Photo by Nancy Stadler
Okay. Sure. When people talk about Disney & theater, the news on everyone’s lips these days is “Tarzan.” More importantly, what Disney Theatrical is going to do to help its newest musical overcome the rather mixed reviews it received last week. The hope is that DT can turn “Tarzan” into a long-running (and hopefully profitable) production for the Disney corporation.
Make no mistake. If there’s one thing that Disney Theatrical is really good at, it’s carefully nuturing a long-running hit. Take for example the show that’s right across the street from “Tarzan,” “Beauty & the Beast.”
Photo by Nancy Stadler
Now in its 12th year of performances in NYC, Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” is the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history. Only the still-running “Phantom of the Opera” and the now-closed “Cats,” “Les Misérables,” “A Chorus Line” and “Oh, Calcutta!” have each racked up more performances than “Beast.”
“And how has Disney kept ‘Beast’ running for so long?,” you ask. Well, part of this show’s longevity can be attributed to the Mouse’s marketing might. And nobody does a better job at promoting a Broadway show than Disney Theatrical.
Another key component of keeping a long-running hit popular with ticket-buyers is making sure the show’s cast remains fresh & strong. Disney Theatrical’s been particularly diligent about this aspect of “Beauty & the Beast.” They regularly bring in new performers to help freshen up this musical.
The role of Belle is a good example. Over the past 12 years, a wide variety of name performers have pulled on that 30 pound gold ballgown and gone for a twirl on the dance floor with the Beast. These actresses including Susan Egan, “B & B” ‘s very first Belle; Andrea McArdle, Broadway’s original Annie; R & B recording artist Toni Braxton, pop singer Deborah Gibson as well as “Kim Possible” ‘s Christie Carlson Romano.
And these name performers have all provided a necessary boost at “Beauty & the Beast” ‘s box office, making it possibly for this long-running musical to keep chugging along. But just recently, Disney Theatrical decided to vary their formula a bit and do something a little different to keep “B & B” fresh.
So, rather than bringing in an established singer or performer, someone with some significant Broadway stage experience to help liven up “Beauty & the Beast” — Disney Theatrical went another way. They opted to bring in an ABC soap star — Jacob Young, who plays JR Chandler on “All My Children” — to play a supporting role in this long-running musical, Lumiere the candelabra.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
I have to admit — what with being an ABC soap fan and all — I was somewhat intrigued by this decision on Disney Theatrical’s part. Would Young really have what it takes? Would this soap star, even when he was dressed as an oversized candlestick, still have what it takes to light up a Broadway stage?
To get an answer to that question, I went down to NYC last Tuesday night to catch Jacob’s very first public performance in the role of Lumiere. And after spending a very pleasant 2 1/2 hours in the Lunt Fontaine theatre, I have to say that Young did a pretty good job with the role.
Mind you, what really helped here was that Jacob was supported by one of the strongest casts that I’ve ever seen in Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast.” Ashley Brown (Who will soon be leaving the Broadway version of “B & B” to begin getting ready for the title role in “Mary Poppins“) was flat-out wonderful as Belle. She was able to put her own unique spin on the character and nailed every song in the score. Including the often daunting “A Change in Me,” which was added to “Beast” ‘s score back in 1998 when Toni Braxton assumed the role of Belle.
Steve Blanchard also did an admirable job with the Beast. Of course, given that Steve now has the distinction of being the actor who has had the longest run on Broadway in the role of the Beast, it’s not really a surprise that Blanchard now “owns” this part. That he knows the best way to sell the show’s songs. Particularly, my favorite, the beautiful first-act closer, “If I Can’t Love Her.”
As for Jacob’s performance? I have to say he didn’t quite own the part of Lumiere. To be fair, I did see his very first public performance in the role. Which perhaps explains why Mr. Young seemed somewhat tentative, as if he were still feeling his way. I’m sure that – in the weeks ahead – Jacob will grow more comfortable in this part and eventually become the suave, show-stopping Lumiere that Disney Theatrical hopes that he can be.
I’ll say this much, though. At least one aspect of bringing Jacob Young on board at Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” seemed to have worked out according to plan. ABC soap fans turned out in droves to see their favorite “All My Children” hunk in his Broadway musical debut.
After the curtain fell last Tuesday night, Jacob’s fans quickly lined up at the stage door, eager to get a glimpse of their favorite ABC soap star.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
As he exited the theater, Young was immediately greeted with screams of “JR!” He graciously posed for pictures as well as signing all of the souvenir programs that were thrust at him.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
As he signed & posed, Jacob was also willing to answer a few questions. When asked about how long he had been in rehearsal, Young admitted that he had spent three weeks getting ready for the show but did have opening night jitters. When asked if he thought that playing a singing & dancing candlestick was different than playing JR Chandler, Jacob smiled broadly and said “Just a little bit.” I give him a lot of credit for taking on not just a completely different character role, but a singing one at that. It’s a gutsy way to stretch his acting wings and make his Broadway debut all at the same time.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
After signing all of those autographs, Jacob stepped in a limo and was whisked away. Given that he was due on the set bright & early Wednesday morning to shoot another episode of “All My Children,” he was presumably headed back home to get some sleep.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
Speaking of which … due to Jacob’s commitment to this ABC soap, Mr. Young will not be appearing in any of “Beauty & the Beast” ‘s Wednedsay matinees. But beyond that, Jacob is expected to appear in this Broadway show for the next nine weeks. His next performance is scheduled for tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
So what do you folks think? Would putting some of your favorite ABC soap stars in Disney musicals make you that much more likely to buy tickets to the shows? Is this experiment something that Disney Theatrical should try & continue?
Your thoughts?