''Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' is a

stage musical Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

based on the 1971 Walt Disney film and the stories by Mary Norton. It features the original songs by

Richard M. Sherman Richard Morton Sherman (born June 12, 1928) is an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact checkers, "the Sherman Brothers ...

and

Robert B. Sherman Robert Bernard Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012) was an American songwriter, best known for his work in musical films with his brother, Richard M. Sherman. The Sherman brothers produced more motion picture song scores than any ...

, new songs and additional music and lyrics by

Neil Bartram Neil Bartram is a musical theatre composer/lyricist based in New York. Bartram is the composer and lyricist of Disney's ''Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' and Broadway's '' The Story of My Life'' with book writer Brian Hill. Career Prior to Broadway ...

and book by Brian Hill.

Background

The musical was originally due to premiere at The Yard at

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a non-profit, professional theater company located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Its more than six hundred annual performances performed 48 weeks of the year include its critically acclaimed Shakespeare s ...

from May 30 to July 28, 2019 as part of its 2018/19 season, directed and choreographed by

Rachel Rockwell Rachel Rockwell (born Natalie Rachel Heyde; July 14, 1969 – May 28, 2018) was an American theater director, choreographer and performer. Early life Rockwell was born Natalie Rachel Heyde in Columbia, Missouri, the daughter of songwriter/teache ...

, however due to Rockwell's death on May 26, 2018 the musical had been postponed and replaced with a production of ''Six''. In May 2020 while speaking about the closure of ''Frozen'' on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

to ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'',

Thomas Schumacher Thomas Schumacher (born December 5, 1957) is a theatrical producer, currently president of Disney Theatrical Group, the theatrical production arm of The Walt Disney Company. Life and career Schumacher studied theatre at UCLA. In 1987 he was asso ...

, the president of

Disney Theatrical Productions Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the flagship stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a major business unit of The Walt ...

, confirmed the musical was in development with new directors Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.

Production history

2021-22 UK and Ireland tour

The musical had its world premiere at the Theatre Royal in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

on 14 August 2021 before embarking on a UK and Ireland tour until May 2022. The production is directed by Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison, with set design and illusions also by Jamie Harrison. Costume design is by Gabriella Slade, orchestrations are by Simon Hale, musical supervision is by Tom Murray, choreography and movement direction are by Neil Bettles, sound design is by Gareth Fry, lighting is by Simon Wilkinson, production management is by Gary Beestone, and casting by Jill Green and Jo Hawes. The production is produced by Michael Harrison by special arrangement with

. Casting for the production was announced on 4 June 2021 including

Dianne Pilkington Dianne Lesley Pilkington (born 7 June 1975) is an English theatre actress and singer. Personal life Pilkington was born in Wigan. She trained at the Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 1997 with the Principal's Award. Pilkington married ...

as Miss Price and Charles Brunton as Emelius Browne.

Cast and characters

Musical Numbers

;Act I *"Prologue" *"

Nobody's Problems ''Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' is a 1971 American live-action animated musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Bill Walsh for Walt Disney Productions. It is loosely based upon the books '' The Magic Bedknob; or, How to ...

" - Charlie, Carrie, Paul *"Miss Price, I Believe" - Carrie, Paul, Charlie *"

A Step In The Right Direction "A Step in the Right Direction" is a song written by Robert and Richard Sherman for the 1971, Walt Disney musical film production ''Bedknobs and Broomsticks''. Lost scene Upon rediscovering the song on the original soundtrack album, Disney decide ...

" - Miss Price, Company *"Negotiality" - Charlie *"Filigree, Apogee, Pedigree, Perigee" - Miss Price, Company *"Bedknob Spell" - Miss Price, Company *"

The Age of Not Believing "The Age of Not Believing" is a song written by Robert and Richard Sherman for the 1971 Walt Disney musical film production ''Bedknobs and Broomsticks''. Angela Lansbury sings the song in the motion picture. In the lyrics, Lansbury's character ...

" - Miss Price *"Bedknob Spell (Reprise 1)" - Miss Price, Company *"Emelius The Great" - Emelius, Company *"Filigree, Apogee, Pedigree, Perigee (Reprise)" - Miss Price, Company *"Bedknob Spell (Reprise 2)" - Miss Price, Company *"Eglantine" - Emelius, Charlie, Miss Price, Carrie, Paul *"Bedknob Spell (Reprise 3)" - Miss Price, Paul, Company *"

Portobello Road Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. It runs almost the length of Notting Hill from south to north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove. On Saturdays it is ...

" - Full Company *"Negotiality (Reprise 1)" - Charlie *"Bedknob Spell (Reprise 4)" - Miss Price, Carrie, Paul, Company ;Act II *"Entr'acte" *"Nopeepo Lagoon" - Norton, Company *"The Beautiful Briny" - Miss Price, Emelius, Charlie, Carrie, Paul, Company *"Fish, Fish" - Sherman *"Negotiality (Reprise 2)" - Charlie *"Emelius and Eglantine" - Miss Price, Emelius, Charlie, Carrie, Paul *" Substitutiary Locomotion" - Miss Price, Emelius, Charlie, Carrie, Paul, Company *"Nobody's Problems (Quintet)" - Miss Price, Emelius, Charlie, Carrie, Paul *"It's Now" - Emelius *"The Age of Not Believing (Reprise)" - Charlie *"Onward" - Miss Price, Carrie, Charlie, Paul, Emelius, Company *"Epilogue" - Company

References

External links

Official website
{{Disney Theatrical Productions Musicals based on films Musicals based on multiple works Musicals based on novels Musicals by the Sherman Brothers 2021 musicals Walt Disney Theatrical