Disney is developing Pinocchio for Broadway

[Baine]

Disney's cycle on Broadway continues as they begin developing the story of Pinocchio for the stage.

I found this out tonight while on AOL Instant Messenger with a friend from college. Our sophomore year, he was accepted into that Disney College Program (or whatever it's called). He's moved through the ranks and works there now.

He doesn't know much about the musical since it is in its early stages and doesn't deal with his area of Disney, but I figured that I would post here that it is being developed. Of course, things could fall through, yaddiyadda, but at the moment, it is a possibility for the future.

This is what we talked about:
[Note: I didn't edit for spelling or grammar or anything else because I wanted the transcript to be accurate.]

Me: Is Disney still planning to bring Little Mermaid to Broadway next year? Do you know?
Him: i believe so, they are also working on Pinnochio
Me: Whoa, I didn't hear that one.
Me: For Broadway or London?
Him: broadway, it is in like beginning phases
Him: i believe
Me: Wow.
Me: What do you know about it? Anything?
Him: nope
Him: nada
Me: Let me know when you find out!
Him: i know things that are happeneing here at WDW
Him: but not around the compny


....Then we went on to talk about the upcoming Princess movies and how we're excited that they will have music, etc.


Sorry it isn't much! I wanted to share what I could!

So what is everyone's opinion on this? Disney is making ANOTHER muscial. I'm not sure what I think. I haven't seen--and won't see Tarzan. It sounds like an abomination. Beauty and the Beast was alright. It was the first musical that I paid to see [I group those differently from school musicals...they're of a different caliber]. I mean, I loved the costumes, etc., and two of my favorite B&B songs are from the musical and not the movie. At the same time, it's JUST like the movie, which makes it a bit mundane.

I LOVED The Lion King, though. The choreography is just brilliant and "The Circle of Life" is still one of my favorite numbers because it's just so...gorgeous. I've seen that show a couple of times. I'm really excited to see The Little Mermaid because 1) it's a favorite Disney movie, and 2) it's 'allegedly' going to be as innovative as TLK was. Oh, and I also loved Aida, but that wasn't a Disney 'household name.'

I didn't see Chitty or, obviously, Hunchback. I'm not sure whether or not I'll see Mary Poppins...especially if it closes while I'm out of country since I'm here to stay for awhile.

As much as I loved TLK and want to see TLM, I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that Disney continues to churn out musicals. On the one hand, it gives people work and brings in money for Broadway. On the other, most of the shows are just....there. There isn't anything special about them. If Disney is going to continue making shows on Broadway, please give us quality over quantity!


What does everyone else think?

[Craig]

There are actually many opinions on disney, movies into musical, and the like. Try searching via the search box function on the top right of the page ("disney" or "disney musical") and I am sure it will bring up plenty of threads and opinions

My opinion is that I don't care who the producers are or where the source material comes from (movies, books, catalog of songs by an artist) as long as it's done well.

[Baine]

Mmm, I've seen many of the opinion threads. I was trying to start discussion that stemmed from the latest news, especially concerning the fact that it's Pinocchio, which really hasn't been discussed...unless it was discussed a long time ago. I didn't go too far back in the search area when checking to see if this has been discussed before.

I'm sorry that I wasn't more clear with what I meant!

[Craig]

btw - Chitty was not Disney :)

[RentBoy86]

I wish they'd bring Hunchback over. I think that's a great movie. It has very dark themes and is just a beautiful show. I was listening to the soundtrack to the movie and I love it. It would really work on stage and could be beautiful. Pinocchio isn't going to be a big sell. It's not a big grand musical. Plus with all those kids it's going to be hell trying to get all these different rotating casts.

[Craig]

I do wonder if your friend is confused with the fact that Geppetto(the tv movie) has been adapted to the stage and already played one city - which may or may not be developed further.

[thevolleyballer]

I personally love Disney shows, with the exception of Tarzan. I thought BATB was great, and Mary Poppins as well. Aida and The Lion King are also heavy-hitters. What's wrong with Disney, in my opinion? Nothin'. Keep 'em coming!

[RentBoy86]

Nothing really, I just dont like them monopolizing Broadway, but whatever. The backlash will soon come. Where did "Geppetto" play?

