Disney Launches 'Toy Story' Musical Aboard Cruise-Line
TheOrlando Sentinelreports Disney executives have announced a multi-million-dollar musical version ofToy Story to debut in April aboard theDisney Wonder cruise ship.
Following the success ofFindingNemo – The Musical currently playing Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando,Toy Story will be a short andsmaller-scale musical production aboard the resort ship's 1000-seat theatre. The company has been in rehearsal in adowntown Torontospace. Toy Story –The Musical will launch from Port Canaveral inpreparation for its April debut. "The cast and crew has a two-week, at-searehearsal period to work out technical aspects such as flying and theappearance of The Claw in a pivotal scene with the alien dolls inside an arcadegame at Pizza Planet," states the article.
Stefan Novinski directs a cast of 16. Anne Hamburger, executive vice president ofDisney Creative Entertainment, will produce. The creative team also includes JohnLasseter, the Oscar-winning director/creator of theToy Story films; and designer Michael Curry, the Tony Award-winningco-creator of the puppets used in Broadway'sThe Lion King, developed the inflatable costumes used in the newmini-musical.
In order to translate the computer animated characters intoreal-life, some toys have been transformed into inflatable puppets, orface-characters played by actors. Projections will be used as backdrops. "Rex, Hamm and Slinky (one actor in the head, one actor in the tail)have movable parts, including blinking eyes, raise-ready eyebrows and mouths,controlled by the performers inside," explains the article, "Mr. Potato Head isoutfitted with a nose, mustache and ears that eject plus a spinning hat."
Noel Orput portrays Buzz Lightyear opposite Geoffrey Tyleras Woody.
The musical will include familiar songs like Randy Newman's "You'veGot A Friend In Me," plus new songs penned by married composer-lyricist teamBrendan Milburn andValerie Vigoda (part of the Brooklyn-based group GrooveLily)entitled "To Infinity And Beyond" and "Make a Little Noise"
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