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The Princess and The Frog on Broadway

So recently I’ve gotten into liking The Princess and The Frog again and I started to wonder why it hasn’t been picked up by Broadway.

So I wrote a plot for how I think it would go on Broadway. Enjoy. Or not. If you don’t like it don’t be mean.

Act 1

The show opens with Mama Odie, a vibrant storyteller, center stage, captivating a group of children with her tales. She shares a unique version of "The Frog Prince," where a princess from a distant land breaks the spell on a bewitched frog prince after he promises to marry her. Leaving her kingdom and her people behind, she follows him to his realm, only to find herself abandoned when he breaks his promise to marry another, abandoning her and their son.

One child protests, insisting that's not how the story goes, but Mama Odie chuckles and assures them that there are many ways to tell the tale. She begins a new story.

This one features a little prince and a little princess from two very different worlds. Naveen is the young prince of Maldonia, while Tiana is a girl from New Orleans, the princess of her parents' modest life. Tiana comes from a working-class background, where her father toils to provide for her, leaving little for luxuries. In stark contrast, Naveen enjoys a life of opulence, surrounded by servants who cater to his every need. Yet, despite her limited means, Tiana is surrounded by loving parents, friends, and neighbors, while Naveen, despite his wealth, feels lonely, with parents too busy to spend time with him.

One night, as Tiana is tucked into bed, she and her father dream of their future restaurant, "Tiana's Place." Meanwhile, Naveen is put to bed by a servant who tends to his every whim, explaining yet again why his parents can't be there. Both children are read bedtime stories that mention wishing upon a star, which shines brightly above them. Tiana's father encourages her to keep wishing but reminds her that dreams require hard work to come true, urging her to never lose sight of what truly matters. After their goodnights, both children gaze up at the evening star, making their wishes: Tiana wishes to open her own restaurant with her father, while Naveen wishes for a friend.

Years pass, and Tiana, now grown, works tirelessly as a waitress, driven by her ambition to open her own restaurant. Her fierce independence is fueled by the memory of her father, who taught her the value of hard work. Yet, in her relentless pursuit of her dreams, Tiana often finds herself feeling isolated.

Her wealthy, spoiled yet kind friend, Charlotte La Bouff, and her widowed mother, Eudora, support Tiana's aspirations but express concern about her workaholic nature. Charlotte, obsessed with true love, constantly invites Tiana to social events and tries to set her up on dates, dreaming of a fairy-tale romance like what her father and late mother had.

Meanwhile, Naveen, having now grown up into an arrogant prince with a playboy life style, arrives in New Orleans as a guest of Charlotte's father, Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff. Big Daddy plans to host a masquerade ball in honor of the prince's arrival, and Charlotte pays Tiana a generous sum to whip up some "man-catching beignets" for the party to impress him. With the payment, Tiana finally has enough for a down payment on a rundown sugar mill she dreams of transforming into her restaurant. Though Eudora is happy for her daughter, she worries that Tiana misunderstands her late husband's teachings, not wanting her to see him as "just a man with a broken dream." However, Tiana is too focused on her goal to grasp her mother's meaning.

As Naveen and his valet Lawrence explore New Orleans, Naveen is captivated by the music, culture, and women. We learn that, despite his royal status, Naveen's parents have cut him off financially, leaving him with no choice but to marry a wealthy woman or find a job. Though Lawrence, tells Naveen that marrying Charlotte is his only chance at a meaningful life, cause he's basically useless at anything else.

While wandering the streets, they encounter the enigmatic Dr. Facilier, known as the Shadow Man, who invites them into his voodoo shop. Inside, they learn of his dark powers and his "friends on the other side." Jealous of the La Bouff fortune, the Shadow Man exploits Naveen's naivety and Lawrence's resentment toward the prince to further his scheme to seize control of New Orleans. He transforms Naveen into a frog and uses a magical talisman to turn Lawrence into an exact replica of Naveen. The plan is for Lawrence, disguised as Naveen, to marry Charlotte, claim her fortune, and share it with the Shadow Man, who intends to eliminate Big Daddy and take over the city.

That night, at the masquerade ball, Lawrence arrives and immediately captivates Charlotte, who is enchanted by the idea of marrying a prince. Meanwhile, Tiana discovers that someone has outbid her for the old building she covets. If she can't secure the funds in three days, her dream will slip away. To make matters worse, Charlotte and Big Daddy's socialite guests cruelly mock and harass Tiana, with one even shoving her into the buffet table, leaving her dirty and humiliated.

However, Charlotte kindly takes Tiana upstairs to help her clean up and offers her a beautiful gown that transforms her into a vision of a princess. Yet, it does little to lift Tiana's spirits. She confides in Charlotte about losing her restaurant, and when Charlotte suggests there are other buildings available, Tiana insists that the one she lost was her dream—the one her father wanted. This prompts Charlotte to say, "Getting that restaurant won't bring him back."

