Walt Disney And The Gang Sing Us A Song

The curtain draws. From the shadows, you see the silhouette of a very strange, yet familiar figure. You think to yourself…are those giant ears? Did I really just pay an astronomical amount of money to sit here and experience this immense confusion of childhood memories? Yes, yes you did.

Wait just a second, Mickey sings too?

Walt Disney, the man we all know and whose company has most likely taken obscene amounts of money out of our bank accounts, is becoming the new focus of an opera. That’s correct. Disney’s life translated to sopranos belting high C’s while Mickey Mouse runs around in ridiculous costumes.

Well, maybe not that dramatic. The New York City Opera has commissioned Philip Glass, a famous contemporary and classical composer in the United States since 1967, to create an opera entitled The Perfect American. This opera will follow Walt Disney’s life and career completely through song and will debut as Glass’ 24th opera on his 75th birthday. How quaint.

Inspiration?

Peter Stephan Jungk, a famous author known for his fictional writings, recently wrote a novel entitled Der König von Amerik, (translated meaning: the Perfect American) which Glass will use as inspiration to complete this potentially disastrous piece of theatre. The city plans to debut this tribute to good ol’ Walt in its 2012-2013 season.

Glass said, “The story of the last days of Walt Disney, American Icon and creator of perhaps the most pervasive fantasy world on our planet, is surprisingly gripping and at times disturbing. But, on the face of it, how could it be anything else? The pulse of his life has to be the pulse of our own American culture.”

A Difficult Task Ahead…

But let’s face it, the man has his work cut out for him. Anytime someone touches something Disney, especially the man himself (no pun intended), great risk is involved due to the devoted fans that attempt to keep their childhood locked up in their entertainment centers.

Obviously, there is no way to avoid the subject of Mickey and the gang when discussing the career of Walt Disney. The tiny, pesky animal (maybe Mickey himself isn't pesky, but who wants a mouse anywhere near them in real, non-Disney-fied life?) that made Disney famous will undoubtedly be a part of the opera, unless Glass finds some way to avoid it.

Will you let your found Disney memories strut around a stage singing operatic tunes? I’m not sure of my true feelings. But, as a theatre lover myself and a girl that grew up dreaming of becoming a Disney princess, I think I’d give it a shot.- By Maddie Asebrook

Photo by Associated Press