Hercules (musical) explained

Hercules
Music:Alan Menken
Lyrics:David Zippel
Basis:Hercules
by Ron Clements
John Musker
Donald McEnery
Bob Shaw
Irene Mecchi
Setting:Ancient Greece

Hercules is a musical based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1997 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. The production is also loosely based on the legendary hero of the same name, the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the musical had a tryout at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in August 2019 and was met with a mixed critical response.

Development

In July 2017, Alan Menken announced that he was working on a stage adaptation of the 1997 film Hercules. On February 6, 2019, it was announced that the theatrical adaptation would premiere later that year.

Productions

Off-Broadway (2019)

The world premiere occurred at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Manhattan, New York, as part of its Public Works program from August 31 until September 8. Menken and David Zippel returned to compose and write the songs, while Kristoffer Diaz wrote the book, Lear deBessonet directed, and Chase Brock choreographed.[1] The cast included Jelani Alladin (Hercules), Roger Bart (Hades), Jeff Hiller (Panic), Joel Frost (Nessus), Nelson Chimilio (Pain),[2] James Monroe Iglehart (Phil), Ramona Keller (Thalia), Tamika Lawrence (Calliope), Krysta Rodriguez (Meg), and Rema Webb (Terpsichore).[3] Menken and Zippel wrote new songs for the musical, as well as reusing the film's original works.

Millburn (2023)

On March 22, 2020, Alan Menken appeared on Rosie O'Donnell's livestream benefit for the Actors Fund, where he talked about his upcoming projects, saying "I'm working on Disenchanted, the sequel to Enchanted, and I have another Broadway show" and in a separate thought, he added "Hercules is coming to the stage. Of course we did that in Central Park last summer."[4] Disney Theatrical subsequently confirmed that they intend to make the product available for licensing.[5] On May 16, 2020, it was reported that Robert Horn will write a new iteration for the musical, with Lear deBessonet returning as director.[6] On August 18, 2020, Menken confirmed that the musical is indeed being adapted to Broadway.[7]

In April 2022, it was announced that a revised version of the musical would play at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey during the 2022-23 season, from February 16 to March 19, 2023. The revised book would be written by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Robert Horn.[8] Announced cast members include Bradley Gibson as Hercules, Shuler Hensley as Hades, Iglehart reprising his role as Phil, and Isabelle McCalla as Meg.[9] Rounding out the cast is Charity Angél Dawson (Clio), Tiffany Mann (Calliope), Anastascia McClesky (Thalia), Destinee Rea (Terpischore), and Rashidra Scott (Melpomene) as the Muses, Reggie De Leon and Jeff Blumenkrantz as Pain and Panic, Kathryn Allison as Despina, Allyson Kaye Daniel as Aunt Tithesis/Lachesis, Lucia Giannetta as Atropos, Jesse Nager as Nessus, Dennis Stowe and Kristen Faith Oei as Zeus and Hera, and Anne Fraser Thomas as Clotho.[10]

Hamburg (2024)

The first international production of Hercules opened at the Neue Flora in Hamburg, Germany on March 24, 2024 and was directed by Casey Nicholaw. It is the first Disney stage musical to be developed in Hamburg.[11] On October 25, 2023, it was announced that Benét Monteiro would be taking the lead role.[12] The rest of the cast was presented on December 5, 2023.[13]

West End (2025)

The musical is scheduled to open in the summer of 2025 at the West End's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with direction and choreography from Casey Nicholaw and additional choreography from Tanisha Scott.[14] The book was written by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah.[15]

Notable casts

CharacterOff-BroadwayMillburnHamburg
201920232024
HerculesJelani AlladinBradley GibsonBenét Monteiro
Philalign=center colspan="2"James Monroe IglehartKristofer Weinstein-Storey
MegKrysta RodriguezIsabelle McCallaMae Ann Jorolan
HadesRoger BartShuler HensleyDetlef Leistenschneider
Pain (Karl)Nelson ChimilioReggie De LeonMario Saccoccio
Panic (Heinz)Jeff HillerJeff BlumenkrantzAndré Haedicke
ThaliaRamona KellerAnastacia McCleskeyChasity Crisp
CalliopeTamika LawrenceTiffany MannLeslie Beehann
TerpsichoreRema WebbDestinee ReaVenolia Manale
ClioBrianna CabreraCharity Angél DawsonJamie-Lee Uzoh
MelpomeneTieisha ThomasRashidra ScottShekinah McFarlane
NessusJoel FrostJesse Nager

Musical numbers

The music was composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by David Zippel.

