performances and 50 previews.
Original Cast: Sierra Boggess, Sean Palmer, Brian D'Addario,Trevor Braun, Norm Lewis, Sherie Rene Scott, and Tituss Burgess
Added Songs: "I Want the Good Times Back," "She's in Love," "Her Voice," "One Step Closer," "If Only"
The Story: Based on the classic tale of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, it tells the story of a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her beautiful voice to find love.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
At the Box Office: Beauty and the Beast premiered at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991, followed by a theatrical release on November 22 to critical acclaim. The film was a box office success, and has since garnered over $424 million worldwide. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for several awards, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Famously, Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Broadway Run: Beauty and the Beast premiered in a joint production of Theatre Under The Stars and Disney Theatricals at the Music Hall, Houston, Texas, from November 28, 1993, through December 26, 1993. The musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on April 18, 1994 and ran there until September 5, 1999, transferring to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 11, 1999, with an official opening date of November 16, 1999. The musical closed on July 29, 2007 after 46 previews and 5,461 performances.
Original Cast: Susan Egan, Terrence Mann, Burke Moses, Gary Beach and Beth Fowler
Added Songs: "Home," "Human Again," "A Change in Me," "If I Can't Love Her," "Me"
The Story: Based on the traditional French fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a prince who is transformed into a hideous beast as punishment for his cruel and selfish ways, and an adventurous young woman named Belle whom he imprisons in his castle. In order to become human again, the Beast must earn Belle's love before it's too late.
TARZAN
At the Box Office: Tarzan is considered to be the last major box office success of the Disney Renaissance before the studio's decline in the early 2000s. At the time of its release, its production budget of $130 million made it the most expensive animated film ever made, until topped by Disney's own $140 million Treasure Planet in 2002. The film grossed $448.2 million worldwide and was also the first Disney animated feature to open at #1 since Pocahontas.
Broadway Run: The musical began previews on Broadway on March 24, 2006, and officially opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on May 10, making it the only Disney Theatrical production without an out-of-town tryout. Due to poor ticket sales, the show closed on July 8, 2007 after 35 previews and 486 performances.
Original Cast: Josh Strickland, Jennifer Gambatese, Shuler Hensley, Merle Dandridge, Chester Gregory, Tim Jerome, and Donnie Keshawarz
Added Songs: "Who Better Than Me?," "No Other Way," "Sure As Sun Turns to Moon," "For the First Time," "Everything That I Am"
The Story: Adapted from the 1914 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan is raised by gorillas, meets Jane, a young English naturalist, and falls in love. Jane's entourage plans to kill the gorillas, and Tarzan's loyalties are tested.
ALADDIN
At the Box Office: Aladdin was released on November 25, 1992 to positive reviews and was the most successful film of 1992, earning over $217 million in revenue in the United States, and over $504 million worldwide. The film also won many awards, most of them for its soundtrack. Aladdin?'?s success led to other material inspired by the film, including two direct-to-video sequels, The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
Broadway Run: Aladdin premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2011, had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto in 2013, and opened on Broadway on March 20, 2014 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it is still running.
Original Cast: Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart, Jonathan Freeman, Clifton Davis, Don Darryl Rivera, Jonathan Schwartz, Brian Gonzales and Brandon O'Neill
Added Songs: "Poud of Your Boy," "Somebody's Got Your Back," "A MIllion MIles Away," "Beyond These Palace Walls," "High Adventure"
The Story: Aladdin is based on the Arab folktale of Aladdin from One Thousand and One Nights. A street peddler from the fictional Arabian city of Agrabah finds a magic lamp and gets his world turned upside down when a genie makes his wishes come true.
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
At the Box Office: The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released on June 21, 1996 to largely positive reviews and commercial success. It grossed over $325 million worldwide and was the fifth highest-grossing release of 1996. It received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for its music and score.
La Jolla Cast: Michael Arden, Patrick Page, Ciara Renee, Andrew Samonsky and Erik Liberman
The Story: Based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, the plot centers on Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame and his struggle to gain acceptance into society.
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