10 Disney movies that should be made into Broadway musicals
It’s been 30 years since Disney opened Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and since then, a Disney movie coming to the stage has been a regular thing. The successes are amazing, with The Lion King still running today on Broadway and London, and Frozen has become a successful touring production.
There have been a few misses like Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and others. Yet it makes sense that Disney movies, which already use a lot of music and fantastic settings, easily lend themselves to a Broadway adaptation. There are reports that Tangled may be next, and no doubt others are being considered. With so many movies in the library, there’s still a lot that could be done.
Interesting is how some projects weren’t originally musicals yet somehow could fit that format. They boast great stories and seeing as how Broadway has been obsessed with turning almost any movie into a musical, these can work too. These are ten great Disney films that would be wonderful Broadway musicals and something the company should consider to conquer the Great White Way.
Hocus Pocus
A box office flop in its initial release, Hocus Pocus has since become a huge cult hit and a Halloween mainstay. That makes it a nice bet for one of those “Seasonal” musicals you see pop up on Broadway. The movie already has some good music and folks love seeing the Sandersons at the Magic Kingdom’s Halloween bash. The stage version can add more songs and give the twisted witches more background.
It might be tricky to figure out how the special effects work, yet Disney has proven capable of pulling that off nicely. Even if it’s not Halloween, seeing this cult favorite hitting the Broadway stage would be a wonderful treat for theatergoers.
The Emperor’s New Groove
It’s a famous story that The Emperor’s New Groove began as a musical film with a different plot only to be totally overhauled. The 2000 comedy has become an underrated gem with wonderful comedy. Combine that with those original songs, and you’ve got a winner on Broadway, even if the “prince turned into a llama” bit would be a challenge to make work.
The show might have to adjust some big set pieces like the river chase and some sight gags, but it can work in a lot more and still capture the movie’s irreverent humor. This film really deserves more respect and a stage show could be a fine way to get it.