Disney is commissioning Broadway-style musical theater pieces for its theme-parks:
Ms. Hamburger has also commissioned a Disneyland “Snow White” musical from Dara Cloud, a playwright, and Eric Schaeffer, artistic director of the Signature Theater Company in Arlington, Va., who recently completed the Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
In addition Ms. Hamburger said Disney was producing a new parade for Disney World’s Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. Its creators are Andrew Jackness, who recently designed the set for “Mourning Becomes Electra” at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, and Candice Donnelly, who designed the costumes for “This Thing of Darkness” at the Atlantic Theater Company in Manhattan.
Although its magic carpet indeed flies, this “Aladdin” leans toward old-fashioned theater, with painted backdrops. “The whole philosophy behind doing this is to take it up a notch, so theme-park entertainment is on a par with Broadway entertainment,” Ms. Zambello, the director, said.
(Thanks, Gary!)