The Official Disney on Broadway Podcast

Ever since the early 1900s, the New Amsterdam Theatre, located on 42nd street in New York City, has been the home of Disney On Broadway. However, this historic theatre had a long life before housing some of Disney’s biggest hits including THE LION KING, MARY POPPINS and currently ALADDIN, this historic theatre. For this episode, we'll speak with two members of the operations team: Chris Pappas and Dana Amendola, about the theatre's early years–from its construction up through the historic Ziegfeld Follies. 

A few weeks ago, we spoke with cast members of THE LION KING to explore the family that has been built over the show’s 20 year history, but today we get to speak to the folks off-stage who keep the show looking better than ever. We’ll chat with Kjeld Andersen, Elizabeth Cohen and Doc Zorthian who manage the costumes, make-up and overall management THE LION KING's 10 productions around the world. In this conversation, we dive into the idea that live theatre is an ever-evolving art and always changing.

For this episode, we take a deep dive into the new Disney musical Freaky Friday, which was developed by disney theatrical productions expressly for licensing to professional and then amateur theatres. Cast member Jason SweetTooth Williams moderates a chat—recorded backstage at La Jolla Playhouse—with the show's two stars, Heidi Blickenstaff and Emma Hunton. Based on the classic Mary Rodgers novel and the hit Disney films, the show has a score by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning songwriters Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal, If/Then) and a book by Bridget Carpenter (TV's "Parenthood" and "Friday Night Lights"). Freaky Friday was directed and choreographed by Broadway vets Christopher Ashley (Come From Away, Memphis) and Sergio Trujillo (On Your Feet, Jersey Boys).    Following its world premiere at the signature theatre in Arlington, VA, Freaky Friday is currently playing a regional co-production that began at the La Jolla Playhouse. The production will play the Cleveland Playhouse from April 15th - May 20th. Tickets can be purchased at www.clevelandplayhouse.com.  Freaky Friday will play Houston's Alley Theater from June 2nd - July 2nd. Tickets can be purchased at www.alleytheatre.org.    The Freaky Friday studio cast recording is now available in CD hard copy or digital download wherever music is sold or streamed. 

In it’s 20th year on Broadway, the cast and crew of THE LION KING know more than most when it comes to the ‘circle of life’. We chat with company members whose time with the show ranges from 8 months to 17 years. You’ll get to hear about what is life on and off stage for this very special Broadway family.

As the first National Tour of ALADDIN readies for day 1 of rehearsal, host Patrick Hinds talks with the cast and crew to see how they are preparing. Patrick interviews Broadway’s Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed on their journey to Broadway and hears from Adam on his excitement to join the tour. Later, Patrick interviews Jonathan Weir who will play Jafar in the first national tour and learns how actors prep before the rehearsal process begins. Finally, an interview with Senior Production Supervisor Clifford Schwartz reveals how a production must adapt for a life outside of Broadway.

This episode takes a deep dive into NEWSIES — the regional production that led to the Broadway production, National Tour and the upcoming NEWSIES movie event, which is coming to theaters on February 16, 18, and 22. The episode will be three segments: Up first, we chat with actors Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Kara Lindsay and Ben Fankhauser. In the second segment, we'll chat with the show's director, Jeff Calhoun, and we'll close out the episode with Thomas Schumacher, the show's producer and President of Disney Theatrical Productions.  You can watch the trailer and purchase tickets for the NEWSIES movie event at www.newsiesthemusical.com or check your local listings.   

Each episode of the podcast will be a deep dive into Disney's productions on Broadway and around the world. Through conversations with creative teams and cast members, each episode will bring you the stories of the people who brought these titles to the stage