International Musical Productions Reach All-Time High

International productions of American and British musicals are at an all-time high, The Wall Street Journal reports.  At least thirteen productions are currently running in Japan, notably WICKED, while Disney's musicals, including THE LION KING, MARY POPPINS, and TARZAN, are playing throughout the world.  BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL is soon to make its foreign language "replica" production (major production, often utilizing a show's original production team) in Seoul, South Korea.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh, who is to open thirty-five or more productions internationally next season, told the Journal, "The appetite for musical theater ... has to do with how pop culture has changed. Who would have thought you'd be able to see prime-time TV shows like 'Glee,' or [television] competitions to find stars for West End theaters?"  Disney Theatrical Productions president Thomas Schumacher, said, in reference to the nearly $2.2 billion dollars grossed by foreign productions of THE LION KING, "In terms of a piece of the revenue that we generate, it's just startling."  Musical Theatre International president Drew Cohen said that income from licensing for international productions has increased more than ten percent in the past two years.

Issues of translation, particularly when it comes to cultural references and humor, frequently come up in producing musicals for international markets, the Journal reports. To read the Wall Street Journal's full report, click here.