Dear Sue

[Dustysage]

Dear Sue,
Is there any exciting new theatre news on the Disney front? Have you seen the London stage version of Mary Poppins yet?

-The Dusty One

[Sue Kruse]

Dear Sue,
Is there any exciting new theatre news on the Disney front? Have you seen the London stage version of Mary Poppins yet?

I'm not really up on my Disney Theatre news, I'm afraid. I know that there was a workshop of Tarzan last year. David Henry Hwang, who wrote the book for the newest version of Flower Drum Song (and was a Best Book Tony Nominee in 2003 for that show), is writing the book for Tarzan.

I think Disney is also working on a musical version of Little Mermaid and I think I heard something about Pinocchio too (I think Julie Taymor is involved with that one).

There's a new Disney musical (of sorts) currently traveling the US called On The Record. It features something like 50 of the best loved Disney songs. It will run in San Diego from August 30 through September 4 of this year. You can read a little more about it at www.playbill.com/news/article/90214.html

As for Mary Poppins, haven't seen it yet but I'm hoping to get to see it this summer. Have a look at Laura Michelle Kelly, who plays Mary at www.playbill.com/news/article/90122.html

I'll tell ya what I am looking forward to (though it's not really Disney related) ... Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Saw it in San Diego and can't wait to see how it translates to Broadway. I'll be seeing it in March.

John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz (Original Fiyero in Wicked) and Sheri Rene Scott (okay, there's a Disney connection for you, she was in the original production of Aida) were terrific when I saw them. But the person I'm most looking forward to seeing is Sara Gettlefinger who absolutely stopped the show with her Oklahoma number. I need a recording of that one!

[Slaakker]

Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your articles.

Thank you.

[Dustysage]

Thanks a million Sue. I had no idea that they were making a musical out of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Tres cool. Is it the kind of show that you want the cast recording of so you can listen to it in the car, or just funny and fun to watch in the theatre?

By the way, I miss seeing you on Miceage, do you have any columns in the works?

[Sue Kruse]

Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your articles.

Thank you.

Thanks so much Slaakker, that's so nice of you!

[Sue Kruse]

Thanks a million Sue. I had no idea that they were making a musical out of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Tres cool. Is it the kind of show that you want the cast recording of so you can listen to it in the car, or just funny and fun to watch in the theatre?

By the way, I miss seeing you on Miceage, do you have any columns in the works?

I wanted the cast recording the minute I walked out of the theatre. It's done by the same guy who did the music for The Full Monty so it's very catchy and the lyrics are not only funny, but terribly clever ... like rhyming Oklahoma with melanoma (which is apparently the leading cause of death in Oklahoma according to the song). There are more than a couple of songs that I will be playing incessantly as soon as there actually is a cast album.

You're a doll to mention that you miss seeing me on Miceage. There hasn't been a whole lot going on for me to write about lately, however I've got a few things I'm working on so probably in the not too distant future I'll be there with something for you all to read again.

[lashbear]

HI Sue ! Again - I'm in awe being able to talk to these people whom I've read for years !!

Are they planning to bring Mary Poppins dowunder in the future ?? I'd love to see it - but the Lion King is still playing here !

(PS: My Sister in law does the costumes for Loin King here....)

Cheers,
Rob.

[Cuzco-topia]

Any news on if they'll put Aladdin on Broadway?...and not the DCA version I mean. They seem to have a good streak with the Disney Broadway musicals. Beauty and the Beast was wonderful..and Lion King was pretty decent as well. But I hope they don't go overboard and stray too far from the original music scores.

[Sue Kruse]

HI Sue ! Again - I'm in awe being able to talk to these people whom I've read for years !!

Lashbear, I've been reading what you've had to say too. Although I'm mostly a lurker, I have always enjoyed your posts on the various boards I lurk around in.

Are they planning to bring Mary Poppins dowunder in the future ?? I'd love to see it - but the Lion King is still playing here !

I haven't heard anything concrete about plans for Mary Poppins but I'm sure that once they bring it to the States and it's a success, there will surely be touring companies just as there have been for Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aida.

(PS: My Sister in law does the costumes for Loin King here....)

That has to be the coolest job ever!

