Talking Tarzan with Phil Collins
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So what are Phil’s plans for the future? Having worked tirelessly to prepare the show for the Great White Way the creative team of Tarzan is collaborating again on a production for Amsterdam for ’07 (and possibly a touring show for the same production company in Germany). It also seems that this internationally renowned pop star has been bitten by the theatrical bug. “I have bought a place in New York City now and I plan to split my time between here and a new home in Switzerland so I can be close to my young kids,�? Phil concludes. “I want to do more of this although there are no other firm plans yet. I have been talking to Rick Ellice and Marshall Brickman [the writers of the hit musical Jersey Boys] about working together in the future and Susan Stroman [director of The Producers] has become a good friend. I’m hoping to catch just one ball and hope it lights on fire! My manager keeps trying to get Genesis back together but I keep trying to educate him that I’m happy creatively right now and content just doing this one thing.�?
As the interview concluded there was a palpable sense of relief in the room as Phil’s hectic week promoting the musical came to an end. However the relief was not the result of freedom from the constant interviews and media requests that week but having devoted over a decade of his life to bringing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ creation to life musically Phil is ready for the next challenge in his life. This is the story of how a drummer returned to his theatrical roots.
Oh and one last thing: upon returning to the rental car on 55th Street I found a nice parking ticket for $115 as it transpired the space was for service vehicles only. Chump change for the opportunity to meet Phil. And the Alan Menken interview will feature in Issue 8.
Tales from the Laughing Place Issue 7
Issue 7 of Tales from the Laughing Place magazine is now shipping to
subscribers.
"The focus on this issue is undoubtedly the creation of the Tarzan musical for Broadway," Tales publisher Lee MacDonald explains. "Behind the Green Room features interviews with the entire creative team including director Bob Crowley, writer David Henry Hwang, aerial designer Pichon Baldinu, choreographer Meryl Tankard, music producer Paul Bogaev and special creatures designer Ivo Coveney. In addition we have an article about the use of sound effects in the show with Academy Award winner sound designer Lon Bender. Capping off the Tarzan series is an extensive interview with world-renowned musician and Disney Legend Phil Collins. The issue unfolds with an image of Josh Strickland as Tarzan for the cover that is exclusive to Tales from the Laughing Place. You won't find a more comprehensive anthology of articles about the production of Tarzan anywhere else."
In addition Issue 7 features the following stories:
Harbored Fantasea: The creation of The Legend of Mythica daytime aquatic parade for Tokyo DisneySea with show producer Steve Davison;
Making Waves: Go under the surface of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage with Walt Disney Imagineering's Kathy Mangum;
Encountered Everest: A pictorial essay about the inauguration of Expedition: Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom in April '06;
Reminiscing about the critically acclaimed Festival of Fools show based on Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame that ran over a decade ago;
A Driving Lesson: A different look at Disney’s relationship with the automobile; and
A Little Golf Anyone?: Insight into the best holes at Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens the two miniature golf courses at Walt Disney World.
"For our first six issues we concentrated on the eleven Disney theme parks around the world for Disneyland's 50th anniversary and the Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland but we hope to now broaden our Disney horizon with the most extensive coverage of the making of the Tarzan musical possible," Lee says. "In Issue 8 we will feature an interview with Disney Legend Alan Menken about his numerous upcoming Disney projects and stories about the creation of the Sister Act musical in Pasadena. Our goal is to be the pre-eminent source of information for theater-goers about Disney Theatrical and its ventures around the world."
"In addition we hope to roll out a new dedicated Tales from the Laughing Place website later in the year," Lee concludes. "This will be the home for all information about the magazine."
Issue 7 is available as part of an annual subscription to Tales from the Laughing Place magazine (Domestic: $36 including free shipping, Canada and international rates available separately through the website).
In addition Issue 7 is available individually for $9 plus tax and shipping. Effective immediately The LaughingPlace Store will also ship single issues internationally including the UK, Europe and the Rest of the World (where we now offer a lower cost surface mail option).
Further information is available at: http://www.laughingplacestore.com/tales
Discuss It
-- Posted August 31, 2006
-- Story by Lee MacDonald
-- Photographs by Lindsay Cave unless otherwise credited
-- Original version appears in Issue 7 of Tales from the Laughing Place