Artist:
Tarzan
Genre: Broadway
Background: The Mouse House
has announced it will hold an open casting
call to search for a hot young stud to play
the Ape Man in an all-new Broadway musical
slated to open next year.
Per the press release, producers are
seeking "a thrilling pop/rock singer
to play in his 20s. Caught between the
world of gorillas and the world of humans,
Tarzan is a human raised by a family of
apes in the African jungle. We must identify
with him and care about him and his enormous
journey."
The release continues: "He is charming,
sexy, vulnerable, animal-like, mysterious,
and has lots of humanity. He is physically
lean but toned, like a swimmer. He is
NOT a muscle man, as in the traditional
Tarzan type. He should have strong upper
body strength and be physical, agile,
fearless, and very comfortable with movement
and tackling aerial work. His body must
be at one with the environment."
No word about would-be Janes. Tarzan
aims to follow in the footsteps (or paw
steps, considering its predecessors) of
the company's other Broadway hits--The
Lion King and Beauty and the Beast (like
Tarzan both were adapted from hit animated
features), as well as Aida (which doesn't
have a corresponding Disney 'toon, at
least not yet)--by sticking to a simple
formula.
First, hire a popular composer you've
previously collaborated with. Lion King
and Aida featured the tunes of Elton John
and Tim Rice, Tarzan will feature music
and lyrics by Oscar- and Grammy-winning
popster Phil Collins, who wrote the score
for Disney's 1999 animated Tarzan, along
with 2003's Brother Bear and the direct-to-video
feature Tarzan 2.
Next, secure rights to the source material.
Producers are basing the musical on the
original novel, Edgar Rice Burroughs'
Tarzan of the Apes. Last but not least,
hire talented Tony-pedigree creative types.
David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) will
adapt the book from the script by Tab
Murphy, Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, while
Bob Crowley (Aida, Carousel) will direct
and design the sets and costumes.
Disney's 'toon version of Tarzan used
traditional hand-drawn animation to retell
the Burroughs' classic, with the titular
character literally surfing the jungle.
It was a huge hit at the box office, earning
more than $170 million domestically and
nearly $450 million worldwide, and earning
Collins a Best Song Oscar for "You'll
Be in My Heart."