[Sue Kruse]

Any news on if they'll put Aladdin on Broadway?...and not the DCA version I mean. They seem to have a good streak with the Disney Broadway musicals. Beauty and the Beast was wonderful..and Lion King was pretty decent as well. But I hope they don't go overboard and stray too far from the original music scores.

You know initially, when Aladdin opened at DCA, I was told that Anne Hamburger had high hopes to bring that show to Broadway just as Disney had with the Beauty and the Beast show that ran at Disneyland way back when. I was a huge fan of the Disneyland Beauty and the Beast show and the Broadway version is basically the same show, just greatly expanded and infused with lots of cash, very entertaining. Aladdin though just isn't as good a show and I doubt it would hold up to Broadway standards without tons of rewrites and completely new direction (can you tell I'm not at all a fan? )

Somewhere along the way I think the goal to take the DCA version on to Broadway vanished because I haven't heard anything about taking Aladdin (the DCA version or otherwise) to Broadway for quite a while now. The current focus (now that Mary Poppins has taken flight in London) seems to be on Little Mermaid and with Matthew Bourne involved, it should at the very least, be an interesting show.

Oh and our very own Dusty Sage is probably going to get over to London and see Mary before I do, so maybe he will be able to give us a little trip report. Would that be grand?

[lashbear]

Oh and our very own Dusty Sage is probably going to get over to London and see Mary before I do, so maybe he will be able to give us a little trip report. Would that be grand?

Hear, Hear !!!!

...Jolly Hockeysticks, what !

[Goin2Disneyland]

I too miss your columns Sue!

At any rate, just wanted to chime in with the disheartening news that although Little Mermaid is planned to open on Broadway in the 2007-08 season, Matthew Bourne has long since left the project. The new director is...

Francesca Zambello, the woman behind that ghastly Aladdin show.

Not sure where Tarzan is on the WDT burner, but it's being written and has all ready been workshopped with Adam Pascal, Matthew Morrison and Laura Bell Bundy.

Disney is also developing a musical based on the hysterical documentary Spellbound.

[Sue Kruse]

At any rate, just wanted to chime in with the disheartening news that although Little Mermaid is planned to open on Broadway in the 2007-08 season, Matthew Bourne has long since left the project. The new director is...

Like I said in the beginning, I'm not exactly up on my Disney show news, so I didn't know this and I'm sorry to hear it. It's too bad because Matthew Bourne does some interesting stuff. I would have loved to have seen what he would do with Little Mermaid.

Francesca Zambello, the woman behind that ghastly Aladdin show.

UGH!!!! That's horrid news. The Aladdin show direction is, let's see what's a nice word I can use on a Disney board, awfull? Oh let's not be nice, the direction on that show just sucks.

Not sure where Tarzan is on the WDT burner, but it's being written and has all ready been workshopped with Adam Pascal, Matthew Morrison and Laura Bell Bundy.

I don't really have an opinion on Adam Pascal, but I truly enjoyed Matthew Morrison and Laura Bell Bundy when I saw them in Hairspray, if they're in the final version, could be fun.

Disney is also developing a musical based on the hysterical documentary Spellbound.

Sounds interesting, thanks for the info!

[Goin2Disneyland]

I just hope that in Mermaid they use little plastic models of the characters and stunt doubles of differing ethnicities than their counterparts and that whenever they say a line they face the audience no matter what and that the show is every bit as good as Aladdin.

*groan*

[quasimodo1384]

Any Idea how they're doing the Carousel seen in Mary Poppins?

[Goin2Disneyland]

They aren't. Jolly Holiday, like many songs in the show, has been set in a different way than it was in the film. The song takes place in a park where the sculptures come to life and dance with Mary, Bert, Jane and Michael.

I, for one, am skeptical. But I've heard it works, so whatever.

[Dustysage]

I'll let you know in a couple of weeks.

[quasimodo1384]

That's sounds cool, different, but yeah I'd have to see it first. Thanks!

[quasimodo1384]

...I feel like I killed the conversation... so, what's everyone's favorite Mary Poppins song?...My vote goes to "Feed the Birds."

[Alchimedes]

Boy I love the movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!! Well I hope that is soon!!


"Ruprecht do I have to get the ******* cuff!!!"