Disney's "On the Record"

[Lou Mongello]

Has anyone seen this show as yet or heard anything about it (good or bad?)



Beyond two enormous doors, a recording soundstage beckons. The man in charge arranges the microphones. A clock on the wall flickers to life. A "RECORDING" sign begins to flash. But this studio is no ordinary place, and the man in charge, no ordinary man. He must inspire a stageful of singers, musicians and technicians to deliver the performance of their lives. A once-in-a-lifetime recording session is about to begin, and the man in charge will use all the magic you can imagine and all the music you could wish for, to create an evening of pure enchantment and powerful emotion - ON THE RECORD.
From the producers of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, comes ON THE RECORD, a show-stopping new musical that sparkles with more than 50 of the most beloved songs ever written, from some of the most popular films ever made - including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and Snow White. Join the supremely talented singers and dancers behind-the-scenes at one very magical recording session, where every song you see performed ends up on the record! ON THE RECORD, starring the music of a lifetime - yours! It's first-class family entertainment, as only Disney can deliver!

[iwannabeminnie]

Wow! Sounds great. Uh, Mr. iwannabeminnie, honey, darling, sugar cheeks...............I know what I want for Christmas!

[Jiminy Cricket]

64 songs in a musical? Wow, that would be about 4 hours long at least. I wish it were true, but probably would only buy the CD and/or DVD and not sit thru the stage production, unless it was on PBS.

Here's what I have found:

Disney's On the Record to Debut in November


By Andrew Gans
24 Feb 2004
The new Disney musical On the Record will open Nov. 9 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland.



A Disney spokesperson confirmed that On the Record — co-conceived by director Robert Longbottom and Disney's Thomas Schumacher — will play the Cleveland theatre through Nov. 21 before launching a national tour. Although no New York dates have been announced, the revue may end up on Broadway at a later date. Longbottom, who received a 2003 Best Choreographer Tony Award nomination for Flower Drum Song, will helm the new production.

On the Record features songs from the Disney canon — both from classic Disney films and Disney's Broadway outings — and will be set in a recording studio. Over 50 songs comprise On the Record, including tunes from "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Tarzan," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Sleeping Beauty," "Dumbo," "Peter Pan," "Pinocchio," "Lady and the Tramp," "Cinderella" and "Snow White."

In a statement, producer Schumacher said, "With On the Record we hope to introduce an entire new generation to the music that has captured the hearts of people for the past 70 years, all performed live on stage with a talented group of singers, dancers and musicians." The creative team will also feature Natasha Katz (lighting), Robert Brill (scenery), Gregg Barnes (costumes), David Chase (musical supervision and arrangements) and Chad Beguelin (scenarist).

Since debuting on Broadway a decade ago with Beauty and the Beast, Disney Theatrical has also presented two other current musicals, Aida and The Lion King. Disney's upcoming projects include Mary Poppins (in a joint production with Cameron Mackintosh), Little Mermaid and Tarzan. For more information about Disney productions, visit http://disney.go.com/disneytheatrical/index.html.

Disney Presents On The Record
• Next: 11/30 , {[DELETED]}; Palace Theatre - The Playhouse Square Center 1615 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-771-8403
• Click here for a complete schedule
Following the success of stage versions of Disney hits like 'Lion King' and 'Beauty and the Beast,' Disney Theatrical Productions created a brand-new Broadway-size production celebrating its unparalleled back catalog of songs from 70 years of filmmaking. 'On the Record' is an original musical featuring more than 60 of Disney's most beloved tunes. An initial run in Cleveland is followed by a national tour.

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The Premise: While you hardly need an excuse to sing some of the best songs from films ranging from 'Cinderella' to 'Aladdin,' even 'Cats' had a premise, however flimsy. 'On the Record' takes place in a high-tech recording studio, with an otherworldly sound engineer running the show. A pop diva and a matinee idol meet their up-and-coming counterparts as four fabulous voices vie for the spotlight while laying down 64 of Disney's most famous tunes in an all-night recording session.

The Company: Broadway vets Emily Skinner and Brian Sutherland head the cast as the pop diva and matinee idol fighting for their professional lives. Skinner earned a Tony nomination (with co-star Alice Ripley) when she played one of two Siamese twins in 'Side Show.' Sutherland has performed in such White Way revivals as 'The Sound of Music' and '1776.' Tony winner Richard Easton ('The Invention of Love') lends his voice as the sound engineer, and Tony nominated director/choreographer Robert Longbottom ('Flower Drum Song,' 'Side Show') keeps the huge spectacle moving.

