Alan Menken Working on Theatrical Version of Tangled for Disney Cruise Line

As part of the lead up to Disney 23 Expo (D23), Alan Menken and Richard Sherman teamed up for for a telephone interview on Tuesday to promote The Disney Songbook concert being held this coming Saturday night at the D23 Expo.  During the interview, Alan Menken was asked by Dave Parfitt if he would like to see any of his films turned into theatrical production.  At first, Menken responded by saying that it would be “neat” to see Hercules developed. Then, to my surprise, he said announced “we are working on a cruise ship version of Tangled and who knows if that will find its way to the stage.”

Later in the interview when presented with the same question, Richard Sherman said he was “cautious about talking about to many things unless they are really on the road to happening.”  Menken was quick to add in that he can be a “blabber mouth sometimes.” Those were his words, not mine.

Here is a brief clip from the interview.

Portions of Tangled are currently represented in the Disney Cruise Line stage shows.  Rapunzel made her debut in The Golden Mickeys with the launch of the Disney Dream in 2011, signing Menken’s Academy Award nominated “I See the Light.”  The following year, Disney’s Wishes debut on the Disney Fantasy with “I’ve Got a Dream

Personally, I hope a production of Tangled sees the light of day in the Walt Disney Theatre.  I would be thrilled if this production has been flying under the radar and is further along than Menken is letting on with plans to premier in October on the reimagined Disney Magic, but that is just wishful thinking.   However, there were a series of casting calls in June seeking talented and versatile singers for a variety of Broadway musical theatre style shows on the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder for contracts beginning in September.  However, this is more than likely just a coincidence.  I reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment, but have yet to hear back.

I would like to thank StitchKingdom.com for allowing me to listen in on the conference call.

Do you think Tangled would make a good addition to Disney Cruise Line’s stage show lineup?  Chances are, if this becomes a reality, Tangled would replace a current  show.  Which show would you be willing to give up?

UPDATERumored Tangled Stage Show and Elsa on Course to Debut in May 2015 on the Disney Magic

17 Replies to “Alan Menken Working on Theatrical Version of Tangled for Disney Cruise Line”

  1. Michael

    With WDW, many shows are only seen by the once in a lifetime or few trips in a lifetime visitor. With the amount of repeat cruisers DCL entertains, keeping their stage shows fresh to maintain this repeat cruise business should be a priority.

    Reply
    1. steven

      I’d have to disagree! From my experience … there are FEW more people able to visit WDW or Disneyland, as compared to those who are able to sail on a Disney cruise (for various reasons). Regardless, Disney Parks, like DCL, would be remiss if they installed an attraction or show for a limited period of time. Remember, there is a 6-12 month storyboard … 6-12 month set design … and 6+ month rehearsal period. How much R&D $$$ would be wasted if the show was retired after a few months. Similarly, this is why automobile manufacturers do not generally make drastic changes to their vehicles on a yearly basis. Rather … a vehicle is kept (granted, with minor changes) … refreshed after 3-6 years … and changed after another 3-6 years

      Reply
  2. Pam

    LOVE the idea of a DCL Tangled show! It is one of my favorite movies! I believe that Michael is right… that keeping the stage shows fresh for the repeat cruisers should be a priority for Disney. However, all of the shows are wonderful and so well done that we never skip them; even if we have seen them 4 or 5 times! 🙂 But if I had to pick one to be removed from the entertainment list, I would pick “Disney Wishes”. I realize that this show is new, but it has been our least favorite out of the entire DCL lineup. Other than that… Perhaps it’s time to retire Aladdin. It’s a great show, but seeing it on the ship AND at California Adventure I think we are up for something new. I love the fact that with the dry dock rennovations, DCL updates the entertainment as well! For me, as a repeat cruiser, it does make me want to sail on the older ships to check out all the new stuff! I just wish that Disney would update their itineraries. It just seems like the majority of the cruises go to the Western Caribbean! Anyway… that’s another story! Thanks for bringing us DCL fans all the updates Scott! It’s very much appreciated!

    Reply
    1. steven

      Uhhh … you DO realize the Fantasy alternates between the Eastern and Western … right? The Dream does Nassau. If you are referring to new itineraries for the Magic/Wonder … I am sure you have noticed many attempts to find a niche in either NY, Galveston and Miami? If DCL is not satisfied … they need to keep the ships afloat, filled with paying passengers. That aside, if the Caribbean is selling … why not let the guests sail?

      Reply
      1. Chrissy

        I think Pam means that the majority of cruises – from all cruise lines and all southern ports, go the Western Caribbean, and I agree. MOST cruises go to Cozumel. Great port, but the Western is offered by everyone.

        Reply
        1. steven

          If guests are offered numerous itineraries … they pick the ones which are of interest to them. If a cruise is departing Florida, it is near impossible to get a 7-night Southern Caribbean Itinerary (due to logistics). To the contrary, Western Caribbean can be accomplished from Florida, as well as Galveston. Al little of topic … but … if I was offered a chance to sail to Cuba … I would pass. There are only so many areas in the Caribbean … Eastern / Western / Southern … plus Bahamas. When you consider most Southern cruises usually require sailing out of San Juan … you limit the options available to guests who do not want to fly too far, or make excessive layovers.

