Artsda May 17, 2017 Share May 17, 2017 ABC to stage live TV musical production of The Little Mermaid ABC is dipping its toe in the live musical waters this year with The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live. Billed as a two-hour special event, ABC will take viewers inside the iconic 1989 animated feature film, which tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid who trades her voice for a chance to walk among the humans, while intertwining live musical performances of the movie’s hit songs. The special — which will be produced by Hamish Hamilton, Ian Stewart, David Jammy, Katy Mullan, and Richard Kraft — will soon cast a slew of celebrity artists whose performance will be weaved into the original animated film. While this is the first time Disney is doing a hybrid live-action/animation experience of The Little Mermaid on-screen, the concept of weaving live performances with the film is not new. This past summer, a cadre of big names performed The Little Mermaid songs at the Hollywood Bowl, including Sara Bareilles as Ariel, Rebel Wilson as Ursula, Darren Criss as Eric, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, John Stamos as Chef Louis, Norm Lewis as Triton, and Joshua Colley as Flounder. The news comes on the heels of Fox announcing live productions of Rent and A Christmas Story, while NBC will tackle Jesus Christ Superstar. The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live will debut Tuesday, Oct. 3. 4 Link to comment
In2You May 17, 2017 Share May 17, 2017 Yes a live version of my favorite Disney movie right around my birthday 3 Link to comment
Spartan Girl May 18, 2017 Share May 18, 2017 I cannot wait! Eager for some casting news! Link to comment
Spartan Girl August 4, 2017 Share August 4, 2017 Postponed until 2018 Boo. Well at least it isn't scrapped completely (I hope). 1 Link to comment
In2You August 4, 2017 Share August 4, 2017 4 hours ago, Spartan Girl said: Postponed until 2018 Boo. Well at least it isn't scrapped completely (I hope). I was wondering when they were gonna announce casting and couldn't find anything the other day. Link to comment
In2You October 8, 2019 Share October 8, 2019 18 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said: Love everything except Stamos. He's just seemed so out of place Link to comment
chitowngirl October 8, 2019 Share October 8, 2019 Especially in the role of the French chef. It’ll only be one scene though, yes? 2 Link to comment
Snow Apple October 8, 2019 Share October 8, 2019 I don't mind John Stamos since it's such a small role. The actor playing Prince Eric looks too old in that clip. I don't know who he is though so maybe he's a good actor and singer. 1 Link to comment
JAYJAY1979 October 18, 2019 Share October 18, 2019 Queen Latifah.. miscast as Ursula...imho 1 Link to comment
chitowngirl October 25, 2019 Share October 25, 2019 So they’re going to be showing the animated movie and then break into live song and dance numbers occasionally?? 3 Link to comment
Was-MArsenault November 4, 2019 Share November 4, 2019 They just showed a promo for this on Freeform, and I completely forgot that this was on tomorrow night. Link to comment
WendyCR72 November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 I don't get the concept of this at all. I thought it was simply going to be live action, but apparently the original cartoon WILL be playing and then...I don't know, some parts go live or whatever? As I said, this makes no sense to me. 4 Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 On 10/25/2019 at 4:28 PM, chitowngirl said: So they’re going to be showing the animated movie and then break into live song and dance numbers occasionally?? 1 hour ago, WendyCR72 said: I don't get the concept of this at all. I thought it was simply going to be live action, but apparently the original cartoon WILL be playing and then...I don't know, some parts go live or whatever? As I said, this makes no sense to me. Yes, it sounds like it's going to be like the shows they've done at the Hollywood Bowl where they show the movie and then have performers come onstage to do the songs live. To get an idea, this is what it looked like the last time they did the Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl. You can see the movie playing on the screen and then they stop to introduce Lea who comes out and sings Part of Your World. There are screens around the stage that keep playing the movie. You can see it in the second half of the video when she sings the reprise. The previous performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 2016 had slightly more costumed looks (as opposed to the more regular looking outfits they did this year). Based on the promo posted above, they are going full costumes for this new version! On 10/7/2019 at 6:36 PM, Spartan Girl said: Love everything except Stamos. He played Louis in the Hollywood Bowl performance a few years ago so I think the producers cast him for this live performance because they already knew he could do it. He was fine. It's only one song and he didn't deviate from the original movie performance. I found Darren Criss as Prince Eric a lot more disappointing than Uncle Jesse as Chef Louis. I know Graham Phillips from The Good Wife so I'm half expecting Prince Eric to be a sullen brat, but he used to sing when he was younger. This is him singing with his girlfriend at the time Ariana Grande: Since they bothered casting someone who can sing as Prince Eric, I wonder if that means they're going to keep the extra songs from the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid. I hope they at least keep If Only. Honestly, I'm going to be watching because of my love for The Little Mermaid, Auli'i Cravalho, and to see the dancing (Alex Wong from SYTYCD has been posting behind the scenes stuff on IG stories). I have a feeling some of the other casting is going to turn out to be a disappointment. Feel free to prove me wrong, Disney! 1 Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 It looks like they will be using some of the stuff from the post-Broadway version of the musical (they replaced Ariel's Broadway heelies with aerial work). And I'm here for big production numbers with lots of dancers! 2 Link to comment
chitowngirl November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 I’m surprised they didn’t show this on a Sunday evening where they could start it an hour earlier. 5 Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 See part of the set in this video (it starts around the 1:00 mark). Graham Phillips also talks about how the studio audience will participate during the performance): 1 Link to comment
