Broadway Style Show Productions In The Universal Parks

[GAcoaster]

There's been a lot of talk on here about the idea of Universal bringing a "Broadway Style" show to the parks in some capacity. We know they did a streamlined Wicked show for Japan, but what other shows could they possibly leverage for the parks in some capacity?

While watching the Tony Awards last night they mentioned Death Becomes Her is produced by Universal, so it prompted me to look up all the shows Universal Theatrical Group has produced.

Universal Theatrical Group (Producer)

playbill.com

Of the list a few stand out as "I could see them produce a version of that at the parks with a proper theater":

• Wicked
• Seussical
• Death Becomes Her
• Bring It On
• Mean Girls
• Back To The Future

Any one of those could be a diversion in the parks or Citywalk that could draw people for 45+/- minutes of airconditioning and a good show.

I especially think Seussical would be a great fit for the former BMG Theater. It's a really fun show and manages to incorporate so many of Dr. Seuss' best stories. They already have a Sussical Jr. version pared down to 60 minutes:

Seussical JR.

www.mtishows.com

 

[UniversalRBLX]

This is the one area Universal hasn't done well in the past... but they are showing signs of change.

Untrainable Dragon & Cirque Arcanus are amazing and crowds are receiving them well, I hope they can continue to add similar additions to USF & IOA. I don't necessarily think they need to be musicals entirely, just fun shows to watch that are not purely just stunts.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

There's been a lot of talk on here about the idea of Universal bringing a "Broadway Style" show to the parks in some capacity. We know they did a streamlined Wicked show for Japan, but what other shows could they possibly leverage for the parks in some capacity?

While watching the Tony Awards last night they mentioned Death Becomes Her is produced by Universal, so it prompted me to look up all the shows Universal Theatrical Group has produced.

Universal Theatrical Group (Producer)

playbill.com

Of the list a few stand out as "I could see them produce a version of that at the parks with a proper theater":

• Wicked
• Seussical
• Death Becomes Her
• Bring It On
• Mean Girls
• Back To The Future

Any one of those could be a diversion in the parks or Citywalk that could draw people for 45+/- minutes of airconditioning and a good show.

I especially think Seussical would be a great fit for the former BMG Theater. It's a really fun show and manages to incorporate so many of Dr. Seuss' best stories. They already have a Sussical Jr. version pared down to 60 minutes:

Seussical JR.

www.mtishows.com

You mean a big musical, because Bourne and Untrainable are easily as grand and well-produced as any Broadway show. And I don't think you mean bringing "Oh, Mary" or something either.

So big musicals, of the ones listed the most likely would be Wicked or BTTF. Seussical is a staple of touring and regional shows so I don't think there's a huge pull for them, Death Becomes Her is a hit but driven a lot by the stars and I dunno if the material would be good for the parks. Bring it On is kinda just there and Mean Girls is popular but the movie didnt' light up the charts.

Personally if they're going to do something big then do Stranger Things First Shadow. It's a brand deposit that isn't touring (and maybe can't) that's based on a current and hit property. It also won awards.

 

[Wesker69]

Of the list a few stand out as "I could see them produce a version of that at the parks with a proper theater":

• Wicked
• Seussical
• Death Becomes Her
• Bring It On
• Mean Girls
• Back To The Future

I'm offended by the obvious musical you have left out.... "Phantom of the Opera"

While the film adaptation was WB (which is fine since half of Universal is WB IPs anyway), the filmed 25th anniversary production was a "Universal Pictures Presents" release (same for the filmed sequel).

But yea... give me Phantom.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I'm offended by the obvious musical you have left out.... "Phantom of the Opera"

While the film adaptation was WB (which is fine since half of Universal is WB IPs anyway), the filmed 25th anniversary production was a "Universal Pictures Presents" release (same for the filmed sequel).

But yea... give me Phantom.

He was going off the list of Universal Theater Group produced shows since they'd be easier to license, a POTO show would need to work with other licensers. Not impossible to do, just explaining his list. I think Phantom could work really well, it's an incredibly popular show with a huge name factor that isn't really touring or doing a Broadway show (not counting Masquerade NYC)

 

[Wesker69]

It will be touring again! Well... kinda.. they're toting the "original production" is touring again, but it will unfortunately have "changes". Eitherway way... woo tour!

We could always have USH's former CFTBL show resurface too

 

[Parkscope Joe]

We could always have USH's former CFTBL show resurface too

Do we actually want that? lol

Also imagine this playing in FL, I'd die.

 

[GAcoaster]

I'm offended by the obvious musical you have left out.... "Phantom of the Opera"

While the film adaptation was WB (which is fine since half of Universal is WB IPs anyway), the filmed 25th anniversary production was a "Universal Pictures Presents" release (same for the filmed sequel).

But yea... give me Phantom.

 

[Wesker69]

Yep. Still so jealous of this

Basically drop me off here or Dark Universe for the day & pick me up when it's time to leave

 

[Jerroddragon]

BTTF the musical for me would be my vote to come to the parks

Mainly because I find man of the "new" songs can be skipped and you can make a 60 min version of this. You can even do a pre show that shows them going back in time and the show can just be them back in time

the flying car is a really cool effect to see in person and think people would love it

 

[Bobharlem]

BTTF the musical for me would be my vote to come to the parks

Mainly because I find man of the "new" songs can be skipped and you can make a 60 min version of this. You can even do a pre show that shows them going back in time and the show can just be them back in time

the flying car is a really cool effect to see in person and think people would love it

This is very unlikely because of the brand new Star of the Seas (World's largest) cruise ship which starts sailing out of Port Canaveral this August, that has Back to the Future musical from the get go and is about 50 minutes from the parks.

 

[Mad Dog]

I don't see them doing anything more than a 30 minute compilation if it's in a Universal park. That's about the extent of time a typical Universal guest would welcome. Outside of a park is another story. Disney did longer version shows at the Hyperion, but they have a different demographic. And then there's the issue of how many shows you can get in. That, and cost, may be why Disney has abandoned the concept.

 

[Viator]

Im surprised they haven’t done a Pitch Perfect musical. I can easily see the parks scooping that up if they look into developing it for theater.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I don't see them doing anything more than a 30 minute compilation if it's in a Universal park. That's about the extent of time a typical Universal guest would welcome. Outside of a park is another story. Disney did longer version shows at the Hyperion, but they have a different demographic. And then there's the issue of how many shows you can get in. That, and cost, may be why Disney has abandoned the concept.

I think the idea is to have it outside the parks as evening entertainment, like Blue Man.

 

[Mad Dog]

I think the idea is to have it outside the parks as evening entertainment, like Blue Man.

Some IP's might work outside the park. Though I'd think it would have to a be a very popular, well known, property that's been around for a while.....The cultural centers in the big cities are indicating that their subscribers only want to see the well known, with a good track record, musical theater productions....and the same with the Symphony Orchestra venues with well known symphony productions. The secondary stuff isn't attracting crowds anymore....So, for Citywalk, it probably would have to be something on the strength of a Wicked, or a theme familiar to the theme park crowd like BTTF etc.

 

[Clive]

A reminder that, as it currently exists, the Blue Man Group theater cannot support basically any of the full-scale productions being proposed here.