Dumbo on Broadway?

[blackcauldron85]

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-new ... -broadway/
(via disneyreport.com)

On the Dumbo front, Disney has now registered the following domain names: DUMBOMUSICAL.COM, DUMBOONTOUR.COM DUMBOTHEMUSICAL.COM and DUMBOTICKETS.COM.

[UmbrellaFish]

Wow, I just can't believe Disney is really going ahead with this.

But Hunchback just sits there, waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

[yamiiguy]

I could think of something better than Dumbo, what about The Jungle Book or Robin Hood?

[blackcauldron85]

But Hunchback just sits there, waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

I wonder what Disney's reason not to bring that show to Broadway is. Could there be a legal reason? Or are they holding onto it and then eventually, when they do release it on Broadway, people will be rejoicing Disney for being geniuses?

what about The Jungle Book

Ironically, I was watching a little bit of the Animal Kingdom Jungle Book show (and the MGM Hunchback one) on YouTube today. I think that the TJB costumes were fine enough for a theme park show, but IMO, they'd really have to rethink their costume ideas (I did like the elephants) for a Broadway show; I just didn't like the human faces peeking out of the animal costumes. And, of course, use a kid for Mowgli. The Hunchback show, though, was exquisite. I wish I could've seen it live. Everything was so perfect, from the costumes to the puppetry.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Hunchback in it's German form is likely considered not appropriate for 2 year olds and therefore not suitable to a NA audience who would drag their kids to a large scale theatrical production because it's made by Disney.

[SpringHeelJack]

I could think of something better than Dumbo, what about The Jungle Book or Robin Hood?

Frankly, they should steer away from any shows with large animal casts... it really was only done well in "The Lion King". When it's done bad you end up with a five-foot tall crab.

Maybe a jukebox musical of "Lilo & Stitch" using just Elvis Presley songs... uh, I should stop talking now lest I post a year from now that Disney has put that into development.

[ajmrowland]

they could try a human cast for Robin Hood. After all, there's not much about the "animals" that's different from how humans would act.

[SpringHeelJack]

Yes, they could, but that's changing it more then I would think the people at Disney theatrical would allow. Also, you're making a show for tourists who essentially want to see a movie played out on stage.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm so far and beyond confused over this. I just...don't know how they thought of Dumbo. Not that it's a bad movie...but...what? And Stevie Wonder is obviously going to be used to try and erase Dumbo's racist history. Sort of like how real Native Americans were actors in Pocahontas and Oprah was a voice in TP&TF.

I do wonder if this is preparation for a Snow White musical. "Well, we've done Dumbo, and that's old. Snow White isn't that much older."

And doesn't one of the head people of Pixar worship Dumbo? I question whether that has something to do with it.

[Prince Edward]

What are Disney thinking? They should make the Alan Menken musicals into Broadway-musicals before doing something like this. Alan Menken won't be around forever, and since the original composers for movies like Dumbo are long gone they have no need to rush the production of this movies. They have to find some new composer to do the job anyway, while Alan Menken is still alive and can compose more songs for his works.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin and Pocahontas... These are my top three among Disney-movies I hope can be made into Broadway-musicals. Enchanted could be a stage musical as well!

Other possible musicals: Mulan. And also older movies, like Snow White, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty. The 90s movies are more Broadway-ish in style than the movies Walt made though.

[disneyboy20022]

What are Disney thinking?.....

I know what they are thinking about:

[/quote]

[ajmrowland]

they're thinking ( )

[disneyboy20022]

they're thinking ( )

no they are thinkig this:

[estefan]

To be honest, I'm surprised Walt Disney never turned his films into Broadway shows. He obviously was a fan of theatre (having offered Julie Andrews the part of Mary Poppins when he went to see Camelot), so I wondered whether it was a thought that crossed his mind. He had already conquered film, television and amusement parks. Surely, the stage would have been the next step.

[Disney Duster]

That was brilliant Disneyboy!

And I think Walt could have liked doing theater, but I am not entirely sure on his films becoming shows. Just because he might want the films to only stay the films that were made once, you know?

But yea, they should have Hunchback instead. I heard they were working on making it more family friendly for American audiences! But instead of that, I think they should put a PG or PG-13 or "mature themes" kind of rating on advertisements. Or simply make sure parents get that the show is dark and mature by it's very looks in advertisements, the posters, the logo, everything.

By the way I don't think the crows are racist, just stereotypes. I saw a gay stereotype of a bird in an old Disney cartoon and I didn't think it was heterosexist (I'm gay). I thought it was just funny. I do agree that Stevie Wonder was probably approached to make it seem less racist, though!

[ajmrowland]

Duster, exactly what old cartoon did you see the "gay" bird in?

[estefan]

I agree that I don't see the need to lighten up Hunchback of Notre Dame. I understand changing the ending to have Esmeralda live, since that is what happened in the Disney film version, but the original movie is dark enough. And though it's been almost ten years since I've seen it, The Lion King stage show was just as dark as the film version and that was a smash hit.

Plus, Oliver and Little Shop of Horrors are two popular musicals with the younger set and both enter pretty dark territory.

So, in regards to Hunchback, maybe tweak a couple of things, but keeping most of it as shouldn't traumitise younger viewers. I know Oliver didn't when I went to see it.

But, then again, I'm from the generation who watched things like Beetlejuice, Little Shop, Gremlins and Ghostbusters at a young age.

[Margos]

Duster, exactly what old cartoon did you see the "gay" bird in?

I'm pretty sure he's referring to Cupid in the Silly Symphony "Who Killed Cock Robin?"

[toonaspie]

Call me crazy...but I have an idea for a Disney stage musical that would beat all...

The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Beat me with your clubs if you must but I think it's a brilliant idea, and Tim Burton can be a consultant.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think that would be good for a show, too. The only problem would be getting someone who has no eyes or bodily organs to play Jack. But I'm sure they could think of something.

TNBC really has gone beyond "cult" classic at this point. I think they would be iffy about making it because it has a holiday theme to it though.