It's A Whole New World...Well, Almost.

Just got word that Disney's "Broadway" show, Aladdin, will be extended longer than it was supposed to. The was supposed to be cut August 15th (which is also when that area of the walkway is going to start getting that lovely new track for the trolleys), but now has been extended indefinitely. A show version of the popular Pixar film Toy Story was supposed to take it's place, but that's obviously been put on hold...for now.

I personally hope that Toy Story stays where it should: under the bed with the rest of Andy's toys. I think Disney could replace this classic show with something better. I recently tweeted with the mysterious Boy 33 about the subject of a show replacement, and we both nicely came to somewhat of a disagreement on Mulan. I think it could work, and would at least be better than the Toys from under the bed. The songs aren't as strong as other films, but if done right, could be really memorable. Here's an idea of some scenes.

• Reflections song scene - theater darkens, soft pink spotlight opens on Mulan stage right. Above the audience, Chinese lanterns lower from the ceiling, She starts singing, as the rest of the stage slowly illuminates. Song ends, full stage fades to black, leaving Mulan in just a single soft pink spotlight, after a few seconds, fade out, next scene.
• I'll Make a Man Out of You - stage has orange and yellow lighting, soldiers in line. Yao starts trying to climb a pole on stage left. He falls, soldiers laugh, Shang gives them a stern look. They stand back at attention, and Shang starts the song with some martial arts, and begins singing. Towards the end of the song, cast extras in full armor come down the aisles of the theater, still singing, and practicing their "Training".
• A Girl Worth Fighting For - Stage left enter group. Song starts, and they begin to march around the stage. Once getting to the women in the rice field, girls in working clothes and baskets dance around the aisle, the guys ogle them, they bow, and giggle. The song ends abruptly with the realization of the burned camp. The backdrop smoothly transitions from the greens and whites, to the reds and blacks of the burned village. buildings on the side of the stage will have a burning effect similar to the burning logs in Pirates of the Caribbean.
• The final fight scene would be a grand scene, and how to explain it from start to finish I can't do, as I haven't thought this out all the way, but one part that sticks out to me is when Shan-Yu and Mulan fall with the building support, over the crowd. This would be a hidden effect until used in the scene. there'd be two sets of actors for this scene (2x for Mulan, 2x for Shang, 2x for Shan-Yu). Mulan and Shan-Yu would be fighting in and out of the building, until one of the supports falls over the audience. They'd be strapped into harnesses, but overall, it'd be a very intimate scene, allowing things to happen in front of, around, and above the audience.
• And with Mushu, I think a puppeted character would work, and the modern jokes would be used with him as the comic relief.

Time will tell with what they add to the Hyperion, but here's hoping they keep the toys under the bed. Otherwise, I'll bring my friend Sid to the opening show.