You know, one of the things that I really love about the Web is its “tide goes out, tide comes back in again” aspect. By that I mean: Sometimes — in order to find out what’s really going on — you have to put a story out there first.
Take — for instance — last Wednesday’s “Ears to the Ground” article. You know, the one that detailed what was supposedly going to happen at Disney’s annual meeting in Philly later this week as well as offering up a few tidbits about what was happening, Mouse-wise, in NYC.
Well, toward the end of that story … I passed along a few things that I had been hearing about Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Which — since advance ticket sales for the Lunt Fontaine have dipped down to 50-60% recently, rumors have begun to surface that that long running show is getting ready to close) as well as two other soon-to-open Disney Theatrical shows: “Tarzan” and “On The Record.”
Well, no sooner had that article gone up when I began to hear from folks deep inside Disney Theatrical. Some sending along corrections to my first story, while still others offered additional information about some of the other shows that I’d mentioned.
And — since my mother taught me that I should always share my toys — I thought that I’d share some of the things that I’ve recently learned with you nice folks. Take — for example — “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway.
It would seem that — while the stories that I’ve been hearing about ticket sales for the Lunt Fontaine being off recently are true — Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” is in absolutely no danger of closing anytime soon. In fact, if what all these Disney Theatrical insiders have been telling me is true, this “Tale as Old as Time” will mostly likely still be up and running when 2005 rolls around … and maybe even 2006 …
To first explain what’s been going on with attendance levels at the Lunt Fontaine, let me first introduced that noted Broadway tout, Benny Southstreet:
You have to understand, Jim, that virtually every show on Broadway took a hit — attendance-wise — during the month of January. I mean, we had week after week of that miserably cold weather. And then — when you factor in the lousy economy as well as the fact that no one has any money to blow on theater tickets during the weeks immediately after Christmas … Well, it’s no wonder that attendance levels dropped so severely for so many shows last month.
But Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” was able to weather that temporary dip in the road. Why for? (As you like to say, Mr. Hill.) Well, first up, the Broadway version of this Disney Theatrical production covered all of its initial production costs year ago. Then you have to understand that the Walt Disney Company worked out this great long term lease deal with the corporation that currently owns the Lunt Fontaine.
So — just as long as Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” is able to make its weekly nut (I.E. The amount that Disney has to pay out to the show’s cast, musicians and tech staff) — this show will remain a profit making machine for the Mouse.
And — in the weeks ahead — “B and B” is sure to make even more money for Mickey. Christy Carlson Romano officially went into the show last week. And — while some issues with Actors Equity initially prevented Disney from promoted the fact that the Disney Channel favorite was now appearing on “Beauty and the Beast” — that’s all been taken care of now.
So look for the Mouse to begin promoting the fact that the star of “Even Stevens” and the voice of “Kim Possible” is now Broadway’s Belle big-time on the Disney Channel over the next few weeks. Which will — hopefully — soon send ticket sales for the show soaring through the roof.
Provided that those tween ticket buyers turn out in big enough numbers, Disney Theatrical is actually hoping that they’ll be able to persuade Ms. Romano to extend her contract. Maybe even play Broadway’s Belle right through the summer. (Given the large amount of “B and B” merchandise that DT has already ordered that has Christy’s face plastered on it, one would have to assume that they’re planning on this Disney Channel fav to stay with the show ’til at least September.)
And — after that — Disney Theatrical’s already got plans to bring in additional celebrities to replace Ms. Romano. There’s also talk of getting some other big name performers to come play the roles of the Beast, Lumiere and Gaston in the coming months. So DT’s going to do whatever they has to in order to make “Beauty and the Beast” a hot ticket right straight into 2005.
So — contrary to what you may have read here at JimHillMedia.com last week — Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” now appears to be in no imminent danger of closing. Would that we could say the same thing about Disney’s “Aida.”
Now what’s the problem with THAT show? Here, let’s let Benny Southstreet’s associate — Rusty Charlie — explain:
Disney’s “Aida” ain’t long for this world, Jim. This Elton John — Tim Rice tuner has been a money loser for the Mouse for quite a while now. Even with big names like Toni Braxton, Michelle Williams and Deborah Cox being brought in to play the show’s title role, “Aida” has yet to see any significant surge in ticket sales.
So what happens now? … Well, look for Disney Theatrical to try and keep “Aida” running through at least the fall with all sorts of additional stunt casting. Why work so hard to keep a clearly struggling show open? Because DT head Thomas Schumacher has a dream …
And what exactly is that dream? Rusty Charlie’s pal, Nicely-Nicely Johnson will now give us the skinny on that:
Tom Schumacher is a very proud man. And — if you were in his shoes — wouldn’t you be too? What with three shows running on Broadway at the same time and all.
But three ain’t enough for Schumacher. This guy now wants to have four shows that he’s personally produced to all be running on Broadway at the same time. Which is Tom is going to do everything he has to in order to keep “Aida” alive at least ’til “Tarzan” officially opens …
Speaking of which … Disney Theatrical HAS already taken a look at both the Lunt Fontaine as well as the Palace Theater as possible places to stage “Tarzan.” Unfortunately, both houses were deemed to be “not conducive” to the show. So now where will Tarzan and Jane be hanging their vines once they swing into the Big Apple? Actually, this is this old abandoned theater that’s right across from the New Amsterdam that Disney Theatrical is supposedly looking into.
Oh … One other “Tarzan” related tidbit. As for that swinging-out-over-the-audience stuff, that proposed moment in the show is supposedly on hold right now. Obviously, there are safety concerns. Not to mention that doing something like this 8 times a week would mean that Disney Theatrical would undoubtedly have to shell out additional dough for insurance. I mean, imagine the lawsuit — not to mention all the bad publicity — if Tarzan were to suddenly slip off his vine during a matinee and flatten some poor housewife from Hoboken?
Disney Theatrical supposedly has the same concerns with the flying effects in “Mary Poppins.” By the way, “Poppins” — at least at this early stage in the game — is looking to be perhaps the very best thing that Disney Theatrical has ever produced. Which is why the Mouse — even before this co-produced-with-Cameron-Makintosh production won’t officially open at London’s Prince Edward Theatre ’til at least December 15th — is said to already be on the prowl for an appropriate Broadway house for this show.
And which theater seems to be emerging as Disney’s No. 1 candidate as the most appropriate place to stage the Broadway production of “Mary Poppins.” The Palace Theatre, which — as you may remember — is currently home to Disney’s “Aida.”
And — given that this Disney Theatrical and Cameron Makintosh co-production is looking to begin performances in NYC as early as the fall of 2005 — it looks like Aida’s days of barging down the Nile truly are numbered.
Anywho … That’s what’s supposedly going on inside Disney Theatrical these days. Again, many thanks to our “Fugue for Tinhorns” pals deep inside DT for passing along all that great information.
Your thoughts?