What happened to the Little Mermaid Tour?

[Trainwreck]

Hey all. Anyone have any word on what happened to the Little Mermaid tour? With so many theaters and BAA announcing their touring seasons, I'm shocked that I haven't seen it on any one of their upcoming seasons.

I ask because my girlfriend desperately wants to see this show.

I know the show is a Trainwreck (see what I did there?), so I ask that we don't turn this into another "Why I hate this show" thread. Although I'm sure I'll get at least a few "I don't know what happened, but I hope to God it got canceled" posts.

[TMedeiros17]

That depresses me. It would have sold well on tour. Bleh.

[Chicago Star]

Last I heard, the tour is being postponed and should be casting in the Fall.

[romgitsean]

I know it's been "postponed" but postponed tours are usually not a good sign. The Woman in White tour was "postponed", but I've yet to see any progress on that 9.9

I hope it will tour- but since it probably barely broke even on Broadway, chances are slim. I think a tour could make a lot of money, but...we'll see. Keep those fingers crossed!

[inick122492]

If Im not mistaken, didn't it do ok on Broadway. It was no Wicked gross-wise but it brought in cash... right?

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Oh no the tour IS happening. It's just taking longer because they are re-inventing the show.

But believe me, it's happening.
New director and choreographer too! (which what I'm most looking forward to)

[CATSNYrevival]

Wasn't it always going to be a few years off? When they first announced a tour it seemed pretty clear that it wasn't going to happen immediately. They wanted to get Mary Poppins out first.

[Fanb]

I hope this happens. With a new director and set I think the show could work. If it does not happen in the US I think there would be a good chance of Disney doing the show in Europe where their shows often do better than in the US. (as in Hunchback...)

[adamgreer]

If Im not mistaken, didn't it do ok on Broadway. It was no Wicked gross-wise but it brought in cash... right?

No, the show closed at a loss and was losing money....that's why it closed.

[uncageg]

"I know the show is a Trainwreck"

It wasn't the best but, in my opinion, it wasn't a trainwreck. I saw it in Denver prior to Broadway and I enjoyed it. It just isn't up to par with some of Disney's other shows.

[beautywickedlover]

I was very surprised to see that this show will be playing at the Dallas Summer Musicals when I saw the 2013/2014 season especially when there was no announcement from Disney Theatrical of a national tour.

http://dallassummermusicals.org/shows_littlemermaid.shtm

It will also be playing at Theatre Under the Stars in Houston for those who did not already know.

http://www.tuts.com/ShowsTickets/Seasons/NewSeason/TheLittleMermaid/tabid/635/Default.aspx

I called the box office and asked if this engagements really meant that a tour was happening. They said that a group of equity actors have come together to put these show on in certain cities without it being an official national tour. I guess this is kind of like the mini-tour that 'Tarzan' was going to do but was ultimately cancelled.

http://broadwayworld.com/article/THEATER-OF-THE-STARS-Officially-Announces-Indefinite-Postponement-of-TARZAN-2008202

I really don't want to go see this mess of a musical, but my best friend is obsessed with the movie and she'll beg me to go buy tickets for it.

[bwayphreak234]

Oh yay it looks like the Nice Work tour is actually gonna happen!

[artscallion]

Because they took the biggest, larger than life, fill-the-screen, fabulous villain in Disney history and turned her into a small woman with bed head.

Sorry, I know you said...

[DEClarke]

beautywickedlover, THE LITTLE MERMAID that's popping up several places is a collaboration between several theaters. The show was (slightly) reworked and played at Paper Mill Playhouse earlier this summer. The physical production (set, costumes, etc) will "tour" with the show. The theaters are responsible for casting as they see fit. I also believe that direction is up to their discretion as well.

