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• London’s original musical “Mary” is now Broadway’s newest nanny

  Jim Hill talks with Laura Michelle Kelly, the Oliver Award-winning actress who has just begun appearing at the New Amsterdam Theatre in Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s long-running production Read More... Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, Disney Theatrical, New York City, restaurant, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, NYC, Broadway musical, 2009, Tony Award, Broadway production, Cameron Mackintosh , 2005, London, 2004, New York, Tony

• AquaDuck to bring theme park thrills out onto the high seas

  Jim Hill reports in from last Thursday’s Disney Cruise Line press event. Which talked up some of the more innovative features that will be found on the Disney Dream, the newest ship in the DCL fleet Read More... Posted Monday, November 02, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, Bob Iger, New York City, Disney Dreams, Disney Cruise Line, NYC, Walt Disney Imagineering, D23, 2009, tween, tweens, 2011, Typhoon Lagoon , water , creative team , creative process, technology, ocean

• Tourists mob Muppets & Mouse shops, snatch up last “Mermaid” tickets

  Jim Hill reports in from NYC. Where – based on what’s been going on at FAO Schwartz, World of Disney and the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre – the economy appears to be on the mend Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2009 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, Pixar, Broadway, musical, Muppets, Disney Theatrical, Beauty and the Beast, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC, Denver, animated character, 5th Avenue, Broadway musical, 2009, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, ticket sales, shops, store shelves, 2010, Up, Tampa, New York, The Little Mermaid, musical theater, Muppet, Muppet Whatnot Workshop

• Will showing selected scenes from “The Princess and the Frog” finally silence this film’s critics?

  Jim Hill writes about the new tack that Walt Disney Animation Studios is taking with the promotion of its new hand-drawn animated feature. Which involves screening footage from “The Princess and the Frog” at events that will be attended by African-American opinion makers Read More... Posted Monday, August 03, 2009 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney Pictures, Ron Clements, John Musker, Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, Los Angeles, NYC, LA, film, movie, 2009, animated feature, November, Tampa, film festival, New York, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective

• Manhattanites mob the Muppet Whatnot Workshop

  Jim Hill reports in from FAO Schwarz's flagship store, where holiday shoppers are paying top dollar for the opportunity to create their very own Muppet Read More... Posted Monday, December 08, 2008 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, Muppets, LLC, Muppet Studios, New York City, Manhattan, NYC, Christmas, 5th Avenue, flagship store, 2008, 2009, holiday season , Santa Claus, New York, Macy’s, Rockefeller Center, holiday, projections, Muppet, FAO Schwarz, Muppet Whatnot Workshop, holidays, holiday sale, Saks 5th Avenue, Macy's at Herald Square, Cars: World Grand Prix, Christmas tree, Saks, Herald Square, sales, sale, flagship, FAO Schwarz flagship store, Madison Avenue, Jump In!, Plaza, Plaza Hotel, holiday windows, holiday shoppers, 8th Avenue

• Tune Tuesday: Is Disney Theatrical getting ready to mark down "Mary" ?

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about Disney on Broadway's plan to increase ticket sales for all three of its musicals. Which involves a "Buy One Get One Free" offer as well as launching DisneyonBroadwaySale.com Read More... Posted Tuesday, November 25, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, parade, CBS, NBC, promotion, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, New York City, New Amsterdam Theatre, NYC, Broadway musical, 2008, 2009, Thanksgiving, ticket sales, Broadway production, Mary Poppins, New York, Macy’s, The Little Mermaid, New York audiences, performance

• Is Disney looking to trade its 5th Avenue store in for a brand-new retail location down on Times Square?

  Since the World of Disney's lease is up in 2010, the Mouse is already on the prowl for a new spot to set up shop in NYC. Jim Hill shares what he's heard about these on-going negotiations Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, ABC, Walt Disney World, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, Beauty and the Beast, Lunt-Fontanne Theater, Disney Store, ABC Studios, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, Mickey Mouse, restaurant, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, The Legendary Years, Disney's Pop Century Resort, NYC, Times Square, WDW, 5th Avenue, flagship store, World of Disney, Broadway musical, tourists, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, 2007, Mary Poppins, tourist , retail establishment , stage show , retail dining and entertainment complex, Virgin Megastore, Virgin, 1996 , 2010, stage, 2004, New York, Disney Stores, The Little Mermaid, movie theater, musical theater, 1990s, Wall Street, retail area, negotiations, trick-or-treat, trick or treat, square feet, retail space, commercial retail space, Wart, king, retailer, retailers, foot traffic, exposure, Paul Hoen, HoJos, Howard Johnson, American Eagle, American Eagle Outfitters, Pittsburgh, square foot, lease, Jeff Sutton, SL Green Realty Corp, Vornado, arcade, Alice's Wonderland, Toys R Us, Toys R Us Times Square, Virgin Megastore Times Square, ABC Times Square Studio, ABC Times Square Studios, retail entertainment complex, pre-show, post-show, preshow, posters, The Related Companies, retail presence, negotiating table, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, company representatives, real estate opportunity, real estate opportunites, construction project, construction projects

• 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 , Tommy Emmanuel, imposing structure, A.I., next Ice Age, the test of time, natural lives, reality intrudes, the real world, piece of entertainment , Sosuke, 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 Theatricals, Broadway-bound, musical adaptation, DW, Academy Award-winning, movie-based musical, theater community, Ponyo, playset, 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, Cloris Leachman, 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, strategy, the Colony Theater, Colony Theater, Steamboat Willie, Fantasia, Snow White, diecast

• 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 | 7 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, Jaws 3 People 0, 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 and 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