[LittleActressMeg]

I had Alan Menken as a guest artist at my school a couple weeks ago, and he told us that "Little Mermaid" is coming to Broadway the Fall of 2007 after being in workshop for 6 years.

Thoughts?

[cabaretfreak]

No. I refuse to have another disney musical on the broadway stage except for Alice In Wonderland.

[SingerDoll]

Why would it take 6 years? Have they casted it and who are they casting (or already did cast)? It should be interesting... maybe they will do it like Lion King.. but I still couldnt understand with all of those "underwater" scenes.. are they going to do puppets like BATB?

[cabaretfreak]

Do you have a source I can check?

[The Very Angry Woman]

This has been in the works for a LONG time.

Scroll down:
http://jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=649

It doesn't mention that Jeff McCarthy was also involved. (As Triton.)

[SingerDoll]

ah, yes. I did search it, and its all over the place saying that they want to open in 2007 but will more likely open in 2008.
About casting, they did say that they were going to keep one original person from the movie, Ursula, to play the puppet? (from what I read it said "puppet", I hope they arent going that way..)

[Nicely-Nicely]

Wait! Singer Doll... I don't get what you just said. Ursala is being played by a puppet? Anyway, my thoughts on the subject is that they already have a Little Mermaid Jr. from MTI shows, I don't think they need a real thing now!
Here's the link... www.mtishows.com
Look in the search for Little Mermaid Jr. or just go right from Disney MTI shows, which pops up on the first page you see!

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Wow, how cool. (That's the perfect role for me...when you have a tail, there can't be much dancing, huh?) hee hee. That was my favorite movie as a kid.

[B3TA07]

Also take into effect Disney does not want to compete with itself for Tony awards. I'm excited for this one.

[Nicely-Nicely]

It might just be a rumor though... you know?

[IntoTheWoodlem]

I'm going to hold out for the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame... what a show that would be. -Dreams-

[The Very Angry Woman]

[LoneWanderer]

I knew this had been in development a while ago as I have the demo recording (with Kerry Butler!), but I didn't realize it was still in work, I assumed they ditched the idea. I think it could work well, deffinatly a lot of spectacle...basically instead of flying around in tarzan itd be "swimming" (likely...also flying) in the little mermaid.

~The Lone Wanderer

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Actually, I saw a parade at Disneyland a while ago that used an Ursula "puppet." The body was inflated, so the tentacles kind of billowed around, and the head was animatronic or something. It was a very cool effect; I think it'll work great onstage, especially during the finale.

[Nicely-Nicely]

In a paper I read... it said that Little Mermaid definately is in the works but they are having problems staging the musical... so I hope they can figure this problem out.

[The Very Angry Woman]

[ConverseSneaker]

A musical group nearby is doing this summer. When I heard, I said, "No way!I've never heard of the Little Mermaid as a musical!"

Apparently, no else heard of it as musical until recently either.

[LumBabsFan]

[what_the_heck013]

[LumBabsFan]

Yeah, but something like Broadway, that was one of Disney's realizations when they were planning it. People would not pay full price to see puppets. I'm a fan, and I would not pay anything just to see that. I can see that in Disney World for free.

But yeah, adding to what I said: in NY, they do not use them. That's the LK, and there, using puppets in the way they do was a nice move. 'tis all =)

[LoneWanderer]

Yeah, puppets are why The Lion King and Avenue Q tanked.

~The Lone Wanderer

[The Very Angry Woman]

[Fantine]

We had a 'The little mermaid' production in the Netherlands. That wasn't associated with Disney though. It looked stupid. Kim Lian van der Meij played Ariel (if that name rings a bell... she's a stupid ***)

[B3TA07]

There's a three-letter curse word now?



Hmm.

[le_moofin]

Awww... I hope they can get it worked out. I have a friend that would be perfect for Ariel (in the future, of course, we're still rather young right now). She's got the red hair, soprano range, and personality to boot XD I'll hafta tell her about this!

