Disney on Broadway 30 Years Celebrated at Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts

Disney on Broadway 30 Years Celebrated at Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts gives us an opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney on Broadway. We’ll look at the history of this amazing theatrical portfolio, which began with a “Tale as Old as Time” whose roots were  more than 30 years ago at what was then Disney-MGM Studios. Today there are over two dozen major shows that have played on Broadway, The West End, and across the globe. I’ll share with you some of my favorites and why–along with some stories you may not have heard about these phenomenal shows. And we’ll step over to Epcot to talk about a new exhibit that has just opened up at CommuniCore in World Celebration. It’s just one component of a very popular time of year in this park. Join us as we celebrate 30 years of Disney on Broadway at Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts.

Aladdin – Theatrecrafts.com
London production of Aladdin. Photo by Disney.

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“Tale as Old as Time”

The history of Disney on Broadway is rooted in what was opened not just at Disney-MGM Studios but also Disneyland. See the finale of “Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage” at Walt Disney World which inspired Disney Theatrical Productions. Here’s the finale of that show:

A major part of the Disney Theatrical Productions was the acquisition of the New Amsterdam Theater, which has housed shows like The Lion King and Aladdin.

30 Year Portfolio of Disney on Broadway

There’s quite a list. Let’s walk through each!

  • Beauty and the Beast 1994 in NYC. Eight longest running show in Broadway History
  • Jungle Book–Performed in Tel Aviv in 1996 and then subsequently restaged several times since. Journey into the Jungle Book came in 1998.
  • King David--1997 Oratorio involving Alan Menken and Tim Rice. Staged as a concert in the first production at the New Amsterdam Theater.
  • The Lion King–1997 in Orpheum in Minneapolis and then New Amsterdam Theater Oct 15, 1997. It is Broadway’s seven longest running show in history. Best Musical at 1998 Tony Awards
The Lion King | Broadway Tickets | Minskoff Theatre
The Lion King. Photo by Disney.
  • Der Glöckner von Notre Dame. Premiered in berlin in 1999
  • Aida–Ran 2000 until 2004 in the Palace Theatre on Broadway
  • On the Record–Debuted in 2004 and went on National Tour
  • Mary Poppins-Co Production with Cameron Mackintosh. December 2004 in West End. Broadway in 2006
  • Tarzan–2006 at Richer Rodgers Playhouse
  • Sister Act–2006 at Pasadena Playhouse followed by several runs in US and West End
  • High School Musical–2007 Start in Atlanta before going on the Road. High School Musical 2 Released in multiple lengths for Schools to use in 2008.
  • The Little Mermaid–Previews in 2007 and Opening in 2008 at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
  • Peter and the Starcatcher–A Peter Pan prequel that played in the La Jolla Playhouse in 2009.
  • Newsies-Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and Broadway in 2012
Channel's Raven's
Newsies. Photo by Disney.
  • Aladdin–November 2011 Premiere in Seattle, Followed by two more tryouts before landing at the Amsterdam theatre on March 20, 2014.
  • Shakespeare in Love played West End from 2014 to 2015.
  • Hunchback of Notre Dame–2014 La Jolla Playhouse and 2015 at Paper Mill Playhouse
  • Freaky Friday–Opened at La Jolla Playhouse in 2016, then was adapted as a Disney Channel Original Movie
  • Pinocchio–2017 in National Theatre in London
  • Frozen–Tryouts in Denver in 2017. Went to Broadway in 2018 at St. James Theatre. Closed due to Covid
  • Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation–Several off broadway rounds in 2022.
  • Hercules–Off Broadway in Central Park in 2019. Will play West End in 2025
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks–2021 at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne then toured afterwards.
  • The Greatest Showman–announced on August 9, 2024 as being under development.
  • Coco–Steven Tyler of The Lion King announced at Epcot a new show based on Coco
  • Tangled–Announced in 2024 that it was under development
Review: Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Touring) – Always Time For  Theatre
Touring the UK, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Photo by Disney.

Disney on Broadway at Epcot

Here’s a look at the new Disney on Broadway 30th anniversary exhibit at CommuniCore in Epcot:

Here’s a performance from the Disney on Broadway Concert Series at Epcot.

Souvenirs For You and Your Organization

Consider the following as they relate to the work you do or hope to do:

  • There’s show business, and the airline business, and the healthcare business. Just what business am I in? 
  • What creative control do I have? 
  • How do I utilize the proven employees already in place? 
  • What would a “dynamic” product or experience look like in my organization? 
  • What would “dynamic” pricing look like in my organization? 
  • How can your products and services “lift” the community around you?
  • How do you not just identify what you value, but incorporate it in all you do.

Join Our Patreon Group & Discover Disneyland!

Announcing our newest Disney Insight Fan Discovery that is tied with the 70th anniversary of Disneyland. Land by land you will find decades of incredible details, heritage and insights. Joining our Discoverer level gives you complete access to our Interactive Disney Insight Fan Discoveries. Among our library that looks at Pandora, Pirates of the Caribbean and Mystic Manor is a whole celebration of Disneyland on its 70th anniversary. Your membership becomes a key for unlocking scores of fascinating details few know about the park. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the “Happiest Place on Earth” or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. It’s a guide, a scavenger hunt, and a multimedia archive all in one place.

Check out the Wayfinder’s Society to see these Sneak Peeks!

Want more Disney magic you can’t find anywhere else? The Wayfinder Society is our Patreon group. Here we bring the best details of Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic. It’s part of what you get when you help support the Wayfinder Society. This Patreon group not only helps to support this podcast and attending websites, but also gives you access to one of our Disney at Play Interactive Guides, with hundreds of places to explore all things Disney.

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Another way you can support the podcast is through our books!

My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Find Excellence in Your Organization!

This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.

Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.

Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena. 

Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership development and employee engagement.

Contact us today, and let us help.

J. Jeff Kober

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