Hercules (musical)
Hercules | ||
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Book |
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Setting | Ancient Greece | |
Basis | Hercules by Ron Clements John Musker Donald McEnery Bob Shaw Irene Mecchi | |
Productions |
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Hercules is a musical with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. Based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1997 film of the same name. The production is also loosely based on the legendary hero of the same name, the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology.
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the musical had a tryout at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in August 2019 and was met with a mixed critical response.
Development
In July 2017, Alan Menken announced that he was working on a stage adaptation of the 1997 film Hercules.[1][2] On February 6, 2019, it was announced that the theatrical adaptation would premiere later that year.[3]
Productions
Delacorte Theater (2019)
The world premiere occurred at the
Paper Mill Playhouse (2023)
On March 22, 2020, Alan Menken appeared on
In April 2022, it was announced that a revised version of the musical would play at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey during the 2022-23 season, from February 16 to March 19, 2023. The revised book would be written by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Robert Horn.[13] Announced cast members include Bradley Gibson as Hercules, Shuler Hensley as Hades, Iglehart reprising his role as Phil, and Isabelle McCalla as Meg.[14] Rounding out the cast is Charity Angél Dawson (Clio), Tiffany Mann (Calliope), Anastascia McClesky (Thalia), Destinee Rea (Terpischore), and Rashidra Scott (Melpomene) as the Muses, Reggie De Leon and Jeff Blumenkrantz as Pain and Panic, Kathryn Allison as Despina, Allyson Kaye Daniel as Aunt Tithesis/Lachesis, Lucia Giannetta as Atropos, Jesse Nager as Nessus, Dennis Stowe and Kristen Faith Oei as Zeus and Hera, and Anne Fraser Thomas as Clotho.[15]
Neue Flora (2024)
The first international production of Hercules opened at the
Notable casts
Character | Delacorte Theater | Paper Mill Playhouse | Neue Flora |
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2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
Hercules | Jelani Alladin | Bradley Gibson | Benét Monteiro alternate: Hope Maine |
Phil | James Monroe Iglehart | Kristofer Weinstein-Storey | |
Meg
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Krysta Rodriguez | Isabelle McCalla | Mae Ann Jorolan |
Hades | Roger Bart | Shuler Hensley | Detlef Leistenschneider |
Pain (Karl) | Nelson Chimilio | Reggie De Leon | Mario Saccoccio |
Panic (Heinz) | Jeff Hiller | Jeff Blumenkrantz | André Haedicke |
Thalia | Ramona Keller | Anastacia McCleskey | Chasity Crisp |
Calliope | Tamika Lawrence | Tiffany Mann | Leslie Beehann |
Terpsichore | Rema Webb | Destinee Rea | Venolia Manale |
Clio | Charity Angél Dawson | Jamie-Lee Uzoh | |
Melpomene | Rashidra Scott | Shekinah McFarlane | |
Nessus | Joel Frost | Jesse Nager |
Musical numbers
The music was composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by David Zippel.
Delacorte (2019)
- "To Be Human" (Prologue)
- "The Gospel Truth"
- "The Gospel Truth" (Reprise 1-"He Ran the Underworld")
- "The Prophecy"
- "The Gospel Truth" (Reprise 2-"Hades Was Not Amused")
- "The Gospel Truth" (Reprise 3-"Young Herc Was Mortal Now")
- "Uniquely Greek Town Square"
- "Go the Distance"
- "One Last Hope"
- "The Gospel Truth" (Reprise 4-"Young Herc Was On His Way")
- "Forget About It"
- "A Cool Day In Hell"
- "Uniquely Greek Tough Town"
- "Zero to Hero"
- "A Cool Day In Hell" (Reprise)
- "Shooting Star"
- "One Last Hope" (Reprise)/"Go the Distance" (Reprise)
- "The Gospel Truth" (Reprise 5-"Herc Jumped the Garden Wall")
- "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
- "Great Bolts of Thunder"
- "To Be Human"
- "A Star Is Born"
- "Go the Distance" (Finale)
Paper Mill (2023)
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Reception
The world premiere production has garnered mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the cast, music, story, and production value. Thom Geier, of
References
- ^ Cristi, A.A. (July 9, 2017). "Will Disney's HERCULES Go the Distance to Broadway? Alan Menken Reveals Stage Version in the Works". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- Orange County Register. Digital First Media. Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (February 6, 2019). "Stage Adaptation of Disney's Hercules to Play the Public Theater's Delacorte". Playbill. TotalTheater. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Skethway, Nathan (September 1, 2019). "First Look at Hercules in Central Park". Playbill. TotalTheater. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Rosky, Nicole (February 6, 2019). "Breaking: Bless My Soul! Public Theater Will Stage HERCULES at the Delacorte Theatre This Summer". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Gordon, David (September 2, 2019). "See Jelani Alladin, Krysta Rodriguez, and Roger Bart in Disney's Hercules". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Greg (June 20, 2019). "'Hercules' Stage Musical Adaptation Finds Its Strongman: Jelani Alladin Among Cast Announced For Shakespeare In The Park Production". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Geier, Thom (September 2, 2019). "'Hercules' Theater Review: Can Disney's Animated Hero Go the Distance to Broadway?". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- .
- ^ Gordon, David (March 23, 2020). "Alan Menken Reveals Continued Development of Disney's Hercules Musical". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (May 15, 2020). "Disney Theatrical Productions Reveals Next Steps for Hercules and The Jungle Book Musicals, Aida Revival, More". Playbill. TotalTheater. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Tossell, Shaun (August 17, 2020). "Disney's 'Hercules' – Stage Adaptation Coming to Broadway". Theatre Fan. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 12, 2022). "Disney's Hercules Sets Stage Return at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (October 31, 2022). "Bradley Gibson, Isabelle McCalla, Shuler Hensley & James Monroe Iglehart to Lead HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse". Broadway World. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Meyer, Dan (January 12, 2023). "Casting Complete for HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse With Tiffany Mann, Rashidra Scott, More". Theatrely. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Hercules at the Neue Flora
- ^ "Benét Monteiro spielt die Titelrolle in Disneys Musical HERCULES". Stage Entertainment. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ "Disneys HERCULES Besetzung". Stage Entertainment. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Derschowitz, Jessica (September 2, 2019). "'Hercules' Musical is a Stage Adaptation Filled with Heroics and Heart". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Green, Jesse (September 2, 2019). "Review: Public Works Finds the Heroism in 'Hercules'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Windman, Matt (September 2, 2019). "'Hercules' review: Free Disney Musical Goes the Distance". AM New York Metro. Schneps Media. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.