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The stage version of Disney’s “The Lion King” has been in the news a lot lately. What with Disney Theatrical making some trims to the New York production (Which is kind of ironic. Given that one of the songs that got cut – “The Morning Report” – was actually...

You’re familiar with the phrase “wine, women and song,” right? Well, did you know that there’s actually an element of math involved with this particular phrase? As in: If you drink a little too much wine, you might wind up owing a woman a song? According to Robert Jess Roth , the original director of...

When you think about the stage version of Disney’s “The Lion King,” what first comes to mind? For some, it might be Elton John & Sir Tim Rice ’s terrific score. While others might talk up the brilliant job that Julie Taymor did with staging this Tony Award-winner. Which Newsweek magazine called ...

In a town like Las Vegas , where virtually every building screams “Look at me!” … Copyright 2009 Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. All Rights Reserved … how do you stand out from the crowd? Cut through all that visual clutter? That was the challenge that Disney Theatrical & the Mandalay...

It’s the Hans Christian Andersen story that Walt Disney almost put into production back in the 1940s (as part of a live action / animated co-production with Samuel Goldwyn ). This is one of Kay Nielsen's Little Mermaid concept paintings for that aborted Hans Christian Andersen feature from the 1940s...

There are so many movie-based musicals turning up on Broadway these days that the theater community has actually invented a somewhat derogatory term to describe these high profile productions: movsicals. And what with the rather tepid respection that " Young Frankenstein " and " The Little Mermaid "...

Remember how I mentioned in yesterday's story that there are senior officials at the Walt Disney Company who believe that " ... the HSM phenomenon will soon blow itself out." Well, this belief does not extend to Disney Theatrical . If anything, the folks who brought us " The Lion King ," " Mary Poppins...

He's been the star of three hugely popular animated features . He's got his own theme park attraction . And -- just last month -- he appeared in his first holiday special . Which then went on to be one of the most watched television programs of 2007 . So what worlds are left for Shrek to conquer (Before...

So what can be said about " The Little Mermaid ," which opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre this past Thursday night? Sierra Boggess as Ariel and the cast in "The Little Mermaid" presented by Disney Theatrical Productions. Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Joan Marcus First of all, you have to ignore those...

How's this for a somewhat cruel irony? On the very first day that "How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater" (Disney Editions, November 2007) was officially available for purchase (i.e. November 27th), the show was NOT going on. As in: 28 of Broadway's theaters were still dark due to Local...

Well, it wasn't quite how Disney Theatrical had hoped the 10th anniversary of Broadway's "The Lion King" would play out. By that I mean: The Mouse had literally had this celebration in the works for months. With the kick-off happening 'way back in June, when this Tony Award -winning musical had its South...

People have called the Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King" many things. Dazzling. Spectacular. A magical night of theater. However, were you to ask Steve "Doc" Zorthian -- who, back in 1997, started off as one of this long-running musical's original assistant stage managers and now serves as...

It's often been said that one part (To be specific, the right role in the right show at the right time) can make your career on Broadway. Well, when it comes to Nathaniel Stampley -- the veteran performer who's now playing the part of Mufasa in the Broadway production of "The Lion King" -- Nathaniel...

"Hakuna Matata ! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata ! Ain't no passin' craze ..." If ever there's anyone on this planet who understands that Disney's " The Lion King " ain't no passin' craze, it's Danny Rutigliano . For almost a decade now, he's been appearing in the Tony Award-winning stage version...

Little town It's a quiet village, Ev'ry day Like the one before Okay. So it isn't a "Little town." It's the Big Apple. And it wasn't a day "... Like the one before." This was Sunday, July 29th. The night when Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast" finally ended its 13 year run. Photo by Nancy Stadler Inside...

Eight years ... of wearing make-up appliances that are so thick & complicated that only his eyes, his cheek bones and part of his forehead show. Eight years ... of performing while wearing a 30 pound costume. Eight years ... of eight-performances-a-week work weeks. Of struggling to sing power ballads...

Anneliese van der Pol is not the first actress to play Belle in Broadway's version of "Beauty & the Beast" (That honor went to stage veteran Susan Egan . Who -- these days -- is probably best known to Disneyana fans as the voice of Megara in " Hercules ") ... Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All...

225 costumes. Let's all just think about that number for a moment. 225 different costumes. Everything from those bright, colorful outfits that the happy French villagers wear as they sing this show's opening number, "Belle" ... Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved ... right through...

First up, Kevin writes in to say: I was just wondering, how do Disney executives feel about the Wiggles joining up with Six Flags for the " Wiggles World " theme areas in their parks? Is this a sign that the Wiggles and Disney may be parting company soon? Kevin Dear Kevin -- Nope. You have to understand...

For Bill Nabel, Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast" really has been " ... a tale as old as time." Even before Disney Studios execs had officially decided to turn this Academy-Award animated feature into a musical for the stage, Bill has been a part of this show. "I actually took part in the first two readings...