Disney Theatrical Group and theatrical licensor Music Theatre International have announced their upcoming rollout of new Disney titles in the Broadway Junior and KIDS collections: the previously reported Frozen KIDS in September 2019, Moana JR. in January 2020, Newsies JR. in September 2020, and Finding Nemo JR. in January 2021.
These new titles follow the release of Frozen JR., which became available for licensing in January 2019.
Disney Theatrical Group will celebrate the new releases with grants to bring free performance rights for a Disney Broadway Junior title to accreddited public schools in the US. The first round of applications for this program close October 1, 2019. For more information, visit DisneyTheatricalLicensing.com.The Broadway Junior catalog from MTI adapts full-length shows into 60-minute versions for middle school-aged performers. The KIDS collection, aimed at elementary school-aged students, offers 30-minute adaptations. Disney titles in the collections include Aladdin JR., Beauty and the Beast JR., High School Musical JR., The Lion King JR., 101 Dalmations KIDS, The Aristocats KIDS, and Winnie the Pooh KIDS.
Frozen KIDS and Newsies JR. have been adapted from their respective full-length stage adaptations as seen in their Broadway runs. Moana JR. will be the first stage adaptation of the 2016 film, featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina.
Finding Nemo JR. is adapted from the 2003 film with a score by Frozen songwriters Kristin Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez. A 40 minute musical adaptation of the film, also with a score by Anderson-Lopez and Lopez, has played Walt Disney World's Theatre in the Wild at Animal Kingdom since 2006.
For more information, visit DisneyTheatricalLicensing.com and MTIShows.com.