Off-Broadway (2019)

Millburn (2023)

Act I
Act II

Reception

The world premiere production has garnered mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the cast, music, story, and production value. Thom Geier, of TheWrap, praised the production, saying it "works better than bigger-budgeted recent efforts like Frozen". Jessica Derschowits, of Entertainment Weekly, welcomed the "lively but low-key production that feels in many ways like the polar opposite of Disney's string of megawatt Broadway hits — which is a big part of its charm".[16] Jesse Green, of The New York Times, gave a positive review by commenting on the "shrewd casting and amateur performers joining professionals onstage, a middling 1997 animated Disney musical becomes a pageant of civic engagement".[17] Matt Windman, of AM New York Metro, gave a mixed review by commenting on "the lighthearted tone of the film, Kristoffer Diaz's new book features countless zingers and inside jokes. Diaz also tries to deliver an underlying moral on the difference between being a hero and a celebrity. However, Diaz may have gone too far in changing around some of the original sequencing, which has made the second half of the show very messy".[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rosky . Nicole . Breaking: Bless My Soul! Public Theater Will Stage HERCULES at the Delacorte Theatre This Summer . . February 6, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190902225102/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Bless-My-Soul-Public-Theater-Will-Stage-HERCULES-at-the-Delacorte-Theatre-This-Summer-20190206 . live .
  2. Web site: See Jelani Alladin, Krysta Rodriguez, and Roger Bart in Disney's Hercules . TheaterMania . David . Gordon . September 2, 2019 . June 26, 2020 . August 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810114520/https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/jelani-alladin-krysta-rodriguez-and-roger-bart_89654.html . live .
  3. Web site: 'Hercules' Stage Musical Adaptation Finds Its Strongman: Jelani Alladin Among Cast Announced For Shakespeare In The Park Production . Greg . Evans . . . June 20, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510202534/https://deadline.com/2019/06/disney-hercules-musical-jelani-alladin-shakespeare-in-the-park-production-roger-bart-public-theater-1202635699/ . May 10, 2021 . live.
  4. The Rosie O'Donnell Show Live! Give With Me to The Actors Fundraiser . March 22, 2020 . O'Donnell . Rosie . July 4, 2020 . . . .
  5. Web site: Alan Menken Reveals Continued Development of Disney's Hercules Musical . TheaterMania . David . Gordon . March 23, 2020 . May 21, 2020 . April 7, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200407021254/https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/alan-menken-reveals-continued-development-hercules_90807.html . live .
  6. Web site: Disney Theatrical Productions Reveals Next Steps for Hercules and The Jungle Book Musicals, Aida Revival, More . . TotalTheater . McPhee . Ryan . May 15, 2020 . September 28, 2020 . September 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928091756/https://playbill.com/article/disney-theatrical-productions-reveals-next-steps-for-hercules-and-the-jungle-book-musicals-aida-revival-more . live .
  7. Web site: Disney's 'Hercules' – Stage Adaptation Coming to Broadway . Theatre Fan . Tossell . Shaun . August 17, 2020 . September 28, 2020 . August 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200829135956/http://theatrefan.co.uk/disneys-hercules-stage-adaptation-coming-to-broadway/ . live .
  8. Web site: Disney's Hercules Sets Stage Return at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. Logan. Culwell-Block. Playbill. April 12, 2022. April 12, 2022. May 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517224644/https://playbill.com/article/disneys-hercules-sets-stage-return-at-new-jerseys-paper-mill-playhouse. live.
  9. Web site: Bradley Gibson, Isabelle McCalla, Shuler Hensley & James Monroe Iglehart to Lead HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse . Broadway World . Rabinowitz . Chloe . October 31, 2022 . October 31, 2022 . October 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031163756/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Bradley-Gibson-Isabelle-McCalla-Shuler-Hensley-James-Monroe-Iglehart-to-Lead-HERCULES-at-Paper-Mill-Playhouse-20221031 . live .
  10. Web site: Casting Complete for HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse With Tiffany Mann, Rashidra Scott, More. Dan. Meyer. Theatrely. January 12, 2023. January 20, 2023. January 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120190518/https://www.theatrely.com/post/casting-complete-for-hercules-at-paper-mill-playhouse-with-tiffany-mann-rashidra-scott-more. live.
  11. https://www.stage-entertainment.de/musicals-shows/disneys-hercules-hamburg Hercules at the Neue Flora
  12. Web site: Benét Monteiro spielt die Titelrolle in Disneys Musical HERCULES . Stage Entertainment . October 25, 2023 . October 25, 2023 .
  13. Web site: Disneys HERCULES Besetzung . Stage Entertainment . December 5, 2023 . December 5, 2023 .
  14. Web site: Logan Culwell-Block . Disney's Hercules Will Play London's West End . Playbill . June 24, 2024 . June 24, 2024 .
  15. Web site: Hercules the Musical Announced at D23 . ComicBook . Russ . Burlingame . August 10, 2024 . August 10, 2024.
  16. 'Hercules' Musical is a Stage Adaptation Filled with Heroics and Heart . . . Jessica . Derschowitz . September 2, 2019 . September 2, 2019.
  17. Web site: Review: Public Works Finds the Heroism in 'Hercules' . . Jesse . Green . September 2, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190902182002/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/02/theater/hercules-review-public-works-delacorte.html . live .
  18. Web site: 'Hercules' review: Free Disney Musical Goes the Distance . . Schneps Media . Windman . Matt . September 2, 2019 . September 2, 2019 . September 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903014446/https://www.amny.com/entertainment/hercules-public-theater-review-1.35791376 . live .

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