Tiana doesn’t say anything, and Charlotte leaves to give Tiana time to herself. Feeling despondent, Tiana steps onto the balcony and makes a wish upon the evening star. Under the starlit sky, a talking frog approaches her, revealing himself to be the real Prince Naveen.

Mistaking her for a princess due to her masquerade costume, Naveen tells her that if she kisses him, he will return to human form and grant her any wish in return. Thinking of her beloved restaurant, Tiana reluctantly kisses Naveen, unleashing a burst of magic. However, instead of Naveen transforming back into a prince, Tiana is turned into a frog herself.

The two are then discovered by Lawrence, who catches them and decides to throw them into the river to maintain his charade. Naveen and Tiana are swept away by the current into the bayou. They get into an argument, Naveen admits he lied about having money, while Tiana reveals her reality as a waitress rather than a princess. Frustrated, Tiana suggests they part ways, but Naveen soon realizes he doesn't know his way around the bayou and needs her help. He promises to buy the building for Tiana's restaurant once he marries Charlotte if she helps him get out of the swamp. Tiana agrees.

**Act 2:

The second act opens with Tiana and Naveen preparing to leave, they encounter an enormous alligator named Louis. Initially, they fear he might eat them, but they soon discover he is a gentle giant with a passion for jazz music. Louis dreams of playing the trumpet in a jazz band, but his aspirations have been thwarted by people's fear of alligators. After explaining their predicament, Louis suggests they seek out Mama Odie, the voodoo queen of the bayou. Although he hesitates to guide them, Naveen cleverly persuades him to join them by hinting that Mama Odie might be able to turn Louis human and help fulfill his dream.

Meanwhile, Lawerence (posing as Naveen) proposes to Charlotte who excitedly accepts, but shortly after, his disguise wears off. Dr. Facilier angrily confronts Lawerence, demanding to know where Naveen is. Turns out, the talisman Lawerence wears (the source of the Shadow Man's power) needs Naveen's blood to keep up the illusion. When Lawerence reveals that he threw Naveen into the river Facilier realizes he needs to contact assistance from his "Friends on the Other Side."

As Tiana, Naveen, and Louis venture deeper into the bayou, the atmosphere transforms into a magical, moonlit wonderland alive with fireflies. Naveen is captivated by the enchanting scenery, but Tiana remains resolute, focused on their mission. Soon, they realize they have lost their way, leading to a heated argument between Naveen and Tiana.

Suddenly, a soft, melodic voice drifts through the air, singing a heartfelt song about love and longing. Intrigued, they follow the sound and discover Ray, a charming firefly with a big heart. Ray introduces himself and offers to guide them to Mama Odie.

As they travel, Naveen inquires about the song Ray was singing earlier. Ray reveals it's about his love for Evangeline, his soulmate, whom he dreams of being with forever. Tiana is touched by Ray's words, while Naveen playfully warns him not to settle down too quickly. This sparks another argument, with Tiana chastising Naveen for his lazy, philandering ways, and him calling her a "stick in the mud."

Frustrated, Tiana storms off to cool down. Suddenly, a large male bullfrog approaches, aggressively pursuing her. Despite the bullfrog's intimidating size, Naveen rushes to defend her, impressing Tiana with his chivalry. Unfortunately, the bullfrog easily overpowers Naveen, prompting Louis to intervene and scare him away.

As Tiana tends to Naveen's wounds, she is moved by his vulnerability, but he feels humiliated by his defeat, lamenting, "I really am useless." He confesses to Tiana that years of being pampered have left him without self-sufficiency, and he secretly fears that without wealth, no one would truly care for him.

Feeling compassion for Naveen, Tiana decides that the best way to forge real friendships is through good food. She takes it upon herself to teach him how to cook swamp gumbo, hoping to instill in him the confidence and work skills he lacks.

Back in New Orleans, Dr. Facilier summons the shadow demons, seeking their help to find Naveen and bring him back alive and well. Initially, the demons refuse, revealing that Dr. Facilier sold his soul to them long ago in exchange for the power of voodoo and black magic. His aim was revenge on his father, who abandoned him and his mother, allowing him to infiltrate the world of the wealthy. However, he has yet to fulfill his end of the bargain. In a desperate bid, Dr. Facilier promises them a soul in exchange for his own, intending to offer Lawrence's soul. He further entices them with the prospect of freedom to prey upon the souls of New Orleans once Big Daddy is eliminated and the city falls under his rule. Tempted by this offer, the demons grant him a legion of shadowy henchmen, which he commands to find and capture Naveen, deploying them throughout the city and bayou.

That night, after enjoying Tiana's swamp gumbo, Ray spots Evangeline shining brightly in the sky and excitedly shares this with the others. They soon realize that Evangeline is not a firefly but the "evening star." However, none of them have the heart to tell Ray the truth as he serenades the star with a heartfelt love song. Meanwhile, Naveen convinces Tiana to dance with him, and their romance culminates in a near kiss, revealing that they're falling in love.

