New Disney Broadway Plays- Includes Hunchback!

[Super Aurora]

OH NOOOOOOOOS!!!!!

Well, it's from Jim Hill, and he specifies it's a rumour. But...

Speaking of the stage version of Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" ... There's a rumor currently making the rounds that Disney Theatrical has asked Craig Lucas to rewrite James Lapine's book for this stage show. With the hope that a somewhat lighter take on this material would then be more palatable to a Broadway audience. But as to whether this means that the stage version of Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" will actually be bowing in the Big Apple anytime soon ... Who can say.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... y-for.aspx

Not counting on anything, but that does suck. Especially if they going to rewrite it just to make it more kid friendly. Fucking Americans.

[rs_milo_whatever]

But still,and Hunchback doesn't have a good message (Oh sure,he save the sluttish Esmeralda and kill the evil prevert and what he gets? people taking him away,yeah,so much for happy ending)

Why do you always twist things in order to make a point? Come on, you have to judge things by what they are, just because you don't like them
doesn't mean they're terrible, and anything could have a bad message if you twist it up like that.

[toonaspie]

I'm not counting on them keeping the German show ending if Disney plans to use THOND Musical in the states. The new ending may freak out audiences a little mainly because it's the opposite of what they saw in the actual film. Plus a lot of families are likely to see this so yeah...

Honestly I have no problem with Disney adapting its movies into musicals but some of the things they do with these adaptations are real blunders...I mean what were they thinking when they thought that they should make Tarzan a musical ahead of more Broadway-like shows such as The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame? I sure as heck will never know! Though it is agreed that they should just stick with the stuff Alan Menken had involvement in (except for Home on the Range, god help us if that ever becomes a musical!)

The Little Mermaid could be a better show if not for the awful costume and set designs. Not much imagination with this musical in terms of scope and vision.

For the people who complain about movies being adapted into musicals, I dont think there is much originality in Broadway anymore so this is the kind of thing you better get used to. I know a lot of films that I think could adapt into good musicals if done correctly. Any original Broadway shows out there now just tread on the popular ones already in existence.

[BelleGirl]

I mean what were they thinking when they thought that they should make Tarzan a musical ahead of more Broadway-like shows such as The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame?

*Ahem*

Toonaspie,

I've seen the Tarzan musical and it actually was a great show! It may have flopped in the USA, but here in Holland it's a great succes.
Of course I'm all for musical versions of these other movies, but be honest: the same objections you have agains "Tarzan" as a musical (not Broadway-like) also apply to the "The Lion King" - which, apart form the African chorus, exists of several pop tunes.
Well, we know what happened to the stage show of "The Lion King", so is it really so illogical that they afterwards tried their hands on "Tarzan"?

[Disney Duster]

Well, we know what happened to the stage show of "The Lion King", so is it really so illogical that they afterwards tried their hands on "Tarzan"?

Yea...because Tarzan is not nearly as popular or even as known a Disney film as The Lion King or The Little Mermaid! Plus, most people think TLK and TLM are really good classics...while Tarzan...not so much, or, at least, less so.

[BelleGirl]

Well, we know what happened to the stage show of "The Lion King", so is it really so illogical that they afterwards tried their hands on "Tarzan"?

Yea...because Tarzan is not nearly as popular or even as known a Disney film as The Lion King or The Little Mermaid! Plus, most people think TLK and TLM are really good classics...while Tarzan...not so much, or, at least, less so.

Other Disney movies may have been more popular, but still Tarzan was a hit (Gross $171,085,177 - USA, $54,000,000 - Worldwide in September 1999), won several awards including best song (Oscar and Golden Globe) and soundtrack (Grammy).
Add to this the fact that the figure of Tarzan has appealed to the imagination of people for many decades- and I say : why not?
Actually I can appriciate that Disney did not try to play it safe as they choose a title that is somewhat less popular than TLM for instance.

Recognising the flaws of Tarzan , I happen to like the movie quite a lot.
I also happen to like Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, which did less well than 'Tarzan', did not get all those musical award, and got a mixed critical reception. If we hold on to your criteria, DisneyDuster, THond should not be made into a broadway musical!

[Disney Duster]

Criteria? I never said these things were required for the film to be on Broadway.

BUT THOND has the music of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, two BROADWAY veterans, and many call it Menken's best score. Other than that, THOND is just a more dramatic and powerful film...and better.

Aside from why it's better, people already love what they've heard and seen from THOND the stage musical more than Tarzan the stage musical. That includes people all over, people who live in America, where Broadway is, with online downloads and Youtube.

[BelleGirl]

Criteria? I never said these things were required for the film to be on Broadway.

BUT THOND has the music of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, two BROADWAY veterans, and many call it Menken's best score. Other than that, THOND is just a more dramatic and powerful film...and better.

Aside from why it's better, people already love what they've heard and seen from THOND the stage musical more than Tarzan the stage musical. That includes people all over, people who live in America, where Broadway is, with online downloads and Youtube.

Hey I agree that the music of THOND is better, and also more of broadway material than Tarzan But wasn't your argument that more popular movies should get preference over the less popular for musical adaptations?
Either way, I don't mind Disney taking a 'less popular' movie and making it into a stage musical. To my understanding the "Tarzan" musical has been changed a great deal and has been improved for showing in The Netherlands, and it is a favorite with the public there.
Just hope The Huncback of Notre Dame will come to Broadway and to Circustheater Scheveningen (or another theatre in Holland)

[Disney Duster]

Well I'm glad you like it so much, then! But no, I was saying that TLK, TLM, and THOND all have something over Tarzan. TLK and TLM have popularity, and I think THOND might have a little more popularity over Tarzan, and THOND also has Broadway music. And I think all those films are also better than Tarzan, and even though that's opinion, and THOND got mixed critical reviews (what did Tarzan get?!), I think over time people have grown to think those three are better than Tarzan.

