Disney on Broadway

Disney on Broadway, also known as Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), is the production company responsible for our favorite Disney musical stage adaptations! Founded in 1993, DTP first brought to the stage Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theatre in New York and has since dazzled audiences with a plethora of other shows including Aladdin, Frozen, Mary Poppins and The Lion King to name a few. A subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, Disney on Broadway has successfully found homes all over the world, mounting productions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. This movement has rekindled a love of musicals for children and families and brought sparkle and magic back to the stage for 30 years now!

Terminology

• Book musical: A production in which musical numbers and dances are fully integrated into a proper narrative with defined dramatic goals.
• Triple threat: A performer who is a strong singer, actor, and dancer.
• Spectacle: A musical number or production that is high in entertainment value; lots of dancers, flashy costumes, giant sets, allusions etc.
• Adaptation: A new version of a story that has been told before. Most of these musicals are based on a previous Disney film.
• Cult following: A group of fans who are highly dedicated to a theatrical production.
• Megamusical: A large-scale musical produced for large commercial profit.

Key Dates & Events

• February 8, 1993 – Walt Disney Theatrical Production is formed.
• April 18, 1994 – Beauty and the Beast premiers on Broadway at the Palace Theatre.
• 1995 – Disney Theatrical sign a 49-year lease for the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York.
• October 15, 1997 - The Lion King premiers in New York at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
• 1998 - The Lion King wins Best Musical at the Tony Awards.
• June 5, 1999 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiers in Berlin, marking Disney’s first musical produced outside of the United States.
• October 19, 1999 - The Lion King premiers on the West End at the Lyceum Theatre.
• December 15, 2004 - Mary Poppins premiers on the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre, marking Disney’s first musical to premier in London.
• May 10, 2006 –Tarzan premiers on Broadway at the Richard Rogers Theatre.
• October 14, 2006 - Mary Poppins premiers on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, after a successful run on the West End.
• November 3, 2007 - The Little Mermaid premiers on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
• March 29, 2012 - Newsies opens on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre and is nominated for eight Tony Awards later that year.
• February 26, 2014 - Aladdin premiers on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, replacing Mary Poppins.
• May 27, 2016 - Aladdin premiers on the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre.
• February 22, 2018 - Frozen premiers on Broadway at the St. James Theatre.
• August 27, 2021 - Frozen premiers on the West End at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
• December 8, 2022 - Newsies opens on the West End at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.