Disney's On the Record to Close July 31

By Andrew Gans
January 26, 2005

The new Disney musical On the Record, which features songs from both classic Disney films and Disney's Broadway outings, will close after its July engagement at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

A spokesperson for the production confirmed to Playbill.com that the musical, which currently co-stars Kaitlin Hopkins and Brian Sutherland, will play its final engagement July 19-31 at the Denver Center's Buell Theatre.

Disney Theatricals President Thomas Schumacher told Daily Variety, "[On the Record] captured the people who love the Disney catalog, but once we got into a market, (business) didn't expand from there. We don't get walk-up business. . . .There is no reason to stop [the tour] today. All of these theatres need nine to 12 months to announce a season." He also added that there is the possibility that the show may play venues overseas.

The national tour of On the Record began performances Nov. 9, 2004, in Cleveland. Emily Skinner, who began the tour, was recently replaced by Hopkins. The cast also includes Ashley Brown and Andrew Samonsky as well as company members Meredith Inglesby, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Keewa Nurullah, Josh Franklin, Leigh Ann Larkin, Koh Mochizuki and Lyn Philistine.

On the Record, according to production notes, "is the story of a recording session that changed the lives of a young unknown who is about to get her big break, a pop diva who is about to meet her match, and a matinee idol who is about to meet the 'new kid' who could take his place."

Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, the musical's creative team comprises Natasha Katz (lighting), Robert Brill (scenery), Gregg Barnes (costumes), David Chase (musical supervision and arrangements), Chad Beguelin (scenarist) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).

The On the Record itinerary follows:
Feb. 1-6 at the Landmark Theater in Richmond, VA
Feb. 8-27 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, MI
March 1-6 at the Wharton Center East Lansing, MI
March 22-27 at the Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, IN
April 19-May 1 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 3-8 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Tampa, FL
May 10-15 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers, FL
May 24-May 29 at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, TX
May 31-June 12 at the Hobby Center in Houston, TX

A CD of the musical is currently being recorded.