Anyone can cook — and create a Broadway musical apparently.
The animated Pixar film ‘Ratatouille’ has recently taken on a new life in the world of musical theater, on Broadway of all places. The production stars Broadway alumni Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen), Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid), and André De Shields (Hadestown). However, what makes ‘Ratatouille: The Musical’ notable in particular isn’t because of its stellar cast but rather the show’s origins.
The hit film about a little rodent chef continues to be a topic of discussion, even thirteen years after its original release. In August 2020, TikTok user Emily Jacobsen shared on the platform a short ballad dedicated to Remy the Rat. The clip soon went viral which inspired many others to contribute to her masterpiece.
@e_jaccs A love ballad #remy #rat #ratatoille #disney #wdw #disneyworld #ratlove #ratlife #rats #Alphets #StanleyCup #CanYouWorkIt
Composer Daniel Mertzlufft then took her vocals and turned it into a thundering chorus with a virtual orchestra accompaniment. He envisioned the piece as an act two finale in a musical.
@danieljmertzlufft Remy: The Musical OG Song @e_jaccs add. Vocals @cjaskier #remy #ratatouille #musicaltheatre #broadway #singer #musical #disney #fyp #disneymusicals
Theater kids who were both in the spotlight and behind the curtain were quick to hop on the trend. Creators on the app choreographed dance numbers, built panoramas of a moving stage, and one even creating a fake playbill — which would eventually become the show’s official souvenir.
@shoeboxmusicals Drafting out some set ideas! REMY: The Ratatouille Musical! #ratatouillethemusical #stagemodel #setdesign #lightingdesign #HolidayCountdown #setmodel
@siswij
The #ratatouillemusical marketing department is brainstorming visuals #playbill #musicaltheatre #remytheratatouille #photoshop #graphicdesign
Before anyone knew it, people on TikTok had collectively created an entire production over the internet. As news caught on it was only about time that Disney would hear about the viral sensation. While the entertainment giant is known to be protective over its intellectual property, one can’t help but to be amazed at how the show shaped to be. As a matter of fact, in collaboration with Broadway company Seaview Productions, ‘Ratatouille: the Musical’ was turned into a real theatrical event.
Due to restrictions brought upon by the pandemic, ‘Ratatouille’ won’t be getting a full stage treatment anytime soon. Instead they created the next best thing — a virtual fundraiser for the benefit of the Actors Fund. At $5 per ticket, all proceeds would go to an organization that supports performers and behind-the-scenes workers in performing arts.
Stitching together the show from the safety of studios, and their homes, ‘Ratatouille’ was set to be the first internet Broadway musical. And after its limited 72-hour run earlier this month, the show raised 2 million for its cause.
Oh mon dieu! Merci to everyone who joined us for #RatatouilleMusical. Thanks to YOU, we were able to raise $2 million to benefit @TheActorsFund! pic.twitter.com/T5NrmjDrIG
— Ratatouille Musical (@ratatousical) January 12, 2021
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