[Craig]

4 shows does not a monopoly make

Clear Channel currently has 5 shows on Broadway. Granted, their shows aren't properties that the created and then brought to broadway themselves, but more power to Disney for being able to do that with their own material.

[Michael Bennett]

This has been in development for a long time. Julie Taymor was working on it after THE LION KING opened, but I have no idea if she is still involved.

[RentBoy86]

of course not, but when they're some of the biggest shows on Broadway, it's hard not to wonder what it will be like in a few years.

maybe theyll build more theatres- that would be a plus.

[CATSNYrevival]

I love how people still make the mistake thinking that "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" was produced by Disney. It was a wonderful show, in my opinion, but I also think that if Disney had produced it that it would probably still be running. I mean Tarzan received some pretty nasty reviews as well and is almost half way to meeting Chitty's number of performances.

[COOOOLkid]

Well, Chitty is too... oriented for kids, I guess...

[Baine]

Oops, sorry! I just assumed that Chitty was Disney. I also assumed that the Hunchback musical in...was it Germany?...was Disney. I didn't really pay too much attention. Ahhh, you know what they say about the word assume!

I definitely feel like a Donkey right now.

Sorry, I would have replied sooner, but I was out all afternoon. Y'all are probably still asleep right now, and then I'll be sleeping when you reply. Sorry in advance!

Craig--He could have meant Geppetto. All he said was--well, I copy/pasted the convo. It doesn't do any good to rehash the same thing. What he told me is all that I know about it. If Gepetto has Disney attached, then this probably is what they're developing. If not, then it probably isn't because he works with the Disney Studios and not another company. His department doesn't really deal with musicals, so the fact that he knows that much is pretty good! Sorry that I don't have any more information for you at this time!

[vmlinnie]

How would they do the whale?!?!

[Justin D]

the Hunchback musical in German was Disney, just not Chitty.

Only 2 Disney cartoons i care to see live now would be Hunchback (once they stick to the German storyline) and if they would somehow do Pocahontas.

[folkyboy]

i agree with vmlinnie that Monstro (the whale) would be very cool if done well on stage. i'd be curious to see if this could come across as something un-Paul Rubins like on stage

[whatever2]

saw "Hunchback" in Berlin a few years ago ... it definitely was disney. also, while the dialogue was in german, i will tell you that the books in the pit all were in english. someone was planning for the future ...

[orangeskittles]

Well, Chitty is too... oriented for kids, I guess...
Um, did you even see it? The quality of the actors in Chitty alone makes this claim inaccurate. How many actors were nominated for Tonys from Tarzan? Yeah, there were dogs and confetti and a flying car for the kids, but adults get something more than spectacle. Last I checked, spectacle was all Disney shows have.

[Fosse76]

There was NOTHING in Chitty that was geared toward anyone with an education past 2nd grade. Disney doesn't seem to know how to produce material for anyone who is even remotely capable of thinking, and god help us should they ever produce Pocahontas. It is one of the most offensively historically inaccurate portrayals I've ever seen, and there are a lot of historically inaccurate movies out there, this one was just horrendous.

[orangeskittles]

"Can't we be Vulgar and still speak English?"
"No, that would make us American."

"I'm starting to crave pickles and ice cream. Mean anything?"

The average second grader doesn't understand lines like that. I'm not saying it's a brilliant work of theatre, but it's not as immature as you're claiming.

[best12bars]

Actually, "Pinocchio" makes a lot of sense.

It's a very theatrical story to begin with. And I've always loved the "darkness" of it.

The music is great (I can just see "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, an actor's life for me!" spiraling into a huge, clever production number)

And Pleasure Island could be terrific "eye candy" on a stage.

As for whether Tamor is involved or not (and I would LOVE it if she was!), there will be puppets, and in Monstro's case, I think a really clever rear-screen projection would be eye-popping for the effect.

Pinocchio really lends itself easily to a big-scale adaptation for Broadway.

[RentBoy86]

The nose growing thing would be interesting. I wonder if they'd cast a kid or people in their twenties?

[MTVMANN]

I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE Pinocchio!!!!!!