Disney’s Little Mermaid Getting Ready For Broadway
Disney Theatrical announced that this will be the final year for "Beauty and the Beast". The show will be closing on July 29, 2007, making way for Disney's "The Little Mermaid" to take its place. "Beauty and the Beast" will have run for 5,464 shows since 1994, making it the sixth longest running show in Broadway history. "The Little Mermaid" will begin previews on November 3.
While Disney currently has "Tarzan", "Mary Poppins", and "Lion King" on Broadway, it was felt that "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" were too similar in "princess" theme to keep both running at the same time. "The shows right now don't really cannibalize each other," Thomas Schumacher, the president of Disney Theatrical, said. "But two fairy tales in the kind princess-y realm, that's a lot. I think it's reasonable to think one thing comes to its natural conclusion."
"The Little Mermaid" will play in Denver from July 26 – September 9. The book for this play will be written by Doug Wright, and 9 new songs will be composed by Glenn Slater and Alan Menken. The Director for "Mermaid" will be Francesca Zambello, the choreographer will be Stephen Mere, and the scenic designer will be George Tsypin.
Sales will likely boost due to the early closing announcement. Thomas Schumacher jokingly added that if people miss the performance, not to worry, shows can return before you know it. "Les Miserables" made a comeback less than four years after it was closed.