Disney has a long and storied history of musicals. A majority of their animated films, from Snow White to Encanto, have been hit musicals. Many have made the transition from screen to stage, even if there are no human characters anywhere in the story, such as The Lion King. Still, the idea of a Zootopia musical… it seemed implausible. Zootopia was distinctly not a musical, there are characters of all sizes, and it’s a crime thriller. None of those make for an easy musical.
But does that stop Broadway? No! They made a hip-hop musical out of the biography of one of the American Founding Fathers. They’ve made musicals out of 80’s movies about psychotic serial killers. They even made a Spider-Man musical at one point! Good or bad, if it exists, the potential for a musical theater adaptation also exists. Even if something doesn’t exist yet, it can become a musical! Besides, Zootopia+ proved that even a character like Duke Weaselton can do well in the musical spotlight.
Enter Connor Gallagher, Sara Wordsworth, Jaheem Toombs, Matte Martinez, and Ian Weinberger. They’re putting together a Zootopia Musical for Disney Theatrical Productions! Between them, they’ve done all sorts of work on Broadway- Connor Gallagher, who is directing this production, was the choreographer for Beetlejuice. Sara Wordsworth (the writer) was co-creator of In Transit, a fully a cappella musical about people on the subway. Jaheem Toombs and Matte Martinez composed tracks for Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, a Disney Channel original musical. Ian Weinberger was a music director for Hamilton. These people have worked on Disney soundtracks, cruise line and parks shows, and many, many more projects. In short, they know their way around adapting unusual things into musicals.
Before you get your hopes up, this is not a large-scale Broadway musical… yet. This is a three-week developmental workshop, where they will be trying and testing out how to make a musical like this work at every level, from costuming to script. They will be experimenting with songs, choreography, set design, everything. This audition is just for a few actors to play the major roles during this development stage, but does not guarantee that those cast at this point will play those characters when it finally goes to the stage. Even then, the show is currently being developed for the League of Resident Theatres, which is an association of professional, not-for-profit theaters, with plans to license it later. It won’t be on Broadway itself, or on tour- unless it does very well at this stage, but that’s not in the plans yet.
In short, it’s an experiment. But it’s the sort of experiment we love to see.
If anyone is interested and meets the qualifications listed, check out the full audition listing on BroadwayWorld.com. And if you’re so inclined to audition, break a leg! Who knows… I may even see you there.*
Info for auditionees:
Where: Ripley-Grier Studios, 508 8th ave, New York, New York, Studio 17N
When: Monday, September 22nd, 10:00-6:00PM
Pay: $1384/wk
Roles sought: Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Dawn Bellweather, Chief Bogo
Prep: Bring EPA union card, sheet music in your key, and resume. Prepare contemporary musical theater or pop musical theater song, with emphasis on comedic instincts and character acting
*…What? Before ZNN, I was an actor. I’ve been in several musicals in my time. I even played 18 characters in a single show once. Good times! Besides, you’ve gotta remember our motto-
Try Everything!
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