Watch: Upcoming Disney Theatricals Musicals The Greatest Showman, Hercules, and More Perform at D23
There was plenty of news—and performances—for musical fans at this year’s Disney fan convention.
Disney Theatricals gave fans a peek behind the curtain at titles coming soon to stages on Broadway and beyond at this year’s D23 convention August 9. Attendees of the California event were lucky enough to see preview performances of The Greatest Showman (newly announced as in development as a stage musical) and Hercules (slated to play London’s West End in summer 2025), along with a special performance of “Let It Go” from Frozen West End star Samantha Barks. A filmed stage performance of the latter was announced to be coming to streamer Disney+ in 2025 at the fan event as well.
For those who weren’t there, there is good news. Disney has now posted the performances to YouTube for everyone to enjoy. See “The Greatest Show” from The Greatest Showman above and the other two performances below.
The performances feature a cast including Samantha Barks, Kalilah Black, Brandon Burks, Andrew Cao, Hannah Corneau, Edward Cuellar, Bradley Gibson, Michael Graceffa, Aisha Jackson, Adam Jacobs, Mykal Kilgore, Kara Lindsay, Nathan Lucrezio, Chani Maisonet, Tiffany Mann, Anastacia McClesky, Jimin Moon, Marq Moss, Destinee Rea, Michael James Scott, Rashidra Scott, Jonathan McClinton Smith, Charles South, Joshua Strickland, Anastasia Talley, and Ryan Vasquez.
On the animated film front, D23 also served as the reveal of a Frozen 3 animated film (with another sequel in progress), to be released in 2027. Disney did not announce who will be working on Frozen 3. Disney also released a new trailer for Moana 2, starring Auli’i Cravalho (who will make her Broadway debut September 16 in Cabaret).
It was not revealed who will be working on Greatest Showman, except for its songwriters. Tony Award-winning composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the songs for the film, will compose for the stage show. They won a Golden Globe for the song “This Is Me.” The film starred Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, whose dream is to create a circus. Dates, creative team, and cast will be announced at a later date. If Greatest Showman successfully comes to the stage, it will be the second musical about the life of Barnum; Cy Coleman, Mark Bramble, and Michael Stewart wrote the musical Barnum, which opened on Broadway in 1980.
On the streaming front, the musical Frozen is based on the Disney film of the same name. The musical opened on Broadway in March 2018 and closed March 2020. The West End production, starring Barks as Elsa and Laura Dawkes as Anna, has run in the West End for three years and will complete its run September 8. Frozen features music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (who also wrote songs for the animated film and its sequels) and a book by Jennifer Lee.
As previously announced, Moana 2 takes place three years after the events of the first film. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Dwayne Johnson will also return to voice Maui. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, Moana 2 features music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.
At D23, Disney announced the additional voice cast for the films: Rachel House (Moana’s Grandma, Tala), Temuera Morrison (Moana’s father, Chief Tui) and Nicole Scherzinger (Moana’s mother, Sina). The film also features the voices of Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele, and Loto, respectively. Awhimai Fraser voices mysterious new character Matangi; Gerald Ramsey plays Moana’s ancestor, Tautai Vasa; and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda lends her voice to Moana’s adoring and adorable little sister, Simea.
