If Miley Cyrus ends up playing Wendy, I have lost all faith in humanity. But it would be hilarious to see her try to do an English accent. Hilarious and terrifying.
I haven't really followed "The Wonderful World of Disney", but do they really show old Disney movies a lot lately? (And I mean old Disney movies like "Dumbo", not new Pixar movies like "Finding Nemo" .) I kind of suspect that they don't...Disney's been ignoring its past on the TV networks, and they rarely show anything classic on any of its networks anymore. That's what they need more of, I say.
Original musical productions are terrific too, of course. I'd just be really pleasantly surprised if Disney actually was showing more truly old films lately.
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit."
(Emanuel Azenberg)
Eww. Anyway I didn't think Wonderful Word of Disney was still going on. If so, would this be a Wonderful World of Disney Presentation or an ABC Presentation? I know it doesn't matter, it's on ABC no matter what. Just seeing if it would be like the other musicals that Disney remade.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
They can't and won't cast a male in the part - not even a boy. A female actor will be playing the part. Guaranteed.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
If it is a movie of the musical, then I think they will and should cast a male Peter Pan. The female Peter Pan is a stage tradition, and this is a movie.
They "can't" cast an adult male because the vocals were written for a woman (though yes, of course an adult male COULD do it).
They "won't" cast an adult male because they want to keep the tradition of the musical and have a female play the part.
It's "guaranteed" because I know a few people who have been working on the project.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Well I still don't think it's a very good idea for a movie. I remember in Jason Tam's A Chorus Line video on Broadway.com they showed a clip of him playing Peter Pan when he was young, and I always thought it would be interesting if they actually cast a 12 year old boy. But I do understand the tradition, I just don't think it's going to translate well on film.
For 50 years it really hasn't been an issue. Mary Martin's PETER PAN became a household tradition (it was done twice live, rebroadcast several times, and finally recorded in a studio-style in color for preservation and later home video).
It's up to the actress to make herself believable as a little boy. Martin certainly did that. So has Rigby. And Rigby does it in her '50s!!!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
In addition to the clasic Martin version, Cathy Rigby's production was taped and shown on A&E about 7 years ago and is out on DVD. I'm not sure what Zaden & Company think thay can do to improve on either existing tape.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com