Rogers: The Musical is a live stage show at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure, inspired by the fictitious musical of the same name featured in the 2021 Marvel Studios Disney+ miniseries Hawkeye, centered on the life of Steve Rogers/Captain America.
History[]
Shortly after the Hawkeye series' release, executive producer Trinh Tran expressed interest in a real-life version of Rogers: The Musical,[1] while Shaiman and Wittman expressed interest in writing a full-length version of the musical. In February 2023, it was announced that a one-act stage show version of Rogers: The Musical would be performed at the Hyperion Theater in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure for a limited time,[2] produced by Disney Live Entertainment.[3]
It features a book by Hunter Bell, best known as the creator of the cult hit musical [title of show] and Villains Tonight!, along with the songs "Save the City", "Star Spangled Man" by Alan Menken and David Zippel from the film Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), and five original songs with music by Christopher Lennertz and lyrics by Jordan Peterson, Lennertz, and Alex Karukas; Lennertz previously composed the music for the Agent Carter One-Shot and television series.
The music was described as "big band jazz, modern funk, [and] classic orchestra", and was performed by a 60-piece orchestra. The performance includes Rogers, Peggy Carter, Nick Fury, and select members of the Avengers, with their costumes resembling those from the films in a "fun, more casual" look. Layered scenery, physical set pieces, and a video screen are used to create each setting in the show.
An official cast album was released on September 15, 2023.
Show summary[]
The musical chronicles the life of Steve Rogers from his origins in the 1940s until the events of the film Avengers: Endgame, based on information known to the public in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It contains intentional plot inaccuracies such as the presence of Ant-Man during the Battle of New York.
Plot[]
The musical begins with an introduction by the Starkettes, a trio who act as a Greek chorus, introducing the audience to a story about superheroes, romance and time travel (not to mention that Nick Fury sings).
In the 1940's, the United States has entered the Second World War, with American soldiers such as Bucky Barnes being sent to the front ("U.S. Opening Night"). We are also introduced to a young Steve Rogers, who laments how he wants to enlist, but can not because of his poor physical health ("I Want You"). He is then approached by Abraham Erskine and Agent Peggy Carter, part of the Strategic Scientific Reserve, who offer Steve a chance to join by partaking in the Super Soldier Program. The procedure is a success, but rather than being sent to the front, Steve is put on tour as a mascot to sell war bonds ("Star Spangled Man With A Plan").
Steve then gets word from Peggy that the 107th Division (Bucky's Division) has been captured, and command worries that they'll lose more men in an attempted rescue than they would save. Steve decides to go to the front, with Peggy hooking him up with a plane and the two promising to have a dance together ("Just One Dance (Preprise I)"). We get a montage of Steve fighting in the war, forming the Howling Commandos and rescuing Bucky ("Star Spangled Man With A Plan (Reprise)"), before Steve is forced to crash a Hydra Bomber into the arctic ("Just One Dance (Preprise II)").
Steve wakes up and meets Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (successor to the SSR), who catches Steve up to date with what had happened while he was in the ice, as well as introducing him to the Avengers ("What You Missed"). New York then comes under attack by the Chitauri and the Avengers step up to stop them ("Save The City").
We get a montage of other Avenger battles, such as the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Avengers: Infinity War, as each battle slowly wears Steve down, but he continues on ("Save The City (Playoff)").
Steve then meets an old version of himself. When questioning how it's possible, Old Man Steve reveals he has the Time Stone. The two of them reflect on their life and what lies ahead for them ("End Of The Line").
Old Man Steve gives the Time Stone to present Steve, allowing him to travel back to the 1940's and reunite with Peggy ("Just One Dance"/ "Finale"/ "Save The City" (Reprise)).
Trivia[]
- While following the same storyline as the films, this production features inaccuracies, likely keeping in theme with having Ant-Man present at the Battle Of New York, as a reflection of how in adaptations there is "always something that’s a little wrong, or the truth is stretched".
- During his introduction of the Avengers, Nick Fury lists Black Panther, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Falcon, Spider-Man, Daredevil, Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy before their official introductions into the MCU.
- The events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier happening after the events of Avengers: Age Of Ultron.
- Steve using the Time Stone to travel back in time, rather than the Quantum Tunnel.
- Steve reunites with Peggy outside the Stark Club, instead of at her home.
- Scenes of Steve fighting in World War II are done as comic covers from "Timely Comics". Timely Comics was the comic book company which originally created Captain America, Namor and the Human Torch (Jim Hammond). Timely Comics would evolve in the 1960's to become Marvel Comics.
- The pre-show announcement says that "Rogers: The Musical" is made in partnership with Stark Industries.
- The billboards in Times Square pay homage to both Disney & Marvel:
- A supposed mobile game called "Secret Empire". This is named after an actual Marvel comic storyline about Captain America being replaced by a Hydra version of himself from an alternate universe.
- Trust A Bro Moving Company, which is a front for the Tracksuit Mafia in Hawkeye.
- Stan's Heroes New York Deli, in homage to Stan Lee.
- The Lion King Broadway musical.
- A promotion for Walt Disney World.
- Redwing Couriers, based on the name of Sam Wilson's drone.
- A promotion for Johnny's Jazz Club, a possible homage to Marvel character Johnny Domino (Night Man), a jazz saxophonist and superhero.
- A poster for the Global Repatriation Council (even though they won't be established until after the Blip).
- Nick Fury describes Daredevil as "a lawyer who can barely see". Given the show is based on in-universe public knowledge for the MCU, the musical should not know this, as Matt Murdock keeps his identity as Daredevil secret.
- During some performances, when Steve interrupts the "What You Missed" number, Nick Fury would be singing either "Friend Like Me" or "Love Is an Open Door". These are homages to how the Hyperion Theater has housed both Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular and Frozen: Live at the Hyperion.
- The radio pre-show features homages to Disney California Adventure.
- A jingle for the Elias & Co. store can be heard.
- The radio station is called Buena Vista Street Radio.
- The Hyperion Theater is described by the announcer as "a beacon for the show business elite". This is how Rod Serling describes the Hollywood Tower Hotel in the pre-show for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
- When Steve reunites with Peggy, he comments how "with one snap, (things) rearrange", likely a homage to the Thanos Snap. The scenery ripples when Steve snaps his fingers to emphasize this.
- The lyrics to "At The End Of The Line" are a homage to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where Steve & Bucky promise to be with one another till the end of the line.
- The events of Avengers: Endgame are shown in the Time Stone, with Steve wielding Mjölnir.
- While he doesn't make a physical appearance in the show, Sam Wilson as Captain America appears as an image in the Time Stone.
References[]
- ↑ "Hawkeye Producer Wants to Make a Marvel Musical". ComicBook.com (November 27, 2021).
- ↑ "Marvel’s Fake ‘Rogers: The Musical’ From ‘Hawkeye’ to Be Staged for Real at Disney’s California Adventure". Variety (February 23, 2023).
- ↑ "Get in Line for Marvel Studios' Rogers: The Musical at Disney Parks". Gizmodo (June 20, 2023).
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