Browse by Tags

• 10th anniversary
• 1997
• 2001
• 2008
• 2009
• 9/11
• Academy Award
• Anaheim
• animated feature
• book
• Broadway
• Broadway musical
• Broadway production
• Cameron Mackintosh
• Chicago
• Connecticut
• constellations
• co-production
• costume concept
• costume designer
• costumes
• creative team
• Crowne Plaza
• Dave Smith
• David Koenig
• David Lindsay-Abaire
• December
• Deep Impact
• Denver
• Derek Smith
• design team
• designer
• Detroit
• Dick Van Dyke
• Dino De Laurentiis
• director
• Disney / Pixar
• Disney Archives
• Disney Bear
• Disney Channel Original
• Disney Editions
• Disney Legend
• Disney Live!
• Disney Press
• Disney Theatrical
• Disneyana Enthusiasts
• Disneyland
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's High School Musical on Tour
• Donkey
• Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square
• Drama Desk Award
• DreamWorks
• DreamWorks Theatrical
• DVD
• DW
• Ed Wynn
• Emery Ed Fund
• Emeryville
• Florida
• gala performance
• High School Musical
• Hollywood
• How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater
• Julie Taymor
• LA
• Local One
• Los Angeles
• Manhattan
• Minskoff Theatre
• motion picture
• movie
• movies
• music
• musical
• New Amsterdam Theatre
• New York
• New York City
• opening night
• Orlando
• road company
• Simba
• stage
• stage show
• stage version
• stagehands
• The Lion King
• The Walt Disney Company
• theater
• Thomas Schumacher
• Tony Award
• Tony Award winner
• unsung hero
• unsung heroes
• Van Eaton Galleries
• Veterans Memorial Arena
• Walt Disney
• Walt Disney Company
• Walt Disney Pictures
• YouTube

• The Towers live on ... in movies & television, that is

  On the seventh anniversary of 9/11, Jim Hill looks at some cinematic depictions of the World Trade Center from the past 30+ years Read More... Posted Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, TV, New York City, television, Manhattan, 9/11, NYC, Steven Spielberg, DVD, movie, 1976, 2008, animated feature, television program, television programs, 2001, New Hampshire, action sequence, New York, motion picture, 1981, King Kong , remake, Jay Sherman, The Critic, New York skyline, The Towers, Towers, Twin Towers, standing tall, still standing tall, The World Trade Center , television show , media maven , World Trade Center, 1988, Oliver & Company, Woody Allen , old New York, montage , principal location, Dino De Laurentiis, Escape from New York, Snake Plissken, glider, sacrilege, John Carpenter, Ronald Neame, Meteor, national tragedy, 911, Deep Impact, tsunami , 110-story buildings, cataclysm, imposing structure, A.I., next Ice Age, the test of time, natural lives, reality intrudes, the real world, piece of entertainment , catch a glimpse, still standing

• Tune Tuesday : "Shrek the Musical" gets off to a great start in Seattle

  WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead in this preview piece about DreamWorks Theatrical's Broadway-bound production. Which is a musical adaptation of DW's Academy Award-winning animated feature Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, theater, DreamWorks, Broadway, musical, Walt Disney, The Lion King, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, YouTube, Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Julie Taymor, NYC, LA, Academy Award, movie, Broadway musical, stage version, 2008, animated feature, 2001, Donkey, ogre, Shrek, Fiona, opening night, Broadway production, Big Green Ogre , Great White Way, Jeanine Tesori , David Lindsay-Abaire , Jason Moore , Seattle, 5th Avenue Theater , Lord Farquaad , Academy Award winner, December , November, childhood, stage show , design team, August, director , stage, audience, Big Apple , New York, creative team , DreamWorks Theatrical, Broadway-bound, musical adaptation, DW, Academy Award-winning, movie-based musical, theater community, high profile production, movsical, Young Frankenstein, The Little Mermaid, 9 to 5 : The Musical, world premiere, Ahmanson Theater, Shrek the Musical, out-of-town, opening, librettist, composer, designer, Tim Hatley, swamp, spoilers, Momma Ogre, Poppa Ogre, Big Bright Beautiful World, opening number, title character, introductory number, I Know It's Today, I Could Get Used to This, Brian D'Arcy James, outhouse, backstory, second act, challenge song, I Think I Got You Beat, choreographer, Rob Ashford, New York audiences, Broadway Theatre, playhouse, Walt Disney Company, 1928, movie theater, Colony, the Colony Theater, Colony Theater, Steamboat Willie, Fantasia, Snow White, movsicals

