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Evidently that book review of Carol de Giere 's " Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked " that this site ran two week back really struck a chord with JHM readers as we've received a number of Stephen Schwartz -related questions since then. First up, Gayle B...

What's your absolute favorite musical moment from a Walt Disney Production? Me? If I really had to choose, I guess it would either be that moment in "Uncle Remus Tales" when that old storyteller leads an animated congregation in singing Ned Washington & Leigh Harline 's sweet spiritual, "I'll take...

By now, I'm sure that you've heard that the Broadway musical version of "Tarzan" will be shuttering on July 8th after only 486 performances and 35 previews. To be honest, this news took a lot of theater insiders by surprise. By that I mean: Everyone in the industry was aware that -- since this Disney...

I have to admit that I was somewhat startled by " Tarzan: The Broadway Adventure " (Disney Editions, March 2007). Copyright 2007 Disney Editions By that I mean: Given that this behind-the-scenes book was written by Michael Lassell (Who did such a nice job with " Disney on Broadway: Aida, The Lion King...

It's Christmas-crunch time, kiddies. You know what I mean. That horrible moment that arrives every holiday season. When you're feeling all smug & self-satisfied because you think that you've completed your Xmas shopping. Only to suddenly sit bolt upright in your chair and say: "Oh, cr*p! I forgot...

Danni C. writes in to say: Jim, Don't let those cynics who've been posting negative comments on JHM get to you. I for one love your website. It's the first place that I go to every morning after I turn on my computer. Why for? Because I just love all of the stories that you tell! Speaking of which: Where...

" Mary Poppins " touched down on Broadway last night, toting a carpet bag that was filled to the brim with new songs, colorful sets & costumes as well as eye-popping special effects. Copyright 2006 Disney / CML. Photo by Joan Marcus Of course, the big question is: Will Disney purists (As well as...

It was 50 years ago tonight that the 1939 version of " The Wizard of Oz " was first shown on television. Copyright 2005 Warner Home Video The first-ever telecast of this Victor Fleming film was a rating smash. Over 44 million people tuned in to catch this broadcast (Which was hosted by the...

Let's cut to the chase, shall we? The Walt Disney biography that all of us dweebs have been waiting for (Some of us, for decades now) ... is finally here . While there may have been other fine books written about the founder of the Walt Disney Company (Bob Thomas' " Walt Disney: An American Original...

Could it that " American Dog " is about to get "fixed"? Copyright 2008 Disney Enterprises, Inc. For the past few months, there have been rumors that John Lasseter (I.E. The new ubermeister of Disney Feature Animation) hasn't exactly been thrilled with what he's seen (so far) of this new Chris Sanders...

Has it really been just eight months since " High School Musical " was first presented on the Disney Channel ? Copyright 2006 Disney Enterprises Back in January of this year, Disney Channel execs obviously had very high hopes for this Kenny Ortega film. Otherwise, why would they have spent all of that...

Now I know that this may sound like a very left-handed compliment. But -- as I was reading Tim Hollis & Greg Ehrbar's excellent " Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records " (University Press of Mississippi, May 2006) -- I kept putting their book down so that I could then go downstairs &...