25 years of Disney on Broadway and the Tony’s
In April 18, 1994 Beauty and the Beast open on Broadway. Since then Disney has converted 7 or 8 (if you count Hunchback) of their movies into Broadway musicals. As we draw closer to the 25th anniversary of Disney Theatrical Productions my mind keeps wondering what they could do to mark their entrance into the world of musical theater. I think one of the greater way to do this would be to create a segment for that years Tony Awards.
Tony Awards presentation.
For the opening of the segment a high ranking Disney official should come out and give a speech. While the speech should touch on the achievements of Disney Theatrical Productions it should mainly focus on the benefits of a stage production. It should not be a speech that says look at us but rather broadway is great.
“25 years ago Beauty and the Beast opened in the Palace Theater; since then Disney Theatrical Productions has staged X productions. The stage has allowed us to tell richer and deeper tales then the screen permits.
“For 25 years, you have welcomed us and we would like to like to say, Thank You for letting us be “Part of your World.”
And the music swells…
At this point the main portion of the segments would begin. The concept is that for each Movie/Production it will start with the original movie singing voice coming out and performing a few lines. Then the actress/actor that originated the role would enter and sing the same or complimentary song(s) from that production.
Little Mermaid – Jodi Benson – Part of your World
Beauty & the Beast – Paige 0’Hara & Susan Egan or Terrence Mann singing A Change in Me or Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin – Lea Salonga/Brad Kane & James Monroe Iglehart – Whole New World
Lion King – Ensemble
As lovely as it would also be to add Mary Poppins into the mix that would be up to Julie Andrews if she would want to be included,
Another path they could go is to make a more comedic number. My concept would be to have a pair of songs with a comedic touch that contrast the world of stage and screen. The number would open with a mock theater a lone figure sits in a row of theater chairs walking a screen. The figure stands to sing her thoughts about movies to the audience.
Since I don’t have musical talent to write original music I will instead propose a parody of sorts first based off of Part of your World from Little Mermaid. The longing of this song to be part of something else inspired me to frame it as if a Broadway actress was singing about how she could go to Hollywood and be part of the movies.
Part of your world
| Look at this trove Treasures untold How many wonders can one cavern hold? Lookin’ around here you’d think Sure She’s got everything I’ve got gadgets and gizmos of plenty I wanna be where the people are Up where they walk What would I give And I’m ready to know what the people know Out of the sea |
Watching that screen The stories unfold How many explosions can one movie hold Looking up there you’d think Sure It’s got everything I’ve got acclaim and parts a plenty I want to be where the millions are |
Under the Sea/ Up on the screen
| The seaweed is always greener
In somebody else’s lake You dream about going up there But that is a big mistake Just look at the world around you Right here on the ocean floor Such wonderful things surround you What more is you lookin’ for? Under the sea Under the sea Darling it’s better Down where it’s wetter Take it from me Up on the shore they work all day Out in the sun they slave away While we devotin’ Full time to floatin’ Under the sea Down here all the fish is happy As off through the waves they roll The fish on the land ain’t happy They sad ’cause they in their bowl But fish in the bowl is lucky They in for a worser fate One day when the boss get hungry Guess who’s gon’ be on the plate? |
Things look brighter
Up on the silver screen You dream about going up there But that is a big mistake Just look at the world around you Right here on the broadway stage Such wonderful things surround you What more is you lookin’ for? Up on the stage Up on the stage Darling it’s better Here where Up on the screen they see each flaw If you age you’re thrown away But we’re devoted Up here the players are happy As they go through their roles Those on the screen ain’t happy They get typecast in those roles But those on the screen ain’t lucky They in for a worser fate One day when they show their age Guess who gonna be on the stage? |
** I feel like I will be constantly rewriting these songs in my head for awhile, but this is a solid first draft.