The Songs: While Disney is mum as to which songs are included in the show, the studio does say that the score includes tunes from such classic films as 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Tarzan,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'Peter Pan,' 'Dumbo,' 'Aladdin,' 'Pinocchio' and 'Cinderella.' -- Christopher Cappiello (Photo: )

Arts & Culture: Musical Theater, Theater

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Kid-friendly

Official Web Site

More Info About Disney Presents On The Record:
•Overview•Schedule of upcoming events•User reviews and ratings

> Entertainment > Disney on BroadwaySearch Disneyhttp://log.go.com/log?srvc=dis&addat...82x23-0002.gif

Beyond two enormous doors, a recording soundstage beckons. The man in charge arranges the microphones. A clock on the wall flickers to life. A "RECORDING" sign begins to flash. But this studio is no ordinary place, and the man in charge, no ordinary man. He must inspire a stageful of singers, musicians and technicians to deliver the performance of their lives. A once-in-a-lifetime recording session is about to begin, and the man in charge will use all the magic you can imagine and all the music you could wish for, to create an evening of pure enchantment and powerful emotion - ON THE RECORD. From the producers of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, comes ON THE RECORD, a show-stopping new musical that sparkles with more than 50 of the most beloved songs ever written, from some of the most popular films ever made - including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and Snow White. Join the supremely talented singers and dancers behind-the-scenes at one very magical recording session, where every song you see performed ends up on the record! ON THE RECORD, starring the music of a lifetime - yours! It's first-class family entertainment, as only Disney can deliver!

Detailed tour schedule to dateCityTour Dates

Cleveland / Palace 11/9/2004 to 11/21/2004 Pittsburgh / Benedum 11/23/2004 to 11/28/2004 Chicago / Auditorium Theatre 11/30/2004 to 12/12/2004 Louisville / Palace 12/14/2004 to 12/19/2004 St. Paul / Ordway 12/21/2004 to 1/2/2005 Philadelphia / Academy 1/5/2005 to 1/16/2005 Richmond / Landmark 2/1/2005 to 2/6/2005 Detroit / Fisher 2/8/2005 to 2/27/2005 East Lansing / Wharton Center 3/1/2005 to 3/6/2005 St. Louis / Fox 3/8/2005 to 3/20/2005 Indianapolis / Clowes 3/22/2005 to 3/27/2005 Boston / Colonial 3/29/2005 to 4/10/2005 Charlotte / Blumenthal Performing Arts Center 4/12/2005 to 4/17/2005 Ft. Lauderdale / Broward 4/19/2005 to 5/1/2005 Tampa / Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 5/3/2005 to 5/8/2005 Ft. Myers / Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall 5/10/2005 to 5/15/2005 San Antonio / Majestic 5/24/2005 to 5/29/2005 Houston / Hobby Center 5/31/2005 to 6/12/2005 Green Bay / Weidner Center 7/5/2005 to 7/10/2005

[MandaBella]

Since I'm a big fan of Disney music, I'm very interested in this musical.

As I stated in another thread, I did purchase tickets for a show in Philadelphia...with the Disney Visa discount. I'll post a review then.

[Lou Mongello]

Amanda,

I'm thinking about going to a Philly show as well as a birthday gift to my wife.

[MickeyBabe]

I am going tonight!

A Birthday gift from my sister.

I'll post a review also.

[MandaBella]

Originally Posted by Jiminy Cricket

64 songs in a musical? Wow, that would be about 4 hours long at least. I wish it were true, but probably would only buy the CD and/or DVD and not sit thru the stage production, unless it was on PBS.

Not necessarily. A lot of Disney tunes, in the film forms, are rather short and well under 3 minutes in length. Their pop versions tend to be longer. I sang for 12 years and we frequently performed a medley to capture many tunes of the same genre. So some of these tunes may be represented in that way too.

[MandaBella]

Originally Posted by AKQJ10

Amanda,

I'm thinking about going to a Philly show as well as a birthday gift to my wife.

Word of advice, stay out of the balcony in the Academy of Music. Now if you enjoy poles and are under 5'3", then you may like it. We found out the hard way when I got tickets for the Nutcracker there.

Check your Disney Visa, we got $10 off each ticket.

[Lou Mongello]

We expect a "trip report" from you right away, Mickeybabe, of course!!

[dzneynut]

Linda and I have 7th row tickets for the Feb. 6th performance at the Landmark Theatre in Richmond, VA.
Can't wait!

[WDWScottieBoy]

Originally Posted by dzneynut

Linda and I have 7th row tickets for the Feb. 6th performance at the Landmark Theatre in Richmond, VA.
Can't wait!

Expect something that you've never seen before. Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it when you get back. It's still #1 on my favorite broadway shows ever.

