Tangled: The Musical Heading for The Stage and Sea.

There have been whispers of a Tangled stage show being prepared as a new Disney attraction for a couple of years. I had assumed it would be installed somewhere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but I was wrong. It’s being added to the Disney Magic, part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

“Tangled: The Musical” will feature new original music from Oscar winning composer Alan Menken and all the beloved characters from the animated feature. It’s the first time it’s been adapted for the stage.

As we’ve come to expect from Disney Cruises, the show will feature high value production and wonderful dancer numbers. Current plan is to add the show for the November 11th cruise of this year.

The show will stay true to the storyline from the hit feature film—with a few special twists to create a live staged production—featuring favorite characters like Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the villainous Mother Gothel and Maximus the police horse.

The story follows the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel as she escapes the confines of her tower and the clutches of Mother Gothel, who wishes to shield the secret of Rapunzel’s magical golden tresses and royal roots. Rapunzel strikes up an unlikely friendship with the suave, crown-stealing bandit Flynn Rider, and together they face ruffians, thugs and a budding romance on a hair-raising journey filled with classic Disney playfulness and whimsy that will delight audiences of all ages.

New Songs Debuting with Film Favorites

Acclaimed composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyricist Glenn Slater, the prolific pair behind the original soundtrack for “Tangled,” teamed up again to adapt the score and story for the stage. Complementing the score from the film, three new songs weave a delightful combination of narrative, humor and theatrics into the performance.

In addition to new melodies, audiences will enjoy live performances of favorite songs from the movie, including “When Will My Life Begin,” “Mother Knows Best,” “I Have a Dream” and the Grammy Award-winning ballad, “I See the Light.”

Adapting “Tangled” from Screen to Stage

Elaborate costumes, groundbreaking puppetry and stunning set designs transform the 977-seat Walt Disney Theatre into a fanciful Bavarian kingdom, immersing audiences in Rapunzel’s world and making them feel a part of her story. Disney assembled an all-star creative team to develop this extravagant production, with director Gordon Greenberg and choreographer Connor Gallagher joining Menken, Slater and a bevy of top-notch theatrical talent.

Master puppet designer Michael Curry, whose extraordinary creations are featured in Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical “The Lion King” on Broadway, is breeding a brand-new pedigree of puppetry in Maximus, the rambunctious police horse whose exaggerated demeanor becomes even more hilarious with the addition of the whinnying puppet performer within. This cleverly constructed character is sure to be the “mane” attraction of every scene he steals.

Dazzling costumes created by Tony Award-winning designer Paloma Young will bring the flair and vibrancy of the animated world to life onstage in “Tangled: The Musical.” The townspeople’s bright hues and Rapunzel’s feminine florals are perfectly balanced by the bristly browns of the rugged thugs and royal regalia of the kingdom officials, creating a sensational fusion of colors, patterns and textures.

Remarkable set designs by scenic designer Bradley Kaye (Disney’s “Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular”) will transport audiences to storybook locales that include Rapunzel’s tower home, the outlandish Snuggly Duckling tavern, a brightly adorned kingdom town and the resplendent lakeside setting of the iconic floating lanterns scene from the film.

I don’t know about you, but it’s time to book a trip on the Disney Magic!