News Rogers the Musical coming to the Hyperion Theater

[waltography]

This looks stupid, but I'm in. I'll always give Chris Lennertz the benefit of the doubt after Wondrous Journeys, and it looks like an economical show that if nothing else gets the Hyperion back open which is a huge plus to DCA.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Here's the deets in writing:

 

[DrAlice]

Live right now, but you can go back to the start:

Is this something the average theme park visitor wants to sit through?

Will your 6yr old sit through it and ask to do it again?

I just watched this at home, and @flynnibus, I think you nailed it. All I could think when I watched it was "Who is this for?" It felt like half of the show songs were ballads. As a parent, I imagined myself sitting in that theater with an overheated, tired family. They would be BORED. I could just hear the "That's 30 minutes of precious theme park vacation time we can't get back!". (For the record, we felt the same about Frozen, but NOT Aladdin.)

And, for the average Marvel fan (especially kids), I would imagine they would be looking for superhero ACTION in this show. This doesn't deliver on that front either.

Oh well, my opinion doesn't really matter here as this is a limited run and will be gone before any future visit.

P.S. This is not a complaint about the performers or the production, in general. I enjoyed the talent here (especially the Nick Fury actor). My complaint is with the decision to put this type of show in a theme park. I just don't think it works for families. This is for the adult Marvel geeks that also happen to be theater geeks. Quick! Someone make a Venn diagram!

 

[DrAlice]

This looks stupid, but I'm in. I'll always give Chris Lennertz the benefit of the doubt after Wondrous Journeys, and it looks like an economical show that if nothing else gets the Hyperion back open which is a huge plus to DCA.

Great point. Getting performers and theater workers back to work and providing a show to suck up crowds is a huge win. Here's hoping they replace it with something akin to Aladdin (fun for all, repeatable, with great stagecraft).

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I think this is for the locals (the repeat visit Disney adults who will love the cheese and support the performers). And if some day guests enjoy it, too, great.

I don't know if this will be an instant love that will require repeat viewings before it's over or one and done for me, but I'll find out soon enough!

 

[waltography]

I was gonna try to watch this tomorrow but I ended up caving and watched the MC media preview, and I have so many thoughts, but to distill it: it's a very strange piece of media that is honestly quite entertaining for my musical-loving, Marvel-liking heart (I'm in the middle of that Venn diagram, I think @DrAlice ), but it hints at something that could be genuinely good in fits and starts and it's a little maddening it isn't afforded the opportunity to be better because of how trapped it is in its original source. (Definitely a Bombshell/Smash moment if you've watched that show.) ((Don't let me write a sentence that long again.))

Ah well. Still very happy for the performers that this is likely good enough to stick around past its limited engagement (maybe cutting some shows after summer?), and I don't particularly blame the creators for the edict they were given.

 

[CaptinEO]

I think it looks super fun! That's what the parks are about, having fun.

Enjoy the ride folks, don't take life too seriously.

This! After years of "immersion" and "authenticity" it's good to see Disney remember they are a themepark.

How much money would you wager that WDI was against this as it doesn't fit into their story for Avenger's Campus?

 

[Disney Analyst]

This! After years of "immersion" and "authenticity" it's good to see Disney remember they are a themepark.

How much money would you wager that WDI was against this as it doesn't fit into their story for Avenger's Campus?

That’s a good point. I don’t mind hyper immersion and story focused, but it’s also nice to have cheesy, not serious, fun.

 

[Phroobar]

It is nice and cheesy just like a theme park show should be. It would be better to have the actual costumes but that isn't the point of the show.

 

[Coaster Lover]

It is nice and cheesy just like a theme park show should be. It would be better to have the actual costumes but that isn't the point of the show.

If you're referring to the Avengers at the end, what they were wearing is (essentially) identical to what they were wearing when "Roger's The Musical" was shown in "Hawkeye", so from that aspect, it was perfect. It was super campy, but based on the Hawkeye show on Disney+, it was supposed to be campy, so I'm not complaining. I enjoyed it a lot!

 

[HonorableMention]

As much as I love Marvel and theater this doesn’t do it for me. It’s not horrible or anything but I’d much prefer Aladdin or Frozen. I feel like half the songs are trying to emulate the fun from the Hawkeye show (Nick Fury’s song, Star Spangled Man) and then the rest is trying to be legit emotional musical and it doesn’t land IMO.

Also it sounded like some of the ensemble performers were lip syncing to a pre-recorded track, especially the other Avengers in Save the City. Was this a thing in the other 2 Hyperion shows? It’s kind of disappointing and I wonder if it’s some cost-saving measure.

 

[gerarar]

As much as I love Marvel and theater this doesn’t do it for me. It’s not horrible or anything but I’d much prefer Aladdin or Frozen. I feel like half the songs are trying to emulate the fun from the Hawkeye show (Nick Fury’s song, Star Spangled Man) and then the rest is trying to be legit emotional musical and it doesn’t land IMO.

