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PORT CANAVERAL - Disney has retooled and repurposed another of its modern animated classics and set it out to sea. Toy Story -- The Musical premiered Thursday, but there's only one way for fans to see it -- aboard the Disney Wonder, one of two cruise ships based here.
The musical is the latest entry in Disney's revival of the Toy Story franchise. Earlier this year, "Block Party Bash," a parade starring Toy Story and other Pixar characters, came to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Mania, an interactive 3-D ride, is set to debut there this summer. And Toy Story 3 is currently in production. Lasseter said to expect that to premiere in June 2010.
The stage show has the blessing and the imprint of John Lasseter, director of the Toy Story films and now chief creative officer of Disney and Pixar Animation Studios as well as the principal creative adviser of Walt Disney Imagineering.
The result show is a full-blown Broadway-style affair with 18 actors (including beloved characters Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Hamm and Rex), giant projection screens, an appearance of the Claw and a rollicking finale.
"It's the most elaborate show on the high seas," said Tom McAlpin, president of Disney Cruise Line.
Seven new songs were written by husband-and-wife team Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn of the rock band GrooveLily to go with Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the 1995 film. Unlike in theme parks, the faces of the actors playing lead characters Buzz Lightyear and Woody are visible. Those actors, Noel Douglas Orput and Geoffrey Tyler, respectively, sing live to advance the plot about friendship, loyalty, teamwork and jealousy.
Passengers on the Wonder's three- and four-day cruises will see the production in the ship's theater, which seats 977 guests. The show clocks in at just shy of an hour, a family-friendly length.
Orlando Sentinel
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