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Posts Tagged ‘disney’

Broadway and Licensing: The Perfect Performance?

Friday, July 16th, 2010

I’m going to see a performance of RENT this Sunday at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, performed by Phoenix Productions, central Jersey’s community theatre company. Granted it’s not the Broadway show, but I’m a total RENT-head, and when you have an addiction like mine, you take it where you can get it. Besides, I saw it on Broadway about 15 times (we know where my paycheck goes) before it so sadly closed, so I’m ready for a different atmosphere. I also saw it performed last year by a group of Rutgers college kids at a tiny theatre in New Brunswick, and it was amazing. The passion, precision, coordination, and creativity of those 20-something-aged college kids left me in awe, and frankly, quite a bit jealous. I can barely type and talk at the same time, let alone sing, dance, and act simultaneously.

I love to see my favorite live show, RENT, performed by different people, with different skills sets, in different venues. I love seeing how the same story, with the same lyrics, the same plot and ideals, can be turned into something new and exciting each time with different performers and directors, with different interpretations. And, like any RENT-head, I love my licensed RENT-stuff. I’ve got the T-shirt, sweatshirt, keychain, coffee-table book, and all my playbills. But I’m noticing a shift in licensing when it comes to Broadway; one I’d like to find out more about.

At some point, back in the day, it used to be that Broadway shows spawned licensed products. Fans would see the shows, love them, and want to own merchandise to express that love (exhibit A: my RENT T-shirt). If you walk through the theatre district in NYC, you’ll find loads of gift shops specifically themed around this concept.

Now, however, it seems that instead of great Broadway shows leading to licensed products, other forms of media and entertainment are more and more leading to Broadway shows. What am I talking about? Shrek the musical. Disney on Broadway. Monty Python on Broadway. The Wizard of Oz. Jersey Boys. Grease. Movin’ Out. I even heard a commercial on the radio yesterday advertising that Green Day’s got an award-winning Broadway show.

When did hit properties start leading to Broadway shows instead of the other way around? When and why did the theatre crowd start accepting less “serious” art, such as Monty Python, as appropriate for theatre? How does bringing entertainment such as Green Day and Shrek to Broadway make theatre more appealing and more accessible to the masses, to the “regular folks” who might not have a taste for The Merchant of Venice or Waiting for Godot? When did Broadway become a children’s entertainment venue as well as an adult one? How does this shift increase licensing sales? What’s the legal process for turning an established property, movie, band, or celebrity biography into a licensed Broadway show? How much money does Broadway take in annually from licensed products? Why do we RENT-heads pay to see the same show again and again, and pay so much for those T-shirts, when you know darn well that if I saw a regular old shirt in a store for that price, I would laugh out loud and keep walking?

I think that those questions, and more, might be the beginning of a very interesting Broadway licensing feature.

What’s your favorite Broadway show? Why do you pay so much for Broadway product? For the shows themselves? Please weigh in on this one! Inquiring minds want to know!

–Jennifer Ringler

In case you haven’t seen RENT (in which case you have missed out on one of the best parts of life on Earth), here’s my favorite song from the show:

Tags: Broadway, disney, licensing, RENT
Posted in Brand Licensing, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Saban buys back Power Rangers from Disney

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Haim Saban, who launched the Power Rangers TV series in the ‘90s, has bought back the rights to the property. Disney has owned the Power Rangers since 2001, and Saban has now regained control of the brand in exchange for a reported $100 million.

In a new deal between Saban and children’s television network Nickelodeon, the network will begin airing past episodes of Power Rangers, along with 20 new episodes to be produced by Saban.

The acquisition is being made under Saban Brands, Saban’s new company aimed at acquiring entertainment and consumer brands. “I think this property has significant legs going forward if it’s in an environment where it is nurtured and supported as opposed to being part of a huge portfolio,” says Saban.

Watch the opening theme song and video of the original Power Rangers here.

Tags: disney, Haim Saban, nickelodeon, Power Rangers, Saban Brands
Posted in Boys, Kids Properties, New Deals, Television | No Comments »

Disney Adds First Male Character to Pixie Hollow

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

This weekend, it was announced that male fairies, called “Sparrow Men,” have been added to Disney’s magical fairy world, Pixie Hollow.

The first male character in Pixie Hollow is named Slate.

