The Little Mermaid on Broadway

Disney Duster · Post by **Disney Duster** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:21 pm

Wow, it really is good we have The Little Merboy so we can see what Disney took down! WTF Disney?

tsom wrote:Well, the picture is described as Eric and Ariel dancing, so I guess this means that there are new scenes written for Ariel when she's on land.

But don't you remember Ariel and Eric dancing to the music when she went sightseeing in his kingdom? After she took the Punching Judy puppet, she danced with him in the movie.

tsom · Post by **tsom** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:33 pm

Disney Duster wrote:
tsom wrote:Well, the picture is described as Eric and Ariel dancing, so I guess this means that there are new scenes written for Ariel when she's on land.
But don't you remember Ariel and Eric dancing to the music when she went sightseeing in his kingdom? After she took the Punching Judy puppet, she danced with him in the movie.

Yes, I remember that, but this picture of the two of them dancing looks more intimate than the dancing done in the movie, which was really brief. Maybe this picture is of a scene that leads to "If Only."

Disney 181 · Post by **Disney 181** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:01 pm

thanks for all the news! they did infact update the audio sample with more of an orchestration

Prudence · Post by **Prudence** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:48 pm

It looks quite good. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:25 am

are they going to have a musical soundtrack for this as well, I hope!

Cierra_Dancer · Post by **Cierra_Dancer** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:47 am

If anybody wants the Bway demo of the musical, just PM me and I could send it to you.

Kram Nebuer · Post by **Kram Nebuer** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:53 am

Phew!! I'm glad I wasn't the only one who couldn't find the scrapbook. I hope that since they took it down, it means they'll be adding pictures of the show!

I was looking at the cast photos and Sierra Boggess's head shot looks nothing like her in the other pictures and that video. She looks so much more innocent and likable in the real pictures.

I also noticed that they took out the pages on Tarzan the Musical since it is now closed.

That's sad because it's like it really is gone and seems that Disney doesn't want any remnants of it left behind.

Disney 181 · Post by **Disney 181** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:26 am

Part 2 of the Behind the Scenes videos has been delayed from its expected internet release today

I was really looking forward to this one too!

DenverPost.com wrote: Video 2: Meet the creators: Launch date: July 16. Includes Francesca Zambello, Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Doug Wright.

Note:The launch of Video 2 has been delayed until July 30.

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:58 pm

rb_canadian181 wrote:Part 2 of the Behind the Scenes videos has been delayed from its expected internet release today I was really looking forward to this one too!

DenverPost.com wrote: Video 2: Meet the creators: Launch date: July 16. Includes Francesca Zambello, Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Doug Wright.

Note:The launch of Video 2 has been delayed until July 30.

it's been delayed. Broadway.com was suppose to launch Part 2, on July 9th. WTF is going on?

ChrisLyne · Post by **ChrisLyne** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:27 pm

So excited about this show now! I'm about to leave for my flight, I'll have a full review for you all when I get back!

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:00 pm

Woo Hoo! Less than a week away!
The Denver Post has a whole special page for The Little Mermaid. Included is some special audio excerpts!
http://www.denverpost.com/littlemermaid

tsom · Post by **tsom** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:37 am

Hey The Little Merboy, just a couple more days then you get to see "The Little Mermaid." Have a safe trip, and I hope you have TONS of fun. When you get back, you have to tell us EVERYTHING!!!

Disney Duster · Post by **Disney Duster** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:16 pm

Following The Little Merboy's link, I found this article at the Denver Post, and it's a really interesting read. The page may take some time to load:

Detailed look at how "Mermaid" moved from screen to stage.

And the article doesn't exactly speak kindly about the original movie. Look at this quote:

The animated source film is as problematic as it is beloved. It tells an epic, mythic story. But in its initial 1989 release, it was short, with just six songs. Characters were one-dimensional. Motives and back stories underexplored. The film was all about making sea creatures into animation.