[bdn223]

I know it is weird to comment on a bumped posted from 3 years ago, but The Little Mermaid did not close because it was not making its weekly nut every week. The Little Mermaid closed because Neaderlander evicted The Little Mermaid to make way for The Addams Family, who they in turn evicted for Ghost, which was the first show since 1999 to close at the Lunt Fontaine because it was its was solely in the red.
The Lunt is one of if not the most desired theaters for its location (Being the sole theater on its side of the street whose marquee can be easily be seen in time square0 and layout with one of the largest orchestra seating sections, and yet is still a mid-sized theater.
The Little Mermaid did not make their nut during 3 non consecutive weeks, which gave the Neaderlander's the right to evict at anytime after that despite the fact that The Little Mermaid was almost always safely in the black. There were even rumors that Disney was going to close Poppins and move Mermaid since it was making more money for them, but Mackintosh who co-produced Poppins would't let it happen. Disney did not have/want to spend the money moving the production because they were not sure they would make it back it they had a landlord. If The Little Mermaid we allowed to run its course without the threat of eviction it probably would have recouped come that December and ran another year or two.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

I think this could do well, but I'm not sure what Disney will put up first: MERMAID or NEWSIES. I hope we get a MERMAID tour soon, with the right designers.

[Joviedamian]

This "mini" tour if you will has happened...look at the places it's currently or recently played regional houses:

Most of them--if not all--have been directed by Glenn Casale. Wonderful director.


Ivins, Utah (2011)

Due to the success of the regional premiere of Tarzan at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah, Disney Theatrical gave the rights for the U.S regional premiere of The Little Mermaid to the Tuacahn Center for the Arts [3]. The production is scheduled for Tuacahn's 2011 season.[10]

St. Louis (2011)

A regional production took place at the Muny Theatre, St. Louis, Missouri, during its 2011 season, running from July 6 to July 14, 2011.[11]

Wichita (2011)

A regional production took place at Music Theatre of Wichita in Wichita, KS from Wednesday August 3–7, 2011.

Sacramento (2012)

First theatre-in-the-round production at Sacramento Music Circus, July 2012.

New Jersey (2013)

Another regional production is taking place at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey that started on May 29 and will end on June 30, 2013.[12][13]

Kansas City (2013)

The Paper Mill Playhouse production will tour to Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, July 23 - 28 2013.


Here's a few articles on Glenn's work on the show:
http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/could-director-glenn-casale-s-the-little-mermaid-be-swimming-back-to-broadway

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166028-The-Little-Mermaid-Will-Swim-into-Holland-and-Russia

[TheatreKid3]

bdn is absolutely correct. MERMAID was the best-selling new musical of its season, making more money than any new show that year (even though it did not win a single award). The musical was making Disney lots of money.

In addition to not making its weekly nut a few consecutive times (during rough business times anyway, might I add), however, the production also faced problems due to the lawsuit from Adrian Bailey's very unfortunate injury that was due to improper pre-show setup procedures.


All of that, coupled with the lowest point in the U.S.'s economic crisis and MERMAID was doomed. Had all of that not happened it may still be running - though I say that knowing even Disney was ultimately disappointed in the critical response the show received in NY.

[beautywickedlover]

But Thomas Sumacher did say this at the time of the closing announcement.

"We are tremendously proud of the show and are confident we'll have an excellent summer but it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130725-Davy-Jones-Locker-Broadways-Little-Mermaid-to-End-Aug-30-National-Tour-Planned

[TheatreKid3]

That's the face-saving, PC way of stating everything we have said above - mainly dealing with the debt the production was in and the horrible economy the country was suffering. The show was still making plenty of money and would have eventually recouped if left open at least another year (at its current gross rate at the time).

[beautywickedlover]

^ But I really was not sad to see go because it really was a mess and it replaced a wonderful classic show, 'Beauty and the Beast'.

[beautywickedlover]

Apparently, they are trying to do a full tour beginning Fall 2015.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Interview-Renowned-Theatre-Director-GLENN-CASALE-Continues-to-Keep-an-Astoundingly-Busy-Schedule-20140819#.U_ocDfldV8E

For those who have not seen the revamped version, here are some details on it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/how-glenn-casale-helped-t_b_5612802.html

[darreyl102]

I was cool with most of the changes but found I Want The Good Times Back to be a better song then Daddy's Little Angel. Their Reprises basically said the same thing/Had the same meaning so the change seemed unnecessary.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

7 years too late...

[JohnyBroadway]

I necessarily wouldn't say that. Mermaid is one of Disney's most universal titles, and audiences around the US will flock to see it despite how long it's been closed on Broadway. There will probably be several folks who'll think it's brand new. The broadway production was not a product that Disney Theatrical was proud of. It has taken them several years, but I am glad we will get something.