Jim On Film
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Autograph Hound
For most of my life, I have lived by the name of Jim Miles. As a child, I wrote on my paper in big letters "Jim Miles." In middle school, my friends called me Jim Miles. Now, as an adult, I sign my checks "Jim Miles."
But there are those times when I’m known as Johnny. Yes Johnny--Stage Door Johnny. In the olden days, men would await at the stage door for the beautiful women of the stage to make their exit and propose with flowers and expensive jewelry. While I would certainly not object to proposing to a beautiful woman of the stage, I’m a Stage Door Johnny of the new generation. I come bearing a camera.
This is not something I admit to often; however, I have been known to wait at stage doors and become a babbling idiot at the sight of my favorite Broadway stars. But as a Disney fan, I often find myself thrilled at getting to see some of my favorite Disney stars perform live on stage. By playing the Stage Door Johnny, I have been able to meet some amazing Disney stars, including Barrie Ingham (voice of Basil of Baker Street--he was nice enough to do Basil for me), Marge Champion (who, as Marjorie Belcher, was a live-action reference for Snow White), and Max Casella (from Newsies, Dinosaur, and the Original Broadway Cast of The Lion King).
While I have never been an autograph hound myself, it is not uncommon to see people asking for autographs, and while the merits of Stage Door Johnnying can be debated, most Broadway stars are very kind and approachable. Each theatre has a door marked "Stage Door" from which the actors leave after every performance (except for some matinees) and where fans stand to greet their favorite stars.
If you wish to make a trek to Broadway to see your favorite Disney stars and possibly have a chance to meet them, here are some Disney stars currently on Broadway and the shows in which they can be seen. Please note that while there are many great shows for families to see, not all of the shows listed below are necessarily ones you would want to take the kids to see.
Roger Bart--Bart, who appeared in the concert of Disney’s King David and sang for young Hercules, has appeared in a host of Broadway shows and tours. Currently, he is starring opposite Brad Oscar in the wildly popular musical The Producers.
Tom Bosley--Besides appearing in Gus, Bosley originated the role of Maurice in the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast; he is the actor preserved on the Original Broadway Cast recording. He is now playing Herr Schultz in the revival of Cabaret at Studio 54.
Harvey Fierstein--Providing the crackly voice of Yao in Mulan, Fierstein is now earning raves as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, the critically acclaimed and popular musical version of the classic 1980s film about a girl fighting for equality at a school dance.
Beth Fowler--Beth Fowler is best known to Disney fans for originating the role of Mrs. Potts in the Broadway Beauty and the Beast, a role she has recently returned to play. It is not as widely known that Fowler sang as one of the women from Honor to Us All in Mulan; she is the one who begins the song.
Jonathan Freeman--Currently appearing as Bert Barry in the tap extravaganza 42nd Street, Freeman is best known to Disney fans as the voice of Jafar in Aladdin. If you wish to meet Freeman, be wary. He’s hard to identify in person, even after seeing him on stage.
Whoopi Goldberg--In addition to appearing in two Disney television films, Whoopi Goldberg will forever live in the hearts of Disney fans as Shenzi in the film version of The Lion King. She recently opened on Broadway in the revival of August Wilson’s first play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a play about African-American blues singer Ma Rainey performing in a white-dominated music world.
Terrence Mann--This contemporary legend of the theatre originated the role of the Beast in the Broadway Beauty and the Beast, which means that he is one you hear on the Original Broadway Cast recording. He has recently returned to the Broadway Les Miserables to close the show in the role he originated on Broadway, Javert. This stellar and popular long-running show will be closing soon!
Sheryl Lee Ralph--In Oliver & Company, Sheryl Lee Ralph provided the speaking voice for the smooth and sweet Rita. Now on Broadway, she can be seen as Muzzy van Hossmere in the hit musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Ernie Sabella--Disney fans will remember this Broadway star as Pumbaa in The Lion King. Currently, Sabella can be seen as Sanch Panza in Man of la Mancha, which stars the amazing Brian Stokes Mitchell, whom animation fans know best for performing the song Through Heaven’s Eyes in DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt.
Lea Salonga--She originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon, but to Disney fans, she’s best known as the singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan. She can currently be heard thrilling audiences in the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song on Broadway. Despite some positive reviews, Flower Drum Song is having a box office slump, so Salonga fans will want to see it while they can!
Carole Shelley--While she is currently playing Fraulein Schneider in the successful revival of Cabaret now playing at Studio 54, Shelley is best known to Disney fans for appearing in Jungle to Jungle and for voicing one of the Fates in Hercules, Lady Kluck in Robin Hood, and the hilarious Amelia Gabble in The AristoCats.
Samuel E. Wright--From under the sea to the African safari, Samuel E. Wright is currently appearing on Broadway in Disney’s The Lion King as Mufasa, the role he originated on Broadway. Wright, of course, voiced Sebastian from The Little Mermaid and Kron from Dinosaur.
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-- Jim Miles
Jim On Film is published every other Thursday.
The opinions expressed by our guest columnists, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future of Disneyland and the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted February 4, 2003
Copyright Jim Miles. Licensed to LaughingPlace.com.