• Tune Thursday : Looking back at the development of Broadway's "Lion King"

  Jim Hill chats with Derek Smith, the actor who's now playing Scar in this Tony Award-winning musical. But whose ties to this show actually go all the way back to the costume & mask tests that Julie Taymor did in her workshop Read More... Posted Friday, July 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, Julie Taymor, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, NYC, Scar, Broadway musical, stage version, Tony Award, 1997, Broadway production, costume concept, staging, stage show , stage, New York, costume designer , costumes, Derek Smith, The Green Bird, workshop, mask, The Madness of King Scar, rehearsal, rehearsal pianist, stage manager

• Stage version of "Mary Poppins" draws a lot of its inspiration from ... Well, drawings

  Jim Hill looks back at the development of this Disney / Cameron Mackintosh production. Which is not just based on the 1964 film, but also draws its inspiration from P.L. Travers' stories and Mary Shepard's illustrations Read More... Posted Friday, June 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, Chicago, New Amsterdam Theatre, NYC, Academy Award, film, movie, road company, Broadway musical, stage version, 2009, Tony Award, Broadway production, Cameron Mackintosh , Jolly Holiday, Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins, London, penguins, stage show , production team, March, stage, national tour, North American National Tour , Ashley Brown , title role, Gavin Lee , Drama Desk Award, New York, 1964, set designer , costume designer , set, motion picture, setting, Practically Perfect, Richard Eyre, creative team , Matthew Bourne , Julian Fellowes, P L Travers , Robertson Ay, footman, A Spoonful of Sugar , 1934, Mrs Corry , Annie, Fannie, gingerbread , gilt stars , Gingerbread Stars , Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, talking shop, bake shop, barley-sugar, Bad Wednesday, chapter, Mary Poppins Comes Back , Royal Doulton , George Stiles , Anthony Drewe , Temper Temper, Miss Andrew, governess, Ruth Gottschall, birdcage , Mary Shepard , Let's Go Fly a Kite, 1943, Mary Poppins Opens the Door , Neleus, statue , statues, illustrations, illustration, The Marble Boy, Starlighter , costumes, constellations , Anything Can Happen If You Let It, Mary Poppins in the Park, England, Theatre Royal Plymouth , Cadillac Palace Theatre, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Garber, Karen Dotrice, Ed Wynn

• Tune Tuesday: Get ready for the stage version of "High School Musical 2"

  Jim Hill shares all sorts of tidbits from the Disney Theatrical side of the fence. Including the tour schedule for both the North American & UK version of "Mary Poppins" as well as "The Little Mermaid" CD release celebration Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, High School Musical, ABC, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Theatrical, High School Musical 2, The Walt Disney Company, High School Musical 3, High School Musical franchise, New York City, Washington D.C., Australia, Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC, LA, Broadway musical, stage version, Disney Channel Original, 2009, October, Cameron Mackintosh , Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids , autographs, co-production, stage show

• Tune Thursday: There's big fun to be had at "The Little Mermaid"

  Jim Hill reviews Disney Theatrical's latest production. Which -- while admittedly not perfect -- is still a perfectly enjoyable evening of theater Read More... Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, Lunt-Fontanne Theater, New York City, NYC, Broadway musical, New York Times

• A meet the author / artist / filmmaker edition of Where For

  Jim Hill bounces from Orlando to Anaheim, New York to Hollywood and then back again. As he talks up a number of signings & screenings that are being held all over the country over the next eight days Read More... Posted Friday, December 07, 2007 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theme park, Disneyland, Anaheim, Orlando, Disney Press, Disney Legend, Disney's Contemporary Resort, New York City, Disney Editions, Hollywood, The Pixar Story, NYC, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney / Pixar

• "How Does the Show Go On?" lifts the curtain on what goes on behind-the-scenes at a Broadway musical