Slate is a new avatar on the Pixie Hollow online community, giving visitors the chance, for the first time, to create a male instead of a female character.

Tags: disney, Pixie Hollow
Posted in Around the Industry, Kids Properties, Social Media | No Comments »

Disney Goes Green for Earth Day

Monday, April 12th, 2010

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, today Disney Store introduced a new line of eco-friendly products. New fashionable “Save Planet Earth” totes are available now at Disney Store locations nationwide and on DisneyStore.com, and a portion of the proceeds from its sales will benefit The Nature Conservancy‘s “Adopt a Coral Reef” program. For each tote sold Disney Store will contribute $1 through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to help save our oceans by protecting vital coral reefs.

Disney Store’s exclusive “Save Planet Earth” eco-friendly product assortment with the lovable three-eyed green alien from Disney-Pixar Toy Story will be available through Earth Day and includes:

•   Fashionable totes, made from seven recycled bottles that have been cleaned, smashed, melted and reused
•   Children and adult sized T-shirts made from 100% organic cotton with the messages “Save Planet Earth” and “Love”
•   Green reusable aluminum bottles
•   Journals made from recycled paper and organic cotton
•   And a new exclusive Toy Story plush alien to commemorate this special occasion

Tags: disney, disney store, Earth Day, the nature conservancy
Posted in Green, Retail | No Comments »

Disney Launches Pook-A-Looz Line

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Pook-A-Looz is the new line of plush, apparel, and accessories from Disney Consumer Products (DCP). Inspired by the urban vinyl toy culture, Pook-A-Looz were designed to capture the personalities of iconic Disney characters in an edgy, offbeat way. The new line of plush features more than 30 characters, from Buzz Lightyear and Cheshire Cat to Muppets and Jack Skellington. Pook-A-Looz are available now at Toys “R” Us, Disney Store, DisneyStore.com, Disneyland Resort, and Walt Disney World stores.

The new line is the brainchild of DCP’s in-house creative design team.

“We focused on capturing one key element, gesture, or trait of each character during the design process. We wanted the look to be very unique, quirky, and cool,” said Jose Zamora, lead designer. “When you think of the Queen of Hearts, you think of her mouth, so we brought that out in the design. With the Cheshire Cat, you think of the teeth. So we focused on that famous grin.”

Fans will be welcomed into the world of Pook-A-Looz through a series of “Pook-a-Sode” videos on the Disney Living YouTube channel, beginning this week. The Disney Living Facebook fan page and Twitter feed will also offer additional content and forums for fans to win prizes, share content, and connect.

Pook-a-Looz are manufactured and distributed by select licensees.

Check out the first Pook-a-Sode here:

Tags: disney, Pook-A-Looz, Toys R Us
Posted in Dolls/Plush, Kids Properties, New Deals | No Comments »

Report: Disney teams with MLB

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Mickey’s got tickets to Opening Day.

According to a report in today’s Sports Business Journal, MLB and Disney have teamed on a long-discussed deal for co-branded merchandise, with a launch expected at the July 13 All-Star Game.

The report says the deal will include include caps, apparel, novelties and possibly children’s footwear, and is expected to lay the groundwork for more co-branded items in the future, with a possible rollout of new products for next year’s Spring Training schedule.

Disney steps to the plate with MLB [Sports Business Journal]

Tags: disney, mlb
Posted in Sports | No Comments »

Disney Signs With Starz, Showtime

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Walt Disney Co. and Starz Entertainment have signed a deal to extend their exclusive relationship for replaying Disney movies on TV through 2015, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Under the deal, Starz will have exclusive rights to rebroadcast theatrical releases under the Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Disney-Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures banners on its Starz, Encore and MoviePlex stations. DreamWorks Studios and Miramax aren’t covered under the arrangement; Disney signed a separate deal for DreamWorks’ films to be broadcast on Showtime, according to the LA Times.

Disney, Starz extend film licensing deal [SF Gate]
Disney makes pay cable deals at Starz and Showtime [LA Times]

Tags: disney, DreamWorks, showtime, starz
Posted in Movie Licensing | No Comments »

And now, the Tron Trailer

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Sometimes as dutiful licensed product hawks, we must familiarize ourselves with the hit properties du jour. We do this on YouTube. Today, we present the Tron trailer, because by some happy accident of fortune it is our job (!!!) to do so: