The billboards and stage production of Rogers the Musical had promise in the “Never Meet Your Heroes” (2021) first episode of Hawkeye, it is fulfilled in the live performance at the Hyperion Theater! Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) suffered through the Broadway musical that gave an upbeat spin on the Battle of New York in The Avengers (2012). The head writer of Hawkeye, Jonathan Igla, had the idea of a Captain America musical that was approved by Kevin Feige. He brought in Marc Shaiman, who had worked on Mary Poppins Returns (2018). Shaiman is known for the musical adaptation of Hairspray (2002) which won him the Tony Award. He worked with lyricist, Scott Wittman, also from Hairspray, to write “Save Our City” at the end of the first act of the fictional musical.
“Save the City” was performed live at the D23 Expo Lucasfilm/Marvel Studios panel. It was developd by Disney Live Entertainment after the performance. Rogers the Musical is a one act, 30 minute version created and directed by Jordan Peterson. The music is arranged by Christopher Lennertz who also the composer of the Agent Carter series. The musical includes “Star Spangled Man” from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) by Alan Menken and David Zippel. The musical’s book is by Hunter Bell who also wrote the book for the musical, [title of show] (2008). It debuted at the Hyperion Theater on June 30th and ran until August 31st. It would be fun if the fictional Broadway musical that is one act expands and makes its way to Broadway! The theater is located in the Hollywood Land section of Disney’s California Adventure. It is adjacent to Avengers Campus next to Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!
Rogers the Musical at the Hyperion Theater, Disney’s California Adventure, author’s photo.
There was available a Premium Viewing Experience package that offered priority seating, a lanyard, a photo op, access to a lounge area before the show, souvenir popcorn bucket with Red, White & Blue Kettle Corn, and a drink, $29.00. A large, 1930’s era radio like a RCA Victor, plays some music at stage left before the show begins. From the radio comes the announcement that in “partnership with Stark Industries”, the debut of Rogers the Musical. Spotlights flash across the red curtain that had Captain America’s shield projected on it. There is a hint of the main title theme from the score of Captain America: The First Avenger by Alan Silvestri. Then, there is the introduction of the Starkettes, a trio in blue dresses (Bella Hicks, Krystle Rose Simmons, and Alex Karukas), USO dresses that provide the chorus. The curtain parts to a circular stage complete with mic stands and lively dancers.
The first number, “U-S-Opening Night”, is just so fun and similar to the Andrew Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The Starkettes start to sing about “a kid named Steve.” Then, “We gotta tell the tale in thirty minutes or less”, very funny. The dancers walk to a rotating stage as the Stark Club assembles behind them. The actor who plays Steve Rogers, Josey Montana McCoy, runs out to the spotlight center stage to wild applause. A soldier tries to ask a Starkette to dance and then told to respect them by Steve. The soldier is socked by Peggy Carter, in civilian clothes, before she walks away. This is when Bucky Barnes walks out in dress uniform saying that he is posted to England. He takes away one of the dancers and then all of the others go into the Stark Club with the doors closing on Steve! Blue lights and solemn music as we see the Uncle Sam, “I Want You For U.S. Army” poster painted by James Montgomery Flagg.
Steve Rogers, the Starkettes, Peggy Carter, and Dr. Abraham Erskine, photo by the author.
Alone on stage, Steve starts to sing “I Want You”, a contemplative song that seems to slide right into the musical tradition. Three doctors with chalkboards reject Steve for the military. McCoy does a great rendition of the song which has a funny part. Plus, Steve sings, “I can do this all day” to applause. The Uncle Sam poster enlarges to loom over Steve. The singing and production is so good, I hope it returns in some form, and that they will release a soundtrack. I’m certain that MCU fans would love it even if they haven’t seen the show. The actors must be under Disney Live Entertainment so there are no names and character parts in some program, but kudos to them. It may be that the show would be difficult for a release, but I’m certain that it is recorded. Dr. Abraham Erskine introduces himself and then Agent Peggy Carter, now in military uniform, she also gets applause and a brief heavenly spotlight!
Erskine asks Steve if he wants to kill Nazis and Steve says he only wants to stop bullies. My favorite part of Captain America’s character. The Vita-Ray Chamber backdrop slides in and the Starkettes now walk in with doctor coats. They start singing “Star Spangled Man” escorting Steve to the chamber. Steve stumbles trying to talk to Agent Carter, the Starkette reactions are funny, and he says he hasn’t danced since a woman “might step on” him. Peggy walks away saying that he hasn’t found the right partner. This is basically the centrai part of the musical. The Starkettes ready him and the chamber closes on Steve. He starts to scream as the lab starts to crackle with energy, Peggy wants it shut down, but Steve screams, “I can do this!” The stage goes dark and then the chamber smokes, lit within. It opens to a new actor, Luke Monday, playing Steve Rogers transformed into Captain America! He thanks everyone including the “spangly dancers” to stage right!
Captain America and Peggy Carter, author’s photo.
He starts on his USO tour with “Star Spangled Man” continuing, Steve stumbles over his speech, and then we get streamers at the end of the song! Erskine is off stage so we don’t get his death. Agent Carter runs up to him to tell Steve that the 107th Divison, Bucky’s group, is captured. She arranges a flight, we don’t have Howard Stark helping with the transformation or giving him the shield. Peggy sings about not having the dance and that he should do what heroes do. We hear the plane and the song continues as we get three comic book backdrops, Timely Comics, the early form of Marvel Comics. There are also some comic book panels on the wall screen as we hear from the announcer about the rescue. Cap poses in each scene with his shield. The shield is never explained which is disappointing since it is such an important part of the character. Also, no dubbing of his Captain America name.
The announcer mentions his team up with the Howling Commandos and defeat of HYDRA and the Red Skull. There is a panel with the Red Skull, but no actor playing the villain walks through the scene. Captain America walks forward as we hear over the radio Steve on board the HYDRA bomber as we see the cockpit window in the back screen. Stage left, Peggy is at a desk with a radio. He says he has to land the bomber in the Arctic to save people on the East Coast. We have a duet continuing the hero song as they make a date on Saturday at 8. It aburpty ends with only Peggy seen on stage before it all goes dark. We hear swirling water sounds. There is a ticking clock, we hear voices say lines from the different eras, and the annoying dial up modem tones. The stage is suddenly backlit and we have a hospital room with two beds and the Starkettes (Hicks and Simmons) as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
The “Save the City” scene with Hulk, a police officer, Thor, Loki, Lead New Yorker #1 and #2 with Captain America between them, Iron Man, and a vendor. In front is Hawkeye, Ant-Man, and Black Widow, photo by the author.
Steve is confused and then he is answered by Nick Fury with the audience cheering for him. Nick, in black jacket, cap, and eyepatch, tells him that he has been asleep for 70 years! He is a little more showman than the Samuel L. Jackson version. He bursts into a soulful and funny, “What You Missed” as a Broadway backdrop is projected with the Lion King musical. Nick is backed by the Starkette agents. There are funny mentions of I Love Lucy and Star Wars. Steve interrupts them to ask what he is there and Nick mentions some people who have a task. From the back of the stage appear the Avengers to the Alan Silvestri theme and the crowd goes wild. They are like the Hawkeye episode; Hulk in his green sweater, Hawkeye, Iron Man with glasses and jacket, Ant-Man wearing a backwards hat (played by one of the Starkettes?), Black Widow, and Thor with long red coat, beard, and Mjolnir. I would really like to have The Falcon since he was Cap’s partner and his importance as picking up the shield as Captain America.
Nick riffs about the missing characters, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and others. Then, smoke vents upwards as we hear an alert by an announcer about an invasion with red spotlights. This goes into the “Save the City” number. I suspect the Lead New Yorker #1 is the Erskine actor and Lead New Yorker #2, in a doctor’s coat, is one of the Starkettes. An actor playing Loki wears a green coat, a headband with curved horns, and a top hat? Afterwards, there is a mention by the announcer about Sokovia, the Winter Soldier, and an attack on Wakanda by Thanos! This leads to song’ end with Cap, alone, singing, “I could do this all day.” Surprisingly, he hears, “On your left”, it is the older Steve Rogers who is by a bench with the shield at the side. This is a return of the pre-Super Soldier Steve Rogers actor who has the green Time Stone. They have a duet with the “End of the Line” song. At the Stark Club, Peggy Carter is in her red dress, and they sing “One Last Dance.” They dance and share a kiss which is more satisfying than the more nuanced Avengers: Endgame. Steve is there Rogers the Musical is a fun overview of Captain America’s story, it would be a great intro to musicals, and should return to fit perfectly next to Avengers Campus!
Five Shields out of Five!
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