          For me … I usually sail eastern … then Western … then a special itinerary (East or West with special port of call) … then hit a TransAtlantic, Panama Canal, Alaska, or Repo cruise. All things in moderation! 🙂

          Reply
    2. Emily

      Well Pam, I highly doubt that Wishes or Aladdin are going anywhere since the Fantasy has only been sailing for just over one year. Wishes has a weak storyline for sure, but the musical numbers rock!!! The Pinocchio song is so catchy and I love the Rapunzel number in it!!

      Reply
    3. Heath

      I agree with Pam about too many Western itineraries! Within the last year or so (and going into next year), you could sail from PC on Fantasy, Galveston on Magic, and Miami on Magic/Wonder to Western, but the only Eastern option is biweekly on the Fantasy. Because supply is so scarce on Easterns, the price is high too. I would love to see more variation in itineraries. Bring back NYC as a home port and the Canada cruises!

      Reply
    1. Emily

      Yep. I agree Mark!!! Once Sid’s number begins, the show screeches to a halt. The time we saw it, we noticed that is when most people left the show.

      Reply
  3. steven

    Is Toy Story on the Wonder? I believe I remember the show … have not been on the Wonder since 2011. I’m not sure I remember it being overly fabulous, but also do not recall it being a bomb. Did it include marionette style characters (with puppeteer ropes)? If that’s correct … I though it was cute (at least the technique).

    This brings up another thought … if someone sails two B2B’s on the Dream per year … I can imagine them growing tired of a specific show. Then again, if I am sailing a B2B, I’m going to have to ex ect repeat shows. If I sail the same ship 5 times the same year … I will also expect the same shows. However, I understand the concept of replacing shows. After all … sailing DCL is not the same as heading to NYC for a Broadway show. When we go to NYC, we pick a specific show … and usually do not return to see the same show (at least, not in the immediate future). To the contrary, I agree, if I am sailing on DCL (whichever ship). I’d like to think they could change up the shows … whether they are swapped between ships, or changed every few years. I understand the cast members are rotated out every year, and that they rehearse one year in advance … but DCL should have the capability of replacing shows … since they currently update shows from time to time. Now, if we can get DCL to update / change the Castaway Club gifts … that’s be good, too!

    Reply
  4. Bill B.

    I know it’s not the Magic or Wonder but I would like to see Villains replaced on the Dream (and Fantasy if it is on the Fantasy). I have not talked to one guest who really cares for this show.

    Reply
    1. Emily

      I love Villains!!! We’ve seen it three times and really enjoy it!!! Shows are like food; subjective. I’m in the ‘can’t stand Toy Story’ camp & I’m sure some people love it. It’s not on the Fantasy, by the way.

      That being said, I’d LOVE to see a DCL Tangled production!!! It’s one of my FAVORITE movies!!!! Yay!!!

      Reply
  5. steven

    I agree with Emily! On the lines of Pirate Night … VILLIANS is one show where people dress up in costume to attend the show! We used to see this for the Golden Mickeys, before that was retired. I like the score … like the story line … like the costumes … and like that it is a bit different (on the darker side).

    Reply
  6. Pam

    To clarify my original thought about the DCL itineraries… When Disney announced the addition of 2 more ships (the Dream and Fantasy), they expressed that more ships would allow DCL to expand their itineraties into different parts of the world. I’ll go so far as to say that most DCL fans were very excited by this news. And in fact, Disney HAS made efforts to expand their cruises to the Panama Canal, Mexican Riveira, Alaska, Hawaii, New York, a Transatlantic Crossing, the Mediterranian, Northern Europe and the Southern Caribbean. Their efforts even included the trail of different home ports such as Galveston, Miami and San Juan. I applaud Disney’s efforts! However, I wish that Disney would rotate those expanded cruises into the itinerariy lineup! I completely understand that cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean (Eastern and Western) out of Port Canaveral are the foundation and will not change. I have no issue with this. But, I live on the West Coast. It is expensive to travel 3,000 miles to sail out of Florida. And if I am a repeat cruiser, then what are my choices? Bahamas, Eastern and Western Caribbean. For me, just being onboard DCL for a week is awesome enough! But there are times when I wish DCL offered those expanded itineraries on a regular/rotational basis. I would love to sail to or around the Mediterranain… but I can’t afford the airfare from the West Coast on top of that. We have done Alaska and would love to do it again. But I would like to see Hawaii return. Many people have wanted to see the return of sailing from New York. All I’m saying is that if I spend the money to travel from the West Coast it would be nice to have more options. I wish I lived closer to Florida and could sail more frequently! But the thought of a relaxing long weekend (3 night cruise) aboard the Dream is just not financially prudent from the West Coast. I am looking forward to seeing what DCL might offer for 2015. I can’t wait to plan our next adventure with Disney Cruise Line!

    Reply
  7. Shelley

    Must say we love Villains tonight. It’s the only show we saw on our 4 night med last month as its the only one we wanted to see again. So it’s all subjective

    Reply

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