Wednesday, March 16, 2011

New Disney Adaptations in the Works

Disney Theatricals is in the process of adapting more of their famed film collection into musicals for the stage.  Up next are Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Father of the Bride, and Freaky Friday.  Tim Burton, who directed a recent film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland with Disney is in the works to direct that film's stage version with the film's scriptwriter, Linda Woolverton, will contribute to the show's script.

Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, and The Yiddish Policemen's Union, is set to write the script for the adaptation of Dumbo, which will be directed by Stephen Daldry.  Mr. Daldry won a Tony for his direction of Billy Elliot a few years back.

Bartlett Sher (Tony-winning director of the hit revival of South Pacific) will direct the adaptation of Father of the Bride, while Christopher Ashley will direct the adaptation of Freaky Friday.

2 comments:

  1. Michael Chabon and Dumbo! Two of my favorites in the same breath. The only potential downside is Disney. The Disney/Julie Taymor combination was spectacular - her artistic vision and Disney's practicality. Let's hope the same magic works with Chabon. Time will tell.

    Disney has no exclusive hold on Alice in Wonderland, right?

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  2. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland entered the public domain in 1907 after its original British copyright lapsed without renewal.

    The two Disney films of the book (the live-action one from 2010 and the better known, animated one from 1951), however, are still under copyright.

    The only thing that could relate to an "exclusive hold" is how closely adapted the show is to either of the films.

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