[Sam I Am]

A tuneful tour of Disney's film past

Los Angeles Times (Home Edition) - January 05, 2005 - p E-10, Calendar; Calendar Desk

By Michael Kuchwara

Associated Press



NEW YORK


It's quite a collection. More than 70 years of popular song -- from a little ditty called "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo," coauthored by the big man himself, Walt Disney, to the works of such present-day maestros as Alan Menken, Elton John, Phil Collins, Randy Newman and more.





"It is like an American songbook, and they are the standards," says Thomas Schumacher, head of Disney Theatrical Productions, the folks who brought you the stage versions of "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," "Aida" and the recently opened London smash "Mary Poppins."


Schumacher was describing the musical numbers that make up "On the Record," Disney's new theater venture, designed to play around the country -- but not necessarily on Broadway.


You know the songs. You grew up with them. So did your kids. "When You Wish Upon a Star." "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo." "Someday My Prince Will Come." "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" Some 60 numbers in all, from all the classic Disney films such as "Snow White," "Pinocchio," "Lady and the Tramp" and "The Little Mermaid" to a few movies you may not have thought about in years, such as "The Parent Trap" or "So Dear to My Heart."


"On the Record," now on an extended national tour, was designed with travel in mind, able to be dismantled and reassembled quickly, although its setting of gleaming panels by Robert Brill is still lavish-looking. (The show is expected to hit the West Coast in late summer or fall, but no official dates are listed on its website at present.)


"The simple fact is everything you send out on the road can't be huge," said Schumacher, a man who should know since he has two tours of "The Lion King" currently traipsing the country. "A lot of theaters can't accommodate them for long runs. So if you can't accommodate a long run, but you can accommodate a week or even a split [half] week, what can we send out?"


"On the Record" would appear to be the answer, with bookings through much of 2005 already set. It was born when Schumacher decided to mine the musical gold that is in the Disney song catalog. But how do you present the material in an evening of entertainment that would be tour-friendly and appeal to a wide variety of people?


Complicating matters, according to Schumacher, was that most of these songs are not pop songs. They are story songs, written for very specific moments in these films. They could not easily be inserted into a new story (such as was done with the ABBA songs in "Mamma Mia!")


The solution came from director Robert Longbottom, best known for his work on such Broadway musicals as "Side Show" and the 2002 revival of "Flower Drum Song." Longbottom devised an entertainment that is not quite a revue and not quite a musical with a fully developed plot. He set the show, which has eight performers, in a recording studio.


Its story involves two older, more experienced singers (who had a past and perhaps a complicated history), two young performers and six backup singers and dancers. The cast is not well known, although its two leads, Kaitlin Hopkins and Brian Sutherland, have extensive theater credits.


"And if the studio were a certain kind of recording studio, we could have magic appear," Longbottom explained, a place where the actors could burst into dancing during the show's song segments.


"On the Record" is built around more than a dozen of these sessions, presided over by a recording engineer (the voice of actor Richard Easton). Each segment has a theme, with the songs carefully linked.


The story line is slight and the characters mostly communicate through these songs, which are used to express their feelings, among other things. But this being Disney, the stage also comes alive with fantasy sequences that take off from the recording sessions.


Assisting Longbottom in his research was David Chase, music adapter, supervisor and arranger for "On the Record." They watched all the Disney movies, and Chase checked the Disney archives and pored over pop recordings of the songs by such singers as Doris Day, Louis Armstrong, Barbara Cook and others.


Chase found forgotten lyrics from certain songs, lyrics that didn't make it into the films but were recorded in pop versions of these numbers. Among his favorites: a verse from "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" that went: "If your mind is in a dither and your heart is in a haze, I'll haze your dither and dither your haze with a magic phrase."


The duo were helped in their research by Chris Montan, who runs Walt Disney Music and has worked on all the Disney animated movies since "The Little Mermaid" in 1989.


"We had a master list, maybe 90 or 100 songs, and we identified the ones that certainly were our priorities that we wanted to get into the show," Montan said. "And we started to create categories -- flying songs or silly songs, for example -- and whether we wanted to do a segment that was from a movie, such as 'The Little Mermaid.'


"Then we would check each other's work to make sure we hadn't left out any of the really key songs, such as 'Colors of the Wind' [from "Pocahontas"], which wasn't in the show for a while," he said. "And 'Beauty and the Beast' kept coming and going, just by the nature of the way the segments were coming together. Part of my job was to make sure that nothing of real importance got left behind."


"It was like setting a table for dinner," Longbottom added. "You really had to plan a musical menu. We did a lot of shifting around with all of the song titles laid out on index cards."


The collaborators had a lot of numbers from which to choose. Disney songs were the pop songs of their day in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and then had a renaissance in the 1990s when Alan Menken and major pop artists began writing for Disney's animated films.


"In the early days, Walt was much more in tune with using songs to advance the story elements in his films than the theater was," Montan said. "There weren't many coherent book musicals being written in th