Ashley Brown, the original Mary Poppins on Broadway, just gave Disney and theater fans the hint they’ve been waiting for. During her Disney on Broadway Concert Series performance at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts on February 13, Brown sang a song from Tangled and strongly suggested the 2010 animated film is in development as Disney’s next Broadway musical.
Brown’s choice to perform a Tangled number during the concert series carries significant weight. Disney has previously used these EPCOT performances to tease upcoming theatrical productions, including The Greatest Showman, which is indeed coming to Broadway as a Disney Theatrical production.
Why Tangled Works for Broadway
Tangled makes perfect sense as a Broadway adaptation. The film is vibrant and filled with memorable songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater that translate naturally to theatrical staging. The story offers room to expand beyond the 100-minute film runtime with additional songs exploring Rapunzel’s years in the tower or Flynn Rider’s backstory.
@crusingklc Not cruise related but needed a spot on the feed…THE ASHLEY BROWN singing when will my life begin #fyp #tangled #whenwillmylifebegin #ashleybrown #disneyonbroadway ♬ original sound – cruisingklc
Menken won a Tony Award for his work on Aladdin on Broadway and would presumably return to work on Tangled for the stage. His collaboration with lyricist Glenn Slater has been successful in The Little Mermaid musical and in the Tangled version on Disney Cruise Line.
Already Exists on Disney Ships
An abridged stage adaptation titled Tangled: The Musical premiered on the Disney Magic cruise ship in 2015. This version features three new songs written by Menken and Slater specifically for the stage adaptation.
The cruise line version runs significantly shorter than a typical Broadway show and has been adapted for the unique constraints of performing at sea. A full Broadway production would allow for more elaborate staging, additional musical numbers, and production values impossible on a cruise ship.
The cruise line version’s existence actually strengthens the Broadway case. Disney Theatrical has already worked through initial challenges of translating Tangled from animation to live performance and tested audience response in theatrical format.
Disney’s Broadway Gap
There hasn’t been a new Disney theatrical release on Broadway since Frozen opened in 2018. That show didn’t reopen after COVID, leaving Disney with only The Lion King and Aladdin currently running on Broadway. Both have been enormously successful, with The Lion King becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show of all time.
Disney did launch Hercules at London’s West End in 2025, but that production is closing September 5, 2026, leaving another gap in Disney’s theatrical offerings. The timing suggests Disney may be planning to fill that void with a new Broadway production.
The gap since Frozen suggests Disney Theatrical is being selective about which properties receive full Broadway treatment. Tangled, with its built-in fanbase, strong musical foundation, and proven stage potential demonstrated by the cruise line version, is a logical choice.
Development Timeline
Reports from 2024 indicated developmental workshops of Tangled were underway, with Disney Theatrical Group exploring a stage version. Developmental work involves actors performing the musical without an audience, allowing directors, producers, and writers to shape the show before it hits the stage.
These workshops represent a significant investment beyond just considering whether a property might work theatrically. Disney wouldn’t dedicate resources unless seriously committed to bringing Tangled to life in some theatrical format.
The timeline from developmental workshops to Broadway opening typically spans years. Frozen underwent extensive development before its 2018 premiere. Ashley Brown’s hint in February 2026 suggests development has progressed significantly since the 2024 reports, potentially putting a Broadway opening within a realistic timeframe.
No Sequel or Remake, Yet
Unlike some Disney films, Tangled doesn’t have a theatrical sequel in the works and currently lacks confirmed plans for a live-action remake beyond rumors. A Broadway musical would bring back the beloved animated classic in a new format without a controversial live-action remake.
Tangled did spawn a short film, Tangled Ever After, and a television series, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventures, with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi returning as voice actors. This extended universe demonstrates sustained interest in the property beyond the original film.
What’s Next for Disney
Ashley Brown’s hint during the Disney on Broadway Concert Series represents the strongest public indication that Tangled is progressing toward Broadway. For Disney and theater fans, the prospect of seeing Rapunzel’s story on Broadway, with expanded musical numbers and elaborate staging, is exciting.
Whether Tangled ultimately opens on Broadway, goes directly to regional licensing, or takes another path remains to be seen. But Brown’s decision to highlight the property during her EPCOT performance suggests Disney Theatrical believes in Tangled’s stage potential enough to start building anticipation.
Given Disney’s current Broadway lineup consists of only two shows, and with Hercules closing in London this September, the timing seems right for Tangled to fill the gap and bring fresh Disney magic to the Great White Way.
