Tarzan Rocks!

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Tarzan Rocks
Disney's Animal Kingdom
AreaDinoLand U.S.A.
Coordinates28°21′26″N 81°35′14″W / 28.3571592°N 81.587295°W / 28.3571592; -81.587295
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJuly 9, 1999
Closing dateJanuary 21, 2006
ReplacedJourney Into The Jungle Book[1]
Replaced byFinding Nemo – The Musical
Ride statistics
Attraction typeMusical show
ModelTheater
ThemeTarzan
Audience capacity1,500[2] per show
Duration30 minutes
DirectorReed Jones[3]
ProducerAngie Howard[3]

Tarzan Rocks! was a live amusement show at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It is based on the 1999 animated film Tarzan, and utilizes the music and lyrics by Phil Collins. The show opened Friday, July 9, 1999,[3][4] and featured the use of acrobatics, a live band, costume characters, and cast members on rollerskates. After nearly a seven-year run, the show closed January 21, 2006.

History[edit]

The stage musical Journey Into The Jungle Book, occupied the Theater in the Wild at DinoLand USA in Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. It was themed to the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book. The show was an opening day attraction, and was received well. But Walt Disney Attractions, (now known as Disney Parks) was looking for a location for a new Tarzan stage show which could debut in the parks alongside the film's theatrical release.[5] Journey Into The Jungle Book closed April 1999, and the Theater in the Wild began preparations for Tarzan. The new show, which was officially named Tarzan Rocks! was produced by Angie Howard, the resort's Entertainment Operations Manager. Howard brought in Reed Jones, to write and direct the new show.[3] During previews, the make-up for Tarzan featured heavy eye liner to make his eyes appear, "...dark, deep set and mysterious..." according to his actor John Coulter.[6] The eye liner wasn't used after the previews. The costumes were created by designer Cynthia Nordstrom, in her first stage show with the company.[7]

When the show premiered in Disney's Animal Kingdom on July 9, 1999, it featured an ensemble of 27 people, with the titular character being played by Coulter, and Jane being played by Ramsi Nia Stoker.[8] Howard stated that the show would be expected to run, "...for about three years."[3]

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, tourism in the United States dropped dramatically. In response to the lower attendance, Tarzan Rocks! in addition to Festival of the Lion King, and a number of other shows reduced the amount of performances each day.[9]

Closure[edit]

Rumors began circulating in late 2005 that the show would be closing,[10] possibly due to the broadway show debuting in May 2006. It was speculated a Finding Nemo-related show would be replacing Tarzan Rocks.[11] On a Disney World forum, January 11, 2006, an accident reportedly happened when aerial rigging snapped sending the Tarzan falling into the band.[12] Another accident reportedly happened on January 16, 2006.[13]

The show officially closed on Saturday, January 21, 2006.[14] The Finding Nemo rumors were revealed to be factual in April 2006, when the Walt Disney Company confirmed Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez were hired to write Finding Nemo: The Musical.[15]

Musical Numbers[edit]

The music from the film, written by Phil Collins, was performed by a live band on stage.

  1. "Two Worlds"
  2. "You'll Be in My Heart"
  3. "Son of Man"
  4. "Strangers Like Me"
  5. "Trashin' the Camp"
  6. "You'll Be in My Heart/Finale"

Reception[edit]

The show was fairly divisive.[16][17] While people applauded the acrobatics, the utilization of rollerskates were highly criticized.[18][19]

Legacy[edit]

Following the successful debut of Tarzan Rocks, Disney had actor John Coulter film a television pilot for a live action Tarzan series. Produced under the working title Tarzan’s Animal Friends, the episode was filmed in the swamps of Florida, but was never picked up.[20]

An attraction similar to Tarzan Rocks! named Tarzan: Call of the Jungle opened at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016.[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rasmussen, Nate. "Vintage Walt Disney World Resort: Building a Theater in the Wild". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Finding Nemo - the Musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom". allears.net. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Anderson, Jamie (July 11, 1999). "A SWINGING NEW SHOW - Orlando Sentinel". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ^ J. Anderson, Jamie (July 9, 1999). "Animal Kingdom Rocks With 'Tarzan' Stage Show". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Geryak, Cole (May 10, 2018). "Disney Extinct Attractions: Journey into the Jungle Book: Alive with Magic". Laughing Place.
  6. ^ @JohnCoulterDesigns (March 22, 2022). "John Coulter- Tarzan Tuesday: Guyliner - Instagram" – via Instagram.
  7. ^ @CynthiaNordstromDesigner (July 16, 2020). "TBT: Young Designer - Instagram" – via Instagram.
  8. ^ @DefyingGravityUtah (April 29, 2022). "Ramsi Nia Stoker - Instagram" – via Instagram.
  9. ^ Schneider, Mike (October 19, 2001). "Disney Eliminates 100 Entertainment Jobs". Panama City News Herald. Panama City, Florida. p. 106.
  10. ^ "New Rumors about Tarzan Rocks Replacement!". WDW Radio. September 5, 2005.
  11. ^ "Nemo to Replace Tarzan at Animal Kingdom". DVDizzy. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Thread: The mishap at Tarzan Rocks (not in the news!)". Mouse Planet. January 11, 2006.
  13. ^ "Thread: Was Tarzan Hurt?". DIS Discussion Boards. January 16, 2006.
  14. ^ Powers, Scott (January 24, 2006). "Tarzan show ends at Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 30, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  15. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (April 10, 2006). "Avenue Q Composer Lopez Co-Pens Musical Finding Nemo for Disney". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2008.
  16. ^ "Tarzan Rocks - All Ears". AllEars. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  17. ^ Geryak, Cole (February 15, 2018). "Disney Extinct Attractions: Tarzan Rocks (a Roller Coaster)". Laughing Place.
  18. ^ "Doctor Disney Remembers: Tarzan Rocks at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Doctor Disney. March 14, 2013.
  19. ^ Berton, Lisa K. (September 17, 2009). "Come Home". All Ears.
  20. ^ @JohnCoulterDesigns (April 14, 2020). "John Coulter - Tarzan Pilot - Instagram" – via Instagram.
  21. ^ Wall, Kim (June 14, 2016). "The Magic Kingdom Meets the Middle Kingdom in Shanghai Disneyland". Time.

External links[edit]

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