Disney's past Broadway shows include Beauty and the Beast and Tarzan. Beauty and the Beast opened in 1994 and had a successful 13-year run. Beauty and the Beast featured the music of Alan Menken. Tarzan followed in 2006 and featured the music of award-winning musician Phil Collins. The show was not as successful as Beauty and the Beast according to box office receipts and critic reviews and closed a year after opening.
One of two current Disney shows on Broadway is The Lion King. It has been the most successful Disney Broadway play to date, winning a Tony award. The success of The Lion King has spawned a worldwide tour of the show to positive critical reviews. Spider-Man is also currently on Broadway but has not had the same success as the Lion King. Plagued by technical problems and poor reviews, the musical has struggled since starting production in the winter of 2010.
The 1941 musical, Dumbo, will get the Broadway treatment as Disney has begun development on a stage play. According to reports, Michael Chabon will write the play, while award-winning director Stephen Daldry will direct. Peter Darling will handle the choreography and Bob Crawley will oversee the set design.
Disney has begun work on the theatrical adaption of the story Alice in Wonderland with no date specified for its debut. Acclaimed director Tim Burton who has directed such movies as the original Batman, Edward Scissorhands and the movie version of Alice in Wonderland, will direct the Broadway production, according to reports. Linda Woolverton, Stan Meyer and Matt West will also be a part of the creative team.