Search Results for: blog underappreciated disney films newsies

Newsies: Big Broadway Success

It may be one of my Most Underappreciated Disney Films, but it’s no flop on the stage: The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the Broadway version of “Newsies” has already recouped its expenses.  For a Broadway show that’s fast; in fact, “Newsies” sets a record for Disney Theatrical Productions as the show that’s made back the money spent to make it in the quickest amount of time. “Newsies” cost Disney Theatrical Productions $5 million.  It made that back in nine months after opening (on Broadway; its pre-Broadway run in New Jersey isn’t being counted here).  That’s even faster than Disney Broadway … Continue reading →

“Newsies” to Carry the Banner to Broadway

At the end of March “Newsies” will come to Broadway to run for 101 performances through June. “Wait,” you might say, “wasn’t ‘Newsies’ already on Broadway?” Nope, when the musical ran in fall 2011 it actually played off-Broadway at a theater in New Jersey. Thanks to its popularity, both with critics and the general public (i.e., in ticket sales), it now gets to play on the Great White Way at the Nederlander Theatre from March 29 to June 15. Previews begin on March 15. “Broadway revival” is a popular term, though it usually refers to once-famous New York shows that … Continue reading →

“Newsies” Show Debuts on Sunday

I can’t believe it’s actually happening. Almost a year ago I wrote about how “Newsies” was slated for Broadway, but although I read reports about it happening I didn’t quite believe they would come to fruition. But they have. “Newsies” opens on September 25 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, only 25 miles from Manhattan. It runs through October 16, and if it’s successful, who knows, it could come back for more. In further proof of the musical’s existence the Disney Blog has a variety of videos about the show, from rehearsal clips to an interview with composer … Continue reading →

“Newsies” Set for the Stage

One of my recurring columns highlighted “Newsies” as a woefully underappreciated Disney film. Some critics thought the songs were flat but I vehemently disagree; Alan Menken composed the score and I knew some people who hated the film but conceded the quality of the soundtrack. Now “Newsies” might finally get a real shot at the popularity it deserves. Sure, it enjoys a strange sort of cult status amongst girls who discovered it when they were 14 or so (like me), but I think a stage version of the musical gives it a chance at some critical acclaim. According to Moviefone’s … Continue reading →

Underappreciated Disney Films: The Sword in the Stone

Over the weekend, the BBC’s current King Arthur reinvention television program, “Merlin,” held a Comic-Con panel. During the session one audience member asked two of the show’s stars, those playing the young lead Merlin and the stern King Uther, what was their favorite Arthurian screen adaptation. Both replied, “the Disney one.” While this says something about the distressingly poor quality of most Arthurian film adaptations, it also speaks to the enduring excellence of “The Sword in the Stone.” Yet for some reason, the 1963 animated movie rarely gets much attention, especially amongst its Disney peers. I can understand why some … Continue reading →

Hints of More Disney on Broadway

Music makes Disney great. Who could imagine wishing for a star, longing for a prince to come, or wanting to be a part of a new world without the uplifting swell of the famous scores accompanying those stories? As I’ve implied before, part of Disney’s magic comes from its music, and when that music isn’t strong the movie’s better off not trying to be a musical. It’s no surprise that, given the high quality of most of Disney’s musical movies, many of them have migrated to Broadway. While “The Lion King” continues its reign as Disney’s most popular musical theater … Continue reading →

Underappreciated Disney Films: Newsies

I didn’t even have to watch or re-watch the new Underappreciated Disney Film, I know it so well. I haven’t seen it in full in years, but back when I was a teenager, I had both the movie and its soundtrack playing almost constantly. In honor of International Worker’s Day tomorrow, this segment’s underappreciated film is “Newsies.” “Newsies” is one of those movies that almost always gets either one of two reactions when brought up in a group: silence, because someone doesn’t know what it is, or shrieking gasps of “I LOVE(D) that movie!” It’s also a great example of … Continue reading →