Broadway screen-to-stage adaptations have generally learned by now that they need to add something significant, “get through to something new” (to borrow from Sunday in the Park with George – kudos if you read that in Mandy Patinkin’s voice).

Prime example: The Lion King added the amazing, authentically South African songs of Lebo M on top of stellar puppetry visuals by Julie Taymor. But when it reverted to just film content? The kids we went with got restless, bored, even fell asleep.

The Razzies list came out yesterday, highlighting the live-action remake of Snow White, “whose artificial dwarfs couldn’t escape the Razzie for a couple of trophies. It cost a fortune and lost a fortune, perhaps cursed by Walt himself for having ignored his dying wish for it never to be remade.” (From the Razz News press release)

What Instead?

Want to add value to Disney+ and spend less money on a viral classic? Tweak the model from a full-length faithful mimic to a shorter, episodic series that brings joy and a viral hit.

The model is “Dora the Explorer and the Destiny Medallion,” made by College Humor (now “Droppout”). You have a live lookalike (Ariel Winter from “Modern Family”), the animal characters truly human (Swiper in a white suit with mask) or truly animal (who knew Boots was so sharp with a gun) and B.A.C.K.P.A.C.K. a digital assistant (“Run away with meeee”).

No CGI characters, a ton of imagination, a lot of snark. Okay, it’s not truly for the animated show’s same audience with comedy violence, black humor and a swear word (one that kids usually know but don’t tell their parents they know). But they’re fun, they’re short (around 3 minutes each for the 3-part series) and they’re fun.

The Disney live action versions? Not so much.

So, Disney, before jumping back in Maximus’s saddle, how about taking a frying-pan swipe at something just a bit different?