Disney Stage Musicals that have not made it to the West End

[anthony40]

So far

The Little Mermaid
Tarzan
AIDA
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
King David
The Jungle Book

Have I missed any?

I know both 101 Dalmatians and Bedknobs & Broomsticks were quite recently given an outing at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre and toured most major cities respectively.  

I believe the reworked (a new book) AIDA is being tried out in Holland.

I also understand that a full production of Hercules is currently in rehearsal with an out of town tryout with before setting its eyes on a Broadway run.
 

[fiyerorocher]

I'd absolutely love a lavish West End production of Hunchback. Doubt we'll ever see it, but it could be incredible in the right hands (and with the right budget...)

[Being Alive]

Schwartz said in an interview pre pandemic that Hunchback is dead and will never come to London in a proper production...which is unbelievably baffling as that production was a sensation

[anthony40]

Feb 13, 2023 11:38:28 GMT Being Alive said:

Schwartz said in an interview pre pandemic that Hunchback is dead and will never come to London in a proper production...which is unbelievably baffling as that production was a sensation

This is indeed incredibly disappointing.

This is up there as one of my favourite Disney films- that and The Little Mermaid.

I have the studio cast recording which is breathtaking and a bootleg* copy of the 2015 Papermilll playhouse staged production with the same cast that I was watching last night.

It was so wonderfully imaginative, and the music so soaring and haunting that at one point I found myself weeping at the beauty of what I was witnessing.

*I know we're not supposed to discuss bootleg recordings on this forum. Moderators remove if you feel necessary.

[theatrefan62]

The 101 Dalmatians at regenst Park wasn't related to the disney movie was it?

There is also the Pinocchio production that was done at the National that didn't get further life. And Peter and the star catcher never made it over, although i think that was a play.

I saw Hunchback at the Papermill and although the music is stunning and story strong, the scaled back route didn't really work. The framing device was a mistake and the lead guy wasn't particularly strong. I think a mix of the papermill production and the version that played Germany or The Netherlands to give it a more epic scale would probably be good.

I'm really hoping Hercules is good and gets a further life

[jgblunners]

Feb 13, 2023 12:05:46 GMT anthony40 said:

I have the studio cast recording which is breathtaking

That studio cast recording is sensational. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s one of the best things Menken and Schwartz have written. I’m not surprised at Schwartz’s comment - the show is so big, not least in its requirement for both an ensemble and a choir, that I really doubt any producer would want to risk putting it on. It’s the kind of thing that could perhaps have a life in opera companies, but I fear the music is seen as not classical enough for that.

Of course we were rumoured to get AIDA as the Coliseum summer musical a few years ago, and maybe we still will if this European production comes to our shores. The Bedknobs tour was sublime and I would love to see it come into town for a season. The other shows from your list I’m not so fussed about. 

[robertb213]

I volunteered for An Evening With Tim Rice last week and he said that Aida would be seen in London next year. So figures crossed for that one at least.

[westendcub]

Technically you are missing ‘Hercules’ but it’s only done a short run at the public theatre & is about to start (Feb 16 - March 29 at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey) so maybe one for the future!

The one you are missing is ‘Freaky Friday’ (It’s only professional was in Arlington, Virginia) & they made a TV musical for the Disney channel /Disney+ however I saw this at Arts Ed in early 2020 & would be wonderful if fringe got hold of it!

[frontrowcentre]

Absolutely obsessed with Hunchback of Notre Dame pre broadway/never made it to broadway recording.

I dream that the National produces it almost every night, if only..

[deej4life]

Would love to see The Little Mermaid return to the stage!

[jgblunners]

Feb 13, 2023 13:41:25 GMT westendcub said:

The one you are missing is ‘Freaky Friday’ (It’s only professional was in Arlington, Virginia) & they made a TV musical for the Disney channel /Disney+ however I saw this at Arts Ed in early 2020 & would be wonderful if fringe got hold of it!

I love the Freaky Friday score! I didn’t really warm to the film adaptation but I think it’d be a great show for a regional house like Sheffield Crucible.

[sispace]

Feb 13, 2023 11:38:28 GMT Being Alive said:

Schwartz said in an interview pre pandemic that Hunchback is dead and will never come to London in a proper production...which is unbelievably baffling as that production was a sensation

That's disappointing to read. It could be spectacular, especially if it was given an arena setting. I saw an amateur production in Scarborough last year whilst on holiday and it was incredibly emotional - don't think there was a dry eye in the house at the end. I thought at the time how powerful it could be given a professional production or live action film.