[cabaretfreak]

[a Tech]

[LoneWanderer]

Thinly veiled sarcasm at that.

[cabaretfreak]

I can pick out sarcasm when I hear it not read it, sorry!

[Bill_Calhoun]

I think TLM would work really well as a stage show. I have been in a ballet version of it, and we kind of used the Disney characters, like we had a Flounder, and a Sebastian. But we obviously didn't use Disney music; a, illegal, and b, impossible to do balletic dancing to!

But I hope they don't go for puppets. I mean, it would look good either way... but I want to see a real person playing Ursula, especially if it is Pat Carroll (Ursula in the film); she looks the part, worryingly!

[broadwaybaby124]

ooh this is exciting!
i love the little mermaid!
one more future show to add to my list!

[BroadwayBud]

I really hope they come through with this idea. The movie has great material for an awesome broadway show!

[Voc@lVixen]

[SingerDoll]

Actually I didnt even look! I was already familiar with the MITI Jr show of LM.. you can google it and see pics from it. Its similar but I dont think it will turn out to be anything like it..

LOL and I love the quote YOOU are the star.. Babe we are ALL stars here Much Love!

[MademoiselleMusicals]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[nickhutson]

Disney are doing a stage show of The Little Mermaid. It started development in London and then moved to New York. I have heard some of the new songs - with lyrics by Glenn Slater (of Home On The Range Fame)

I am sure Disney will be able to stage it fine - they have the money. They just need a good director to do it. The great thing about theatre is that the audience know they're in a theatre, so they expect it to be stylised. So - they will probably make wonderful use of lighting, illusions and flying. Maybe they will incorporate media into it - and have great use of projections and TV screens.

[act_geek13]

as nickhutson said...they are definitly doing TLM. In fact, one of my good firends (who's playing Miss Hannigan right now in our Annie) auditioned for it recently...

[jazzygirlsings]

Yes, there was an EPA and a Chorus call that was already conducted for TLM...And even before the auditions happened, rumor is that Keri Butler is playing Ariel...

[purplepolkadot]

[choochoo]

gahhhhhh i'm so glad that this is the next disney musical coming out!!! i looove the little mermaid!


I also heard that you had to tap dance at the chorus auditions or at least the women had to tap dance, anyone know what that is about?

...and I think Kerry Butler would be fitting for the role =) at least it's not one of the horrid little disney plastic-y girls from disney channel, like when christie carlson ramano played belle ya know? haha. yeaa.... I would go see kerry as ariel. ^^

[Salome]

I love Kerry Butler..but please..Disney needs to stop the corperate ruin of Broadway. its tragic.

[nickhutson]

Disney will continue to stage musicals - because they belong on Broadway. They're the most American musicals out at the moment - (even though most of them have British composers/lyricists).

This is a business - Disney are the best in the world at it - they will continue to do it because people are instantly farmiliar with the name and the shows are family friendly and garaunteed to be good

Film Studios will continue to stage musicals - because they have the financial ability to do so.

Hairspray and The Producers - Miramax
Wicked - Universal Studios
Tarzan, Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid - Disney Studios.

Broadway and The West End will always have commercialism over art.

The amount of profit Sondheim shows have made = $0.

The amount of profit Disney/Universal/Etc have made = $ many million

[Salome]

You totally miss the point.


disney on broadway is like wal mart sucking up small town hardware and groccery stores.

[TheWitch]

I disagree to a point. I cannot wait to see this done onstage and I wish that I could be in it. The original is what made me want to sing. But what does bug me is that disney is now going to have a show come out each season. Last was Tarzan, Now is Mary Poppins, Next is The Little Mermaid, and who now what comes after that. I think it's al a bit much.

[lostquiche]

[shadowdancer]

[MademoiselleMusicals]

No way. The Little Mermaid freaks me out loads... The only decent characters are the fish and Sebastian. And I recall there's a talking seagull as well????