Suddenly, the shadow demons appear, attempting to seize Naveen, but Mama Odie intervenes. Though she initially seems somewhat senile, she offers valuable advice: they must "dig a little deeper" to discover what truly matters. When they express their desire to be human again, she insists that it's not what they want but what they need that counts. Naveen realizes he needs to be with Tiana, while Tiana remains blinded by her ambition to fulfill her dream.

Disappointed, Mama Odie reveals that the only way for them to regain their humanity is for Naveen to kiss a princess. They quickly deduce that this princess is Charlotte, whose father has been crowned King of Mardi Gras, making her the "princess." The plan is for Naveen to kiss Charlotte before midnight, while she is still a princess, to transform both himself and Tiana back into humans.

Using her powers, Mama Odie sneaks them onto a riverboat back to New Orleans. Tiana assumes that once they are human again, Naveen will marry Charlotte and use her wealth to help her achieve her dream of opening a restaurant. Unbeknownst to her, Naveen plans to propose to Tiana that very night, intending to find another way to earn the money, confiding in Ray and Mama Odie.

Naveen sets up a romantic candlelit dinner, but his nervousness leads to several awkward attempts to express his feelings. Just as he gathers the courage to speak, the boat passes an old sugar mill, distracting Tiana. She begins to talk about her dream and her late father, who served in World War I. Realizing he cannot provide the funds for her restaurant unless he marries Charlotte, Naveen abandons his proposal plan and resolves to return to Charlotte to help fulfill Tiana's dream. As he leaves to find Louis and Ray, Tiana confides in Evangeline about her love for Naveen and her dilemma regarding his impending marriage to Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Naveen is secretly captured by the shadow demons at Mardi Gras, and his blood is used to restore Lawrence's disguise. Ray inadvertently reveals to Tiana that Naveen truly loves her and intends to propose. Realizing this is what she wants, Tiana rushes into the crowd to find him. However, when she reaches the parade, she sees Charlotte standing beside the disguised Lawrence, preparing to marry him. Misunderstanding the situation, Tiana believes Naveen has already kissed Charlotte and become human, prompting her to flee to the cemetery in despair.

Ray follows her, trying to console her, but Tiana lashes out, dismissing Evangeline as merely a distant star and urging Ray to face the truth before he gets hurt as she did. Unconvinced, Ray returns to the Mardi Gras parade, where he finds frog-Naveen imprisoned in a locked box by Lawrence. As Dr. Facilier prepares to kill Big Daddy, Mama Odie reveals herself as Dr. Facilier's mother, who taught him voodoo but was ultimately betrayed by his greed and desire for revenge.

She pleads with him to abandon his evil ways, but he mocks her, calling her weak for allowing his father to exploit her talents. A confrontation ensues, and amidst the chaos, Ray manages to help Naveen escape. He disrupts the wedding by leaping onto Lawrence and tearing off the talisman, exposing him to everyone. Ray then takes talisman away, and in a fit of rage, Dr. Facilier commands the shadows to attack, creating a diversion for Mama Odie while sending another group to chase Ray to the cemetery to retrieve the talisman.

Naveen quickly speaks to Charlotte, revealing his true identity, and together with Louis, they set off to find Tiana and Ray. When Ray finally reunites with Tiana, he hands her the talisman and warns her that the Naveen she saw with Charlotte isn’t the real him. He urges her to keep it safe from the Shadow Man, just as shadows begin to close in. Tiana hops away with the talisman while Ray stays behind to fend off the shadows, using his light to vanquish a few. However, the Shadow Man knocks Ray to the ground and callously steps on him before walking away with a look of disgust. Moments later, Naveen, Louis, and Charlotte find Ray mortally wounded on the ground; he tells them that Tiana has the talisman. Naveen rushes ahead while Louis stays back to protect Charlotte and Ray from the shadow demons.

The shadows and Dr. Facilier pursue Tiana, eventually cornering her. When she threatens to shatter the talisman, he casts an enchantment that transforms her back into a human and transports them to her dream restaurant. He tries to persuade her to hand over the talisman by offering her a deal: the restaurant and a chance to become human again, all while secretly planning to trade her soul to his “friends” to settle his debt. When Tiana refuses, he conjures an illusion of her father, James, to further manipulate her. Confused and frightened, Tiana reaches out to the illusion, but Naveen, having woven himself into the vision with Mama Odie's help, grabs onto her, pleading with her not to believe it. He reminds her that the illusion cannot love her as her father did, just as Naveen himself loves her.

Dr. Facilier, speaking through James, attempts to undermine Naveen's words, insisting that promises of love are meaningless and that Naveen will ultimately betray her, just as Mama Odie’s prince did. In contrast, Naveen begs Dr. Facilier to take his soul instead of Tiana's. The Shadow Man laughs, declaring that only a fool would sacrifice everything for love.

Yet, this convinces Tiana that the James she sees isn’t truly