Disney's Aida to Close in September

[cherrynegra]

'Aida' to Close in September After 4 1/2 Years
By JASON ZINOMAN
NY Times
Published: May 5, 2004


After almost four and a half years the musical "Aida" will end its run at the Palace Theater on Sept. 5, making it the first Disney musical on Broadway to close.

"The Lion King," which has been running for more than six years, remains one of Broadway's biggest sellers. And "Beauty and the Beast" still draws sizable crowds after more than a decade.

"Aida," Elton John and Tim Rice's pop-flavored retelling of Verdi's classic opera, was never as big a hit as these shows, but it recouped its original investment in less than two years, an impressive accomplishment considering that it received mixed to negative reviews.

"It defied all expectations," said Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney's theatrical division. "Is it a home run like `Lion King' or `Beauty'? No. Is it a double or triple? Sure."

Part of the show's success has come from canny casting. The original production starred Adam Pascal (who will return to the show in late June), Sherie Rene Scott and Heather Headley, who won a Tony for her breakout performance in the title role. Ms. Headley left the show in September 2001, and her role has been filled by a series of pop singers, including Toni Braxton, Michelle Williams and Deborah , the current star.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

That makes me sad...that was a great show. I saw it with Heather Headly. It is a remarkable show. I'll have to try to see it one last time.

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[imagineer99]

Will Poppins take Aida's Place?

In my opinion, Aida was good, but not nearly as well done as the Lion King. Mainly, because the music was TOO Elton John. It had a good run (longer than most shows). No shame in that.

 

[surfsupdon]

I read that as well in the tvguide news section. I saw Aida on a class trip my frosh year in college. It was very good, I enjoyed.

Too bad it's leaving, but it did have a nice run.

 

[TravisMT81]

will the traveling production still continue???

 

[nicholas]

The touring production will still continue until it's no longer making adequate money to keep it afloat.

And Poppins is not replacing Aida. La Cage aux Folles is.

Your resident Broadway correspondent...Nick

 

[imagineer99]

Originally posted by nicholas

And Poppins is not replacing Aida. La Cage aux Folles is.

and what the heck is that?

 

[cherrynegra]

Originally posted by imagineer99
and what the heck is that?

:lol: :lol: It's a musical based on the original French Film. It's about two gay men, one owns a nightclub and the other is his prima donna husband star of the nightclub. The club owner's son becomes engaged to a daughter of a right wing politician. Hilarity ensues with the father attempting to be straight and the father's lover dressing up like a woman trying to deceive the girlfriend's parents.

Sound familiar? It should. They turned it into "The Birdcage" starring Robing Williams and Nathan Lane. La Cage aux Folles means the The Birdcage in French. I could be wrong and our resident Broadway correspondent Nick can correct me.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by nicholas
The touring production will still continue until it's no longer making adequate money to keep it afloat.

And Poppins is not replacing Aida. La Cage aux Folles is.

Your resident Broadway correspondent...Nick

What's Mary Poppins replacing?

 

[cherrynegra]

Nick? Nick? You're falling behind dude!! Mary Poppins is not replacing anything on Broadway as of yet. It is still in the development stage and is set to open in London in December. Director and stars have been announced. You can visit the official site. http://www.marypoppins.com/

 

[imagineer99]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
:lol: :lol: It's a musical based on the original French Film. It's about two gay men, one owns a nightclub and the other is his prima donna husband star of the nightclub. The club owner's son becomes engaged to a daughter of a right wing politician. Hilarity ensues with the father attempting to be straight and the father's lover dressing up like a woman trying to deceive the girlfriend's parents.

Sound familiar? It should. They turned it into "The Birdcage" starring Robing Williams and Nathan Lane. La Cage aux Folles means the The Birdcage in French. I could be wrong and our resident Broadway correspondent Nick can correct me.

shows my knowledge of both the French and the Theater.

Usually I see one to two musicals each year. My mom's a HUGE fan, so she drags the family. We just saw Wicked, which I must admit, was awesome.

 

[Lhriangel]

Okay.. nervous breakdown time. I LOVED Aida. It is one of my favorite shows of the type (Rock Opera/Rent type). And if they are closing it... and if ADAM is going to be there for the end then if ANYONE goes PLEASE PLEASE get a picture of him at the stage door... I can't afford to go or I would (trust me I so would) and I adore Adam when I saw him in it originally...

 

[nicholas]

I know, I know. I totally fell behind...but DisneyPan was over and we were planning our WDW trip for later this month. Priorities people :hammer:

But yes. You are dead on with what La Cage aux Folles is. I, for one, am quite excited for it because it is one that I am not 100% familiar with as of yet.

And I am so glad I work for a Broadway related company, as it gets me free tickets to almost everything! Yay for that! :sohappy:

 

[cherrynegra]

Hey Nick!! I know you're a fan of Peter Pan, so I'm sending you a link for you and all the other Pan Fans.

Click here.

http://www.pixyland.org/peterpan/petersFashionPage.html

 

[nicholas]

I adore that man! It's sick, but it's like a train wreck I can't help but stare at. Constantly.

 

[bgraham34]

Never got to see it, did not really do anything for me.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by bgraham34
Never got to see it, did not really do anything for me.

If you didn't see it, how do you know it wouldn't have done anything for you?

 

[TravisMT81]

Originally posted by turkey leg boy
If you didn't see it, how do you know it wouldn't have done anything for you?

lol!!!

 

[cherrynegra]

Originally posted by Angelique
Okay.. nervous breakdown time. I LOVED Aida. It is one of my favorite shows of the type (Rock Opera/Rent type). And if they are closing it... and if ADAM is going to be there for the end then if ANYONE goes PLEASE PLEASE get a picture of him at the stage door... I can't afford to go or I would (trust me I so would) and I adore Adam when I saw him in it originally...

Angelique, you'll be happy to know that I found this tidbit about Adam on another site.

"They are gonna try to squeeze just a bit more juice out Aida before it's official closing in Sept. They are bringing back the extremely popular original star Adam Pasqal to finish out the run. "

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
"They are gonna try to squeeze just a bit more juice out Aida before it's official closing in Sept. They are bringing back the extremely popular original star Adam Pasqal to finish out the run. "

No way! That so rocks! Adam was GREAT in Aida...now they have to get Heather Headly back!
Going to NYC on Saturday, but probably not going to see Aida.
TheDisneyGirl02