The theatrical project which director-playwright Tina Landau is working on for Disney will draw on extant songs from the entertainment giant's catalogue of animated films, New York Newsday reported Feb. 8. The new show which feature a narrative connecting well-known tunes such as "Bibbity, Bobbity, Boo" and "When You Wish Upon a Star."

The latter number is from the animated classic "Pinocchio." In September 1999, there was word that Landau (Space, The Ballad of Little Jo) was meeting with Disney about fashioning a musical out of the 1940 film. Since then, the Post reported that Laudau was approached only after Julie Taymor passed on the project, and the latter, Tony-winning director has since had second thoughts about taking on the venture.

According to sources close to the project, the musical would be wholly conceived by Landau, who would also pen the book.

Landau is best known for having directed and co-wrote the book for Floyd Collins. She had less success with Dream True, a collaboration with Ricky Ian Gordon which debuted at the Vineyand Theatre last spring. Her play Space had its New York debut at the Public Theater in 1999.

Disney found success when it called on another multi-talented female stage director, Taymor. The resulting project, The Lion King, became the most successful Broadway show in recent years. —By Robert Simonson