[TheWitch]

There was an artical on playbill.com a couple months ago saying that it's opening it's out of town preview in Denver this coming summer. As for Ursula: God I hope it isn't a puppet. I mean come on! Yes there are puppets in The Lion King but those are very stylized and you can clearly see the performer. And the same goes with Ave Q. A full scale puppet with a pre recorded voice of Pat Carol is just a dumb cop out. This is Broadway, people, not a cheap DisneyLand kiddy show. Of course he bottom half would have to be handled (most likely) by puppeteers, I really wishe they would keep her top half a real performer. As you cannot get real emotion from an animatronic face. As for who should play her: I would love for Sara Ramirez to do it but she's on Grey's Anatomy now. I also think, like I said on another thread, that Billy Porter would KILL as Ursula.

[nickhutson]

Apparently The Little mermaid could replace The Lion King here in London when it closes in 2008 if it's a hit on Broadway.

I don't think Ursula will be a puppet...we need to look for the costumes and production style for Beauty and the Beast to see how lavish this show will be.

[Michelle]

[deltatee]

It is going to be in the Ellie theatre. It has just been renovated and it is an outstanding theatre. I just hope that disney doesnt make this just a straight adaptation of the movie, they need to do something to make this show unique like they did with The Lion King

[nickhutson]

I've seen some work by the set designer they've employed - and it's very stylised. Should be interesting.


I also have the demo tracks - and Ariel sings (when she can't speak) so - that sounds like it will add something different to what the movie offers.

[TheWitch]

Well the rest of the cast has been confirmed. And the only "wtf?!" I have is Sherie Rene Scott playing Ursula. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? They must have re-written the charecter completely. I............just don't understand. Any way, the rest of the cast looks pretty good. Here's the link:


http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=545494

[kitty17794]

Judging by some of the songs on the demo, yes, Ursula sounds like she's been rewritten. It's the same as Rafiki and Terk switching genders though, I guess. Disney just takes liberties.

Sherie is gunna be interesting in that role though. And I'm kinda sad that the guy playing Eric on the demo isn't staying...cause he really sounded like Eric. But maybe this guy does too. I've never actually hear him I don't think.

[christinadaae]

Sierra Boggess?
I met her!

At The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois.

[MlleDaae]

Interesting... I haven't seen any posts in regards to Sierra Boggess in the role instead of Kerry Butler. After six years in workshop, to get rid of a very notable name in the lead role...? Rumor has it Kerry flaked during the whole thing.

In her defence, when you're doing a workshop for that long it's very understandable to commit to other things. Especially if those other things are going to be off and running soon. I can look back three years from now to the cast hearing this was going to be a done deal soon.

Lesson learned: Workshops are honestly a hit or miss, even if it's Disney.

[The Very Angry Woman]

[TheWitch]

Well seeing as how Vanessa uses Ariel's voice then all they would need is a seperate actress to play her. So,not much sense.

[FlamingGiraffes]

Well, since we're on the topic of Ursula, I came across this picture that is suppose to be of Ursula at one point in the show:

http://www.mariinsky.ru/lib/opera/repertoire/snegurochka_big.jpg

I'm not sure how much truth that this picture shows, but it is something. Kind of reminds me of Wicked...

[christinadaae]

[Sweeney Hyde]

I don't get the picture...were are the tenticles? Is that when she is growing huge?

[Dvarg]

[Luc]

[PappyCat]

Maybe that isn't the completed costume, they are just trying it out.

[Sweeney Hyde]

I always thought that if The Little Mermaid was to be made a stage show that Ursula's coustume would have to be extremely mechanical...like the Lion King constumes x 1,000,000. I thought it would be very intricate and flowing and detailed...that picture is just disappointing.

[The Very Angry Woman]

Hey, folks! Maybe the stage version will be a completely different visual interpretation of the story! Perhaps that's happened before with other adaptations!

WHAT A CONCEPT.