  Jim Hill reviews Thomas Schumacher & Jeff Kurtti's interactive introduction to the theater. Which uses stories & images from various Disney Theatrical productions to reveal what's actually involved with putting on a professional show Read More... Posted Thursday, December 06, 2007 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, Beauty & the Beast, Disney Press, Tarzan, New York City, Jeff Kurtti, Disney Editions, New Amsterdam Theatre, NYC, Local One, stagehands, Broadway musical, show, Thomas Schumacher, Broadway production, How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater, backstage

• Broadway comes roaring back to life, and so does Disney's "The Lion King"

  Jim Hill brings you an update on the 10th anniversary celebration for this Tony Award-winning musical. Which was kind of thrown off-schedule by last month's stagehands strike Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 04, 2007 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, New York City, Julie Taymor, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, NYC, 10th anniversary, gala performance, international production, Local One, stagehands union, The League of American Theatres and Producers, stagehands, road company, Broadway musical, canapé, caterer, after-party, Cipriani 42, original cast, Thomas Schumacher, Tony Award, South Africa, The Montecasino Teatro, Johannesburg, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, celebration, scenery, picket line, reunion, TLK, Mexico, Young Nala, Young Simba, Ron Kunene, family, unsung heroes, unsung hero, opening night, 1997, Broadway production

• Instead of a Why For this week, how about a Where For ?

  This time around, Jim Hill talks up various Disney & animation-related events that are happening all around the U.S. over the next two weeks Read More... Posted Friday, November 16, 2007 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, Pixar, Broadway, High School Musical, Disney Theatrical, Anaheim, Orlando, Tinker Bell, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, Manhattan, Feld Entertainment, YouTube, Los Angeles, Burbank, NYC, Florida, Walt Disney Studios, Las Vegas, California, LA, ASIFA-Hollywood, American Film Institute, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, Grim Natwick, Connecticut, MiceAge, MousePlanet, LaughingPlace, WDWMagic, screening, panel discussion, OceanEars, National Fantasy Fan Club, Disneyana Enthusiasts, Rhode Island, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Margaret Kerry, actress, Tinker Bell Talks! Tales of a Pixie Dusted Life, Sherman Oaks, NFFC, Studio Chapter in Los Angeles, Westfield Shopping Town Fashion Square, David Koenig, Realityland: True-Life Adventures of Walt Disney World, Character Warehouse, AMS, Assets Management & Sales LLC, White House, Orangefair Marketplace, Fullerton, The Annex at Las Vegas Factory Outlets, Las Vegas Factory Outlets, Puente Hills Mall, City of Industry, Mesa Pavilions, Mesa, 5th Avenue, flagship store, Disney Bear, Santa Mickey, Reindeer Pluto, Reel Appeal, Alameda, furniture, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Loft Appeal, Dave Smith, Disney Archives, stagehands, road company, Broadway musical, Disney's High School Musical on Tour, stage version, Disney Channel Original, HSM, Playhouse Square Center, Cleveland, Providence Center for the Performing Arts, Ohio, Disney Live!, Playhouse Disney Live!, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, Salisbury , Maryland, Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive, Grim Natwick's Scrapbook, Behind the Scenes at Pixar, Emery Ed Fund, Pixar campus, Van Eaton Galleries, Jerry Beck, The Hanna-Barbera Treasury, JHM

• Tune Thursday: Broadway's "Lion King" balances spectacle with intimate storytelling

  As this Tony Award-winning musical gets ready to celebrate its 10th anniversary in NYC, Jim Hill chats with Nathaniel Stampley. Who talks about how the sacrifices that his own father made as well as the recent birth of his daughter informs Stampley's performance of Mufasa Read More... Posted Thursday, November 01, 2007 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, Chicago, Julie Taymor, Minskoff Theatre, 9/11, Simba, NYC, 10th anniversary, gala performance, Nathaniel Stampley, Detroit

• Tune Thursday: Sorry, but Kissy Simmons won't kiss-and-tell about her time in Broadway's "The Lion King"

  In honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of this Disney Theatrical production, Jim Hill chats with Kissy Simmons, the actress who's now playing Nala in this long-running musical spectacular Read More... Posted Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:05 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, 9/11, Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, Nala, Simba, Show Palace Dinner Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Aida, Apollo Theater, NYC, Kissy Simmons, Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square, Floral City, Florida, Audrey II, Denver, Shadow Land, Times Square, 10th anniversary, gala performance