Irlandesa November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 2 hours ago, chitowngirl said: I’m surprised they didn’t show this on a Sunday evening where they could start it an hour earlier. Football is the reason I'm guessing. Link to comment
chitowngirl November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 Is it really the same demographic? I don’t see one interfering with the other. Lol 1 Link to comment
Snow Apple November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 2 hours ago, chitowngirl said: Is it really the same demographic? I don’t see one interfering with the other. Lol No but if there's football on, everything else must bow down and work around their schedules. And if there's overtime? You won't see your program at all because they don't often reschedule. This one is live so why risk it? 1 Link to comment
Irlandesa November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 3 hours ago, chitowngirl said: Is it really the same demographic? I don’t see one interfering with the other. Lol There's only one demographic these days, I think. It's "people who watch things on TV." I do think there's probably more overlap than you'd think. Football viewers are pretty diverse but the nostalgia factor probably draws a pretty mixed crowd for this as well. But football has the advantage of an unpredictable result. And adults who often control what is watched would probably opt for football over The Little Mermaid. 2 Link to comment
Was-MArsenault November 5, 2019 Share November 5, 2019 https://insidethemagic.net/2019/11/jodi-benson-the-little-mermaid-live-kc1/ Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Well, I'm here everyone! Who else is here? Jodi Benson! 2 Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I'm here and this version of Fathoms Below sounds lipsynced Link to comment
crimsongrl November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I'm here but the audience might send me away. Shaddup! 2 4 Link to comment
Snow Apple November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I'm here. Aww. The dog is a cutie pie. 4 Link to comment
Frost November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 They need to get the audience to SHUT UP! 1 4 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 (edited) So they're combining songs from the animated film and the Broadway show? Edited November 6, 2019 by bmoore4026 Link to comment
Frost November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I don't think this works. Maybe if you see it live, but on TV? I don't like the back and forth. 5 Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Just now, Frost said: I don't think this works. Maybe if you see it live, but on TV? I don't like the back and forth. It's annoying and it's ruining the flow of my favorite Disney theme. Plus the live audience is too damn loud! 2 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Damn, they aren't giving much time for me to go switch laundry, do they? Link to comment
Snow Apple November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 It's weird. I guess they didn't want to do the full Broadway musical so as not to steal the upcoming movie's thunder? Link to comment
movingtargetgal November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 The audience is too loud and the singer's mic's are set too low. Since the networks have started airing live musicals over the past few years this has been a reoccurring issue. It is a musical why can't we hear the performers? 5 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Just now, Snow Apple said: It's weird. I guess they didn't want to do the full Broadway musical so as not to steal the upcoming movie's thunder? I'd kill for a Live version of the Broadway show. Screw the remakes. And are they editing parts of the movie? 4 Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 1 minute ago, Snow Apple said: It's weird. I guess they didn't want to do the full Broadway musical so as not to steal the upcoming movie's thunder? This has been in the works for 2 years. They could've done the live show. The movie isn't even filming until next year. Probably won't see that until 2021. There's no thunder to steal. Just now, bmoore4026 said: I'd kill for a Live version of the Broadway show. Screw the remakes. And are they editing parts of the movie? I feel like they're editing parts of the movie. Plus this is the remastered version of the movie. It makes me want to go bring out my VHS of the 10th anniversary edition. 3 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Oh, I feel like I have to say something nice, but I can't think of anything. Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I will say this actress has the voice and mannerisms of Ariel down. Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, In2You said: I will say this actress has the voice and mannerisms of Ariel down. I didn't feel it. I didn't feel the emotion or heart the song should convey. Also, it felt rushed. Edited November 6, 2019 by bmoore4026 4 Link to comment
Snow Apple November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I think I'd rather watch the cartoon all the way through. The live part just feels intrusive. 5 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Why is there one Ariel having a salad while another Ariel is waaaaay over in the background with Eric? And nothing will top the animated version of the Part of Your World reprise. 5 Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I 2 minutes ago, bmoore4026 said: Why is there one Ariel having a salad while another Ariel is waaaaay over in the background with Eric? And nothing will top the animated version of the Part of Your World reprise. I agree. I have yet to hear a version of Part of Your World reprise that sounds close to the original. 6 Link to comment
toomuchtv November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I hate the cutting back and forth with the movie. I’m not here to watch the movie, I can do that anytime. 4 Link to comment
bmoore4026 November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 I can barely fucking make out what they're singing. I ain't happy, Disney. 4 Link to comment
chitowngirl November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 (edited) I can hear everything BUT Sebastian. Queen Latifah looks fierce. Sound still sucks Edited November 6, 2019 by chitowngirl 4 Link to comment
In2You November 6, 2019 Share November 6, 2019 Those muppets were singing too loud. Could barely hear Shaggy. And that Thriller knockoff outfit wasn't it! 6 Link to comment
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