Tarzan Cast Recording Available for Pre-Order

By Andrew Gans
21 Apr 2006

Tarzan stars Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese
Tarzan stars Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese
Photo by Lyn Hughes

Although the musical has yet to officially open on Broadway, those who can't wait to hear the Phil Collins score can pre-order the original Broadway cast recording on-line.

The official Tarzan website — located at www.tarzanonbroadway.com — is currently accepting pre-orders for the CD, which is due in stores in June. No label has been announced for the cast recording. The single CD can be ordered by downloading a form on-line or by calling (212) 403-7227 Monday-Friday, 9 AM-6 PM ET.

Tarzan, which stars Josh Strickland in the title role with All Shook Up's Jenn Gambatese as Jane, marks the Broadway directorial debut for Bob Crowley. The musical, which plays the Richard Rodgers Theatre, will officially open May 10.

The Tarzan family also includes Merle Dandridge as Kala, Shuler Hensley as Kerchak, Chester Gregory II as Terk, Timothy Jerome as Professor Porter and Donnie Keshawarz as Clayton. Daniel Manche and Alex Rutherford will alternate in the role of Young Tarzan. The ensemble comprises Darrin Baker, Marcus Bellamy, Celina Carvajal, Dwayne Clark, Veronica deSoyza, Kearran Giovanni, Michael Hollick, Joshua Kobak, Kara Madrid, Kevin Massey, Anastacia McCleskey, Rika Okamoto, Marlyn Ortiz, Whitney Osentoski, John Elliott Oyzon, Andy Pellick, Angela Phillips, Stefan Raulston, Horace V. Rogers, Sean Samuels, Nick Sanchez, Niki Scalera, Natalie Silverlieb, JD Aubrey Smith and Rachel Stern.

Tarzan features a score by Phil Collins, including five songs from the Disney film and nine songs written especially for the stage production. Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang has written the musical's book based on both the Disney film and the original Edgar Rice Burroughs story "Tarzan of the Apes." The creative team also includes Meryl Tankard (choreography), Pichón Baldinu (aerial design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), John Shivers (sound design), Paul Bogaev (music producer/vocal arrangements) and Doug Besterman (orchestrations).

Tarzan, according to press notes, begins as "a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human — Jane Porter, a curious young explorer — both their worlds are transformed forever."

Song titles include "Two Worlds," "You'll Be In My Heart," "Jungle Funk," "Who Better Than Me?," "No Other Way," "I Need to Know," "Son of Man," "Sure As Sun Turns to Moon," "Waiting for This Moment," "Different," "Trashin' the Camp," "Like No Man I've Ever Seen," "Strangers Like Me," "For the First Time" and "Everything That I Am."

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is located in Manhattan at 226 West 46th Street.

Tickets are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.