Also it sounded like some of the ensemble performers were lip syncing to a pre-recorded track, especially the other Avengers in Save the City. Was this a thing in the other 2 Hyperion shows? It’s kind of disappointing and I wonder if it’s some cost-saving measure.

I've watched a couple POVs already and in Save The City, only Cap and the background dancers (police officer, doctor, etc.) are singing. The core Avengers aren't and just lip syncing. Same in the finale, everyone but the Avengers (minus Cap and old Cap) are singing live.

 

[Phroobar]

If you're referring to the Avengers at the end, what they were wearing is (essentially) identical to what they were wearing when "Roger's The Musical" was shown in "Hawkeye", so from that aspect, it was perfect. It was super campy, but based on the Hawkeye show on Disney+, it was supposed to be campy, so I'm not complaining. I enjoyed it a lot!

I realize that and it is the point of the show. It is the punchline. However from the majority of theme park goers that didn't bother see "Hawkeye" or even remember that three minutes of the show, it will be confusing. The joke will fly over a lot heads. That was the whole point that made Hawkeye cringe especially his character.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I realize that and it is the point of the show. It is the punchline. However from the majority of theme park goers that didn't bother see "Hawkeye" or even remember that three minutes of the show, it will be confusing. The joke will fly over a lot heads. That was the whole point that made Hawkeye cringe especially his character.

I agree with you completely. And that's probably why this is only getting a 2 month run. It's fan service to everyone who wished (almost demanded) that Rogers the Musical was a real thing. It's surprising (almost shocking) that Disney would invest the time and resources to actually make it a thing, but I'm sure that 's why it's such a prop/set/costume light show. It's fun for what it is and will get Disney on the good graces of some of their hardcore fans (and probably gives them a few extra months to figure out what they will do as a permanent replacement for in that theater).

 

[Phroobar]

I agree with you completely. And that's probably why this is only getting a 2 month run. It's fan service to everyone who wished (almost demanded) that Rogers the Musical was a real thing. It's surprising (almost shocking) that Disney would invest the time and resources to actually make it a thing, but I'm sure that 's why it's such a prop/set/costume light show. It's fun for what it is and will get Disney on the good graces of some of their hardcore fans (and probably gives them a few extra months to figure out what they will do as a permanent replacement for in that theater).

Does anything at Disney have a two month run? (outside of badly received animated movies)

That theater has been closed since before covid. They had years to come up with a replacement for Frozen and this is the best they can do? It feels like a cheap cash grab. Heck, they even repurposed the set pieces from Frozen. I'm waiting for the "extended by popular demand" spin.

 

[DCBaker]

Looks like for all 4 showings today the Premium Viewing Experience slots sold out in under an hour.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Also it sounded like some of the ensemble performers were lip syncing to a pre-recorded track, especially the other Avengers in Save the City. Was this a thing in the other 2 Hyperion shows? It’s kind of disappointing and I wonder if it’s some cost-saving measure.

I can agree, the lip-syncing annoyed me. It’s very obvious, and frozen had every member of the ensemble mic’d and live.

I can only hope it’s the “temporary” nature of this show, and when they do develop the actual big show, it’s all live as before.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Looks like for all 4 showings today the Premium Viewing Experience slots sold out in under an hour.

Some shots of the scene from this AM:

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

How much money would you wager that WDI was against this as it doesn't fit into their story for Avenger's Campus?

None. This isn't IN Avengers Campus. It's a theatrical show in Hollywood Land exactly where it belongs. It's great synergy, well placed and perfectly in story just as it was when Clint Barton went to see it in the Hawkeye show.

And hopefully, it's a fun show that sticks around for a while. (I'm avoiding watching anything beyond the trailer at this point as I just want to experience it for myself.)

 

[waltography]

Some shots of the scene from this AM:

You can see me in one of these photos!

So I did end up watching Rogers using the Premium Viewing Experience and for $29, it's one of the better priced add-ons in the park (the guaranteed seating in the front center orchestra was worth it for opening day for me). Some observations: the giant playbill photo op was fun, the kettle corn is prepackaged and was pretty bad, the lounge is outside but they kept bringing out umbrellas to add shade to folks so it wasn't terrible, and there is a merch cart just for PVE guests so you don't have to wait in line at the other cart that's open to everyone.

As for the musical, it worked a lot better in person for me where you can turn off your critical thought and just enjoy the pure campiness. "At the End of the Line" is my favorite new song in the bunch, and it's exactly the kind of song that hints at how good this musical could be with a couple more workshops. The set also looks a lot better up close than I expected (which leads me to believe there's a chance we could see an extension?). The Starkettes are very much Greek Chorus in Legally Blonde and they're amazing. It's a shame so much of the ensemble is prerecorded though, it was really distracting to hear when they were the focus rather than the background.

Anyway, all this to say it just felt so good to see a show in the Hyperion again. Hope they release a cast recording. (Also the preshow music was delightful! Lots of period/land appropriate nods to Tower of Terror, Elias and Co, and the Silver Lake Sisters.)