As a result of quarantining and social distancing guidelines necessitated by COVID-19 virus, many events that involve large gatherings of people have been cancelled until further notice; including Broadway plays and musicals. So what happens when people cannot go see the musicals and plays they truly love on Broadway? The second ever TikTok musical gets created.
Ratatouille the Musical was originally created back in August 2020 when Emily Jacobsen (TikTok user @e_jaccs) posted a love ballad for Remy, the leading character in Ratatouille, entitled “Ode to Remy.”
The video was seen by Daniel Mertzlufft, the mind behind the TikTok musical, Grocery Store. One main difference between Grocery Store the Musical and Ratatouille the Musical is that for Ratatouille original songs were being written by TikTok users rather than a professional songwriter. TikTok user @fettuccinefettuqueen wrote a song for Remy’s dad entitled “Trash Is Our Treasure,” @blakeyrouse wrote “Tango for Colette and Linguini,” @rjthecomposer wrote “Anyone Can Cook,” and many more. Various other users used their talents to create choreography, costume designs, makeup designs, puppet designs, etc.
On Dec. 4, 2020, the heads of Seaview Productions contacted Mertzlufft about doing a one-time benefit concert for the Actors Fund, and Mertzlufft agreed. The Actors Fund is an organization currently providing aid to out-of-work actors and other entertainment workers during the pandemic. What was this one-time benefit concert? Ratatouille the Musical.
Not only did the Ratatouille musical feature original songs by Tik-Tok creators all over the world, it also featured a who’s who of Broadway stars. Kinky Boots and Hamilton alum Wayne Brady starred as Remy’s dad, Django; Jersey Boys and The Little Mermaid alum Tituss Burgess starred as the main rat himself, Remy; Seussical, The Addams Family, and Chicago alum Kevin Chamberlin starred as Chef Gusteau; Hadestown alum André De Shields played food critic Anton Ego; Dear Evan Hansen alum Andrew Barth Feldman starred as Chef Linguini; In the Heights and A Chorus Line alum Priscilla Lopez played Mabel, the elderly woman whose house Remy breaks into in order to learn about Gusteau; Mean Girls alum Ashley Park starred as Chef Colette; and Wicked and Chicago alum Mary Testa played Chef Skinner. The musical also stars singer Adam Lambert as Remy’s brother, Emile.
The musical opened up on Jan.1, 2021 and raised more than $1 million in its first night. In response to the musical Burgess said, “the pendulum of good fortune swings back and forth whenever it decides, so it is up to us to pull our weight when we’re doing OK and give back.”
Director Lucy Moss described the musical as “if a Zoom reading drank like 20 Red Bulls and then exploded onto the screen.”
Chamberlain said the musical has inspired him to start writing more music. “Isn’t it fascinating how art is pushing through?” the veteran actor said. “Even during a pandemic, art pushes through, and is almost inspired and fed by it.”
What’s next for Ratatouille the Musical? While a Disney Theatrical Group spokesperson said they have no current plans to bring it to an actual Broadway stage, it has already done something amazing for theater-deprived creators and fans.
It has cut through the bleak year that was 2020 and brought people together despite the distance.
Great post, where can I find out more about this?