Or maybe the criteria is that they all begin with T!

[Chernabog_Rocks]

But still,and Hunchback doesn't have a good message (Oh sure,he save the sluttish Esmeralda and kill the evil prevert and what he gets? people taking him away,yeah,so much for happy ending)

Why do you always twist things in order to make a point? Come on, you have to judge things by what they are, just because you don't like them
doesn't mean they're terrible, and anything could have a bad message if you twist it up like that.

It's what he does, everyone in a group has a role for example, the funny one (Scaps), the leader (Luke), the brainy one(s) (Ichabod, Netty), the good looking one (myself ), the cool one(s) (Duster, LoS, Ames) and then the pessimist (AP)

*Note* If I didn't include you I'm sorry and offer a hug and cookie to make it better

I also agree with Super Aurora, if your going to make it kid friendly it will suck. I think it's a bad idea to do that, this is broadway not Disney Channel it's meant to be more adult/mature. If they want to watch the kid friendly version put the dvd in

[rs_milo_whatever]

*Note* If I didn't include you I'm sorry and offer a hug and cookie to make it better

all right a cookie!

But anyway, you're right, Broadway isn't really meant to be a wholesome, G rated, happy ending experience... though it may be. And sometimes a happy ending isn't the best way to make a good story.

[Ariel'sprince]

But still,and Hunchback doesn't have a good message (Oh sure,he save the sluttish Esmeralda and kill the evil prevert and what he gets? people taking him away,yeah,so much for happy ending)

Why do you always twist things in order to make a point? Come on, you have to judge things by what they are, just because you don't like them
doesn't mean they're terrible, and anything could have a bad message if you twist it up like that.

What did I twisted? I didn't twisted anything (Maybe "people taking him away" but they were just cheering for him).
I don't really like the film because of the those reason (Thought I might like the musical better if it's better).

[PeterPanfan]

^ If you think life is happy and joyful 24/7, you have some catching up to do.

[Chernabog_Rocks]

What did I twisted? I didn't twisted anything (Maybe "people taking him away" but they were just cheering for him).
I don't really like the film because of the those reason (Thought I might like the musical better if it's better).

Then using your logic you must not like the movie Titanic, or perhpas Armageddon, Poseidon Adventure, just about any horror movie etc.

If you think life is happy and joyful 24/7, you have some catching up to do

Your forgetting AP lives in the Princess Merchandise rules over everything world so everything is happy and joyful 24/7 (jk AP)

[Ariel'sprince]

^ If you think life is happy and joyful 24/7, you have some catching up to do.

You"re not getting what I"m saying,I"m not saying that life are happy and joyful ALL the time,but nothing happy never happened to Quasimudo,if not Esmerlada then something good should happen to him insted of people cheering for him.
Fox And The Hound had a sad ending and Pochontas's ending wasn't very happy but many good things happened to them unlike Quasimudo.

[2099net]

Phantom of the Opera isn't very joyful, and its one of, if "the", biggest hits out of all current musicals in London, Broadway and beyond.

Again, the problem is probably the "Disney" branding on something like Tarzan or Hunchback. People just expect different experiences with the Disney name, and its wrong. No individual, group or company should be forced to compromise on their artistic desires just to fit pre-conceived notions.

[BelleGirl]

^ If you think life is happy and joyful 24/7, you have some catching up to do.

You"re not getting what I"m saying,I"m not saying that life are happy and joyful ALL the time,but nothing happy never happened to Quasimudo,if not Esmerlada then something good should happen to him insted of people cheering for him.
Fox And The Hound had a sad ending and Pochontas's ending wasn't very happy but many good things happened to them unlike Quasimudo.

Just curious Ariel'sprince: how would you like THOND to have ended? Quasy coming together with the 'sluttish' Esmeralda?

I think Quasimodo being accepted by the cities folk and celebrated as a hero was quite satisfying.

By the way, the directors of the movie believed that viewers would not forgive them if they let the story have an unhappy end, and I think they are right.
Probably the audience for the broadway show is a bit different and can take an unhappy ending.

[2099net]

BelleGirl, I'm sure you were making a point - thus the quote marks, but I think 'Sluttish" is a bit strong (but I suppose the 'ish' makes her only comparable to a slut rather than being one).

The whole point of Esmeralda is she possesses all the opposite emotions and behaviours than Frollo does. She is literally a total opposite to Frollo - which makes her attractive to Frollo and fascinating, exciting to Quazimodo.

I don't think she is particularly "loose" - there's not really any evidence of this (but hardly surprising given its a Disney film) but I don't see her being any different to Jasmine in Aladdin. She's just less repressed and more expressive than Frollo or Phoebus - but then again, they have positions of authority to upheld, Esmeralda has nothing - literally.

If Tarzan can swing around a stage dressed only in trunks, then I don't see why Esmeralda would be seen as unsuitable. Is anything she does any different than what is seen in Carman for example?

[BelleGirl]

BelleGirl, I'm sure you were making a point - thus the quote marks, but I think 'Sluttish" is a bit strong (but I suppose the 'ish' makes her only comparable to a slut rather than being one).

I was quoting Ariel'sPrince's qualification of Esmeralda (my post was also adressed to him) with which I do not agree myself. Hope this explanation will clear things up.

[The Little Merboy]

The Little Mermaid could be a better show if not for the awful costume and set designs. Not much imagination with this musical in terms of scope and vision.

I personally loved it, and thought it was very well done.