Tarzan (musical)

Tarzan (musical)
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Name	Tarzan
Music	Phil Collins
Lyrics	Phil Collins
Book	David Henry Hwang
Basis	Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes
Premiere date	May 10, 2006
Premiere place	Meralco Theatre, Manila; then Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
Productions	Broadway (2006), West End (2008), International tours

Tarzan (musical) is a stage adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes that combines a book by David Henry Hwang with music and lyrics by Phil Collins and choreography and direction by Martha Clarke and collaborators. The production premiered in the 2000s and has been staged on Broadway, the West End, and international venues, featuring a score that draws from Collins' work on the 1999 Disney animated film Tarzan. The show integrates aerial choreography, puppetry, and orchestration, engaging artists and institutions across the theatrical community.

Background and Development

Development began after the success of Disney's 1999 Tarzan film, with Disney Theatrical Productions commissioning a stage version that retained Phil Collins' songs. Disney Theatrical produced earlier stage adaptations such as Aida and later productions like The Lion King, informing the creative approach. The book was assigned to Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright David Henry Hwang, whose prior works include M. Butterfly and collaborations with companies like Lincoln Center Theater. Direction and staging drew upon designers and choreographers with credits at New York City Ballet, Guthrie Theater, and Royal Shakespeare Company. Developmental workshops involved performers from institutions such as Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama, and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Technical teams consulted specialists from Cirque du Soleil and the Royal National Theatre to realize aerial sequences and puppet design.

Production History

The musical's initial premiere and early previews occurred in Manila at the Meralco Theatre before moving to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway, produced by Disney Theatrical Productions alongside producers with credits on The Producers (musical), Wicked (musical), and Hairspray (musical). The Broadway run opened in 2006 and involved unions including Actors' Equity Association and orchestral musicians affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians. The production later transferred to the Lyric Theatre and mounted a West End production opening at the Lyric Theatre (London) in 2008, produced in association with Nederlander Organization and Trafalgar Entertainment. International tours toured North America, Europe, and Asia, with stops at venues such as Minskoff Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, and festival appearances at the Edinburgh Festival fringe programming. Regional productions were staged by institutions like Goodman Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and touring companies contracted by Broadway Across America.

Plot and Musical Numbers

The narrative follows the arc established by Edgar Rice Burroughs: an orphaned infant rescued and raised by apes in the African jungle, who grows into a man torn between the world of his ape family and the arrival of human explorers. Key plot beats mirror elements familiar from James Cunliffe adaptations and film interpretations, including encounters with explorers, conflicts over identity, and antagonist confrontations reminiscent of scenes in the 1912 novel and later cinematic treatments by directors associated with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Musical numbers are drawn from Phil Collins' compositions, including songs used in the 1999 film such as "You'll Be in My Heart", re-arranged for the stage, as well as stage-exclusive reprises and ensemble pieces crafted to underscore aerial staging and emotional beats. Orchestration and arrangements were developed by collaborators linked to London Symphony Orchestra and arrangers who have worked with Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber on theatrical recordings. Specific sequences integrate choreography designed for aerial harnesses, informed by practices from Contemporary circus companies and movement methodologies from Labanotation practitioners.

Characters and Original Cast

Principal characters include the feral-raised protagonist, his ape family leader figures, the human love interest who catalyzes his cultural awakening, and human antagonists representing colonial-era explorers. The original Broadway cast featured actors drawn from Juilliard School, Conservatoire de Paris, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama alumni. Creative team members credited include set designers with credits at Scenic Designer's Guild venues, costume designers whose work has been seen at Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House, and lighting designers known for productions at Apollo Theatre and Sondheim Theatre. Vocalists and musicians who debuted in the Broadway run later appeared in concerts at Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and television specials on networks like PBS and BBC.

Reception and Legacy

Critical reception ranged from praise for the score and physical staging to criticism of the book and adaptation choices; reviews appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, and The Daily Telegraph. Awards recognition included nominations from the Tony Awards and accolades from regional bodies like the Olivier Awards for technical achievement, while cast recordings earned placements on charts tracked by Billboard (magazine). The production influenced subsequent jungle-themed stagings and musical theatre approaches to integrating aerial performance, cited in academic analyses published by Oxford University Press and case studies at New York University and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Revivals, amateur productions, and licensing by Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Licensing have extended the work's reach into university and regional repertory seasons, and the show remains part of discussions about adapting animated properties for live theatre, alongside productions like Beauty and the Beast (musical) and Aladdin (musical).

Category:Musicals