[FlamingGiraffes]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought that it looked horrible. I'm assuming that this is where she grows up, but who knows? Hopefully this is from when they were developing costumes. I fear the worst though. I'm still trying to figure out why she's covered in those light things.

[PappyCat]

I'm guessing they are just developing costumes and playing around with this sort of idea. I could see this very basic idea working.

[Dvarg]

[what_the_heck013]

[Dvarg]

[Luc]

[TheWitch]

That picture isn't from The Little Mermaid. It was posted on a blog by some one who's involved in the production to show what it may end up looking like. They also said that the device that they will use to fly Ariel, Flounder, and Sabastian when she gets her legs and the device that flies Ursula up when she becomes the giant will be similar to the one used in Wicked for Defying Gravity.

[Sweeney Hyde]

That is re-assuring.

[Dvarg]

[PappyCat]

OCTOPUS^




^Squid

They do look very similar, though.

[Dvarg]

Hm.

[FlamingGiraffes]

Thank you TheWitch. I knew that it had something to do with production, but I wasn't sure if that was the final product or what. My henchmen are giving me bad information once again...

[Jordan]

I saw the Little Mermaid on Ice when I was in NYC 14 years ago at Radio City. At that point, Ursula was atop a huge black column and her tentacles were (slightly) animatronic flowing down from the column which she was half inside. I thought it was a good effect. I wouldn't change it.

[TheWitch]

I also heard something about how the whole "roler blade" thing would only happen in a few scenes. And also that there are different tail designs depending on what that scene calls for. I also read some where that the "look" of the show would resemble art nouveau. Here's a link to the director's website so you can see her previous works.

http://www.francescazambello.com/

[kitty17794]

I imagine that idea of the huge tent-like thing will be for when Ursula has the Triton and is like...bigger than a building. Haha. I doubt she'd be that huge in the actual show. Too intimidating for Ariel to 'trust' in Poor Unforunate Souls.

[feedetincelle]

I actually haven't seen any disney related musicals yet but I love singing to Part of this world and would love to see how this will turn out.

Will definitely have to see Lion King soon!

[IwantheGoldenTicket]

they have the cast list posted on broadway.com
sherry renee scott is playing ursual.........

also, it won't be the disney version directly ,but will coinside (sp) with the Hans Christian Anderson version

[kitty17794]

[Luc]

^What that person is saying is that it is based mostly on the Disney movie of the same name, but they are also taking some elements from the original story.

...I think.

[bean_C4U]

The only thing I can think that means is that the sisters will feature more, as in the Hans Christian Anderson version they are larger roles (I think). Disney made them a lot smaller in the movie.

[kitty17794]

[misschung]

[kitty17794]

Aida ended up having a happy ending...they met again in a life where they would be able to be together. I consider that quite happy.

[misschung]

[TeejackActs]

Yea heres the link to it on Broadway.com

http://www.broadway.com/gen/show.aspx?SI=544261

[pish123c]

A distant relationship, but apparently a girl I know, another one of her voice teachers students is going to be Ariels understudy!

[pish123c]

You know what I realized a few weeks ago?
The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are virtually the same.


1.) Girl who dosen't fit into her society

2.) A little kid playing a role (Flounder/Chip)

3.) One really big award winning number (Be Our Guest/Under the Sea)

4.) A happy ending.


*gag*

[PappyCat]

^ That's like, EVERY disney movie.

[TeejackActs]

[The Very Angry Woman]

[Luc]

Me!

Aladdin...

1. Jasmine wants to be free
2. Kids typically playing in the chours
3. Friend Like Me, Prince Ali
4. Happy Ending

[frenchhorngirl]

how are they going to show fish tails and everything? will it be like the lion king?

[kitty17794]

[Michelle]

Just got our tickets to see it in Denver in August - almost too late - only seats available were in the nosebleed section but I don't care - we'll be among the first in the nation to see it. ~grins~ I'll let you know how they did the tails and such.
Can't wait.