In 1997 Hercules made his cinematic debut. Now, in 2019 Hercules is about to make his theatrical debut. This summer the Delacorte Theatre will be presenting a theatrical version of what Disney originally debuted as an animated musical.
The news comes courtesy of BroadwayWorld. The musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Zippel, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz will be directed by Lear deBessonet with choreography by Chase Brock. The production will be presented by The Public Theater. It is slated to begin performances on August 30th and continue through September 8th. There is a reading set to take place this April.
Hercules originally came to movie theaters on June 15, 1997. While it received generally positive feedback from critics, it failed to perform as solidly in the theaters as its predecessors. This musical fantasy-comedy was the 35th Disney animated film and was directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker. It was the eighth film to be produced during the Disney Rennaissance.
Public Works is a major initiative of The Public Theater. It seeks to make the people of New York creators and not just spectators in the world of theater. It was founded by director Lear deBessonet. It invites diverse communities to participate in theater workshops, to attend classes, to attend productions, and to become involved in the daily life of The Public. It deliberately blurs the lines between professional artists and community members to create theater that is not just for people but by people.
What do you think of Hercules coming to the stage? Would you want to see this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