Yea...that's why people love Ariel and Ursula so much, they have no more than one dimension to them. And thos six songs just aren't good enough, even though they range from beautiful to plot-driving and are all memorable, one of them winning an academy award. Also interesting is this:

Another sticking point is Ariel's conflict with Ursula. "Mermaid" was the latest in a long line of unsettling Disney films that set a beautiful heroine against an inevitably hideous-looking villainess motivated by pettiness and envy. Their deal: Ariel must surrender her voice to Ursula if she cannot get Eric to kiss her in three days.

It was vital to actor Sherie René Scott that Ursula's motivation be far more profound than petty envy. So in this production, Ursula grows to dislike Ariel because the girl throws away her power, and her most prized possession.

Okay, so first it looks like Ariel might not be giving her soul to Ursula if she doesn't get her kiss, just her voice, so the voice is not payment for the transformation. I hope that's wrong. Then my favorite scene in the movie with the smoky green hands won't happen. There might not even be a gold nautilus shell. We won't get the scene where it crashes on the deck. Gah!

Second, it's like Ursula originally just despises King Triton, but then learns to depise Ariel too, for being stupid enough to take the deal she offered her. Huh. So basically she hates Ariel for doing what she wanted. Right.

It's almost like this Ursula we'll speak for all those women out there who hate the movie itself because it's about a girl who gives up everything for a man.

Ariel'sprince · Post by **Ariel'sprince** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:35 pm

Disney Duster-i think the artical is wrong and i bet who wirted it dosn't know what's Flounder's name and he didn't see the movie.
anyway i won't listen to that artical and i think it's worng.

Disney Duster · Post by **Disney Duster** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:58 pm

Good point Ariel'sprince, maybe the writer doesn't remember the movie very well, or maybe he never saw it!

Still, the article does gives us some good infromation about what to expect in the new musical.

Ariel'sprince · Post by **Ariel'sprince** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:45 pm

Disney Duster wrote:Good point Ariel'sprince, maybe the writer doesn't remember the movie very well, or maybe he never saw it!

Still, the article does gives us some good infromation about what to expect in the new musical.

hmmm,i think the writer is one of those people who dosn't know Ariel's name (like my uncle's wife and my little cusion and my dad who calls Belle and Mulan "The Little Mermaid" (and i"ll never know why)).

Billy Moon · Post by **Billy Moon** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:41 am

By saying the film was "short with just six songs" the writer probably means that it's not enough for a Broadway show. But it sounds like he thinks that the film should have had more.

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:30 pm

Hey guys, Sierra exclusive! She just posted this on her myspace.

This is the Ariel wig!

You can even see the mic, sticking out.

What do you think?

I personally am not too keen on the colour, and wish she had her wave. But, I have to see, how it looks all together with the costume.

Eeek, I leave first thing in the morning! I can't believe, that it's tomorrow. I have been waiting forever! wooooooot!

tsom · Post by **tsom** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:44 pm

I think it looks all right. I mean, you don't really want it to be BRIGHT red. But, with costumes and everything, I'm sure it'll be great. I have faith in the creators of the musical to get everything just right!!

Have a safe trip, and have a fun time & hope you enjoy the show.

Disney's Divinity · Post by **Disney's Divinity** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:53 pm

It was vital to actor Sherie René Scott that Ursula's motivation be far more profound than petty envy. So in this production, Ursula grows to dislike Ariel because the girl throws away her power, and her most prized possession.

"Ariel has been given this incredible gift, her voice, and she doesn't appreciate it," said Scott. "It was important to me, as a woman, that it be addressed that this girl can't just throw her voice away.

"Everyone has been given their own voice - meaning your soul, your spirit - and it's a gift. And you especially don't want to lose it just to get a guy. That's where our conflict lies."

I think the problem with this perspective is that they ignore the meaning of the movie itself. They are merely scratching the surface (something they accused the movie of) and ignoring the symbolism of the story. Because the movie is different from the tale (with Ariel receiving her voice back), she learns that Eric loves her FOR her. He had to be hypnotized by Vanessa, despite the voice being the same, but he loved Ariel. It's kind of implied, even if the romance never gets that deep onscreen.

I think it's sort of insulting that they're disrepecting the movie while talking about a stageshow adapted from it. Many people love the movie, so there must've been something there.

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