Let’s clear up the confusion right from the start, shall we? That “Sister Act: The Musical” that’s holding its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse tonight …
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… is based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie that Walt Disney Studios released through its Touchstone Pictures arm back in 1992.
Copyright 1992 The Walt Disney Company
However, even though the original “Sister Act” clearly is an official Disney product, the new stage musical version that’s based on this motion picture is not. What the producers of “Sister Act: The Musical” did was license the rights to turn this Emile Ardolino film into a musical for the stage directly from the Walt Disney Company. They then developed their show and mounted this production with zero input from Disney Theatrical.
Of course, it’s easy to understand why people might be confused. Given that this non-Disney musical is being directed by Peter Schneider, the former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios …
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… Not to mention that the book for “Sister Act: The Musical” is being written by Bill & Cheri Steinkellner. Who were the co-creators of “Disney’s Teacher’s Pet,” the Emmy-Award-winning television series. Which then served as the springboard for the acclaimed “Teacher’s Pet” animated feature.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
But if you want to know the real reason that most people seem to think that “Sister Act: The Musical” is a Disney Theatrical Production … Well, it’s because Alan Menken …
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… (Who — for nearly 20 years now — has been the Mouse’s unofficial house composer) wrote the deeply-steeped-in-disco score for this new stage musical.
Originally teamed with the late, great Howard Ashman …
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… Menken wrote the Academy-Award-winning scores for “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin.” That trio of feature-length cartoons that effectively kicked off Disney’s second golden age of animation.
Copyright 1989, 1991 & 1992 The Walt Disney Company
When Howard sadly succumbed to AIDS in March of 1991, Alan was forced to find another collaborator. And though Menken made beautiful music with both Grammy-Award winners Sir Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz …
Sir Tim Rice (left) and Stephen Schwartz
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… It wasn’t ’til “Home on the Range” …
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… that Alan finally found another lyricist who could possibly Howard’s shoes: Obie-Award winner Glenn Slater.
Stephen Weiner, Stephen Schwartz & Glenn Slater (right)
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Or shoud I say “fins”? Given that one of the very first assignments that these two tackled was writing seven new songs for the upcoming Broadway musical version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Musicalizing previously unsung moments from this 1989 Walt Disney Pictures release.
Copyright 1989 The Walt Disney Company
Menken & Slater first wrote a song to serve as Ursula’s new introduction, “Wasting Away.”
Copyright 1989 The Walt Disney Company
Followed by two comic numbers for Scuttle and his seagull pals, “Human Stuff” and “Posituvity.”
Copyright 1989 The Walt Disney Company
They then wrote a new 11 o’clock number for the sea witch called “All Good Things Must End.”
As to when the stage version of “The Little Mermaid” is expected to reach Broadway … The show is currently slated to begin its out-of-town try-out in June at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. If all goes well, this new Disney Theatrical production should arrive in NYC in late summer / early fall and open at a yet-to-be-named theater before Thanksgiving.
Which will be just about the time that “Enchanted,” Walt Disney Pictures’ big holiday release for 2007, will be opening in theaters nationwide. This ambitious live action / animation mix will feature several songs that Menken wrote with his “Pocahontas” collaboator, Stephen Schwartz.
Copyright 2007 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Then right after that comes the stage version of “Leap of Faith” …
Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures
… Which will be based on the 1992 Steve Martin movie. Featuring a score by Menken & Slater, this new musical (Will — as of this moment — will reportedly be directed by Taylor Hackford. Who is probably best known for the work he’s done directing films like “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Ray“) wil supposedly arrive on Broadway sometime during the 2007-2008 season.
All this — plus the songs that Menken & Slater have written for “The Frog Princess” and “The Snow Queen” — suggest that we’re just on the cusp of a huge resurgence in Alan Menken’s career. That — by this time next year — it will be virtually impossible to escape the man’s music.
But — as of right now — all eyes are focused on “Sister Act: The Musical” …
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Which — borrowing a page from Disney Theatrical’s 1998 production, “Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida” …
Copyright 1998 The Walt Disney Company
… Which was initially staged at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre …
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… before this show received a complete overhaul and then arrived on Broadway as Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida — …
Copyright 2000 The Walt Disney Company
… This new stage musical will first present performances at the Pasadena Playhouse now through December 3rd. Then — following a brief break for the holidays — the troupe will regroup in Atlanta on January 17th. Where “Sister Act: The Musical” will stage another five weeks of performances, as the show’s creative team makes the necessary tweaks and cuts.
As to whether “Sister Act: The Musical” will then head off to Broadway … Well, obviously, that all depends on how this new stage show is received in both Atlanta and Pasadena.
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If you’d like to attend “Sister Act: The Musical” during its out-of-town try-out period, tickets are currently on sale for the show’s engagement at the Pasadena Playhouse and the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff Center. For additional information about ticket prices and performance times, I suggest that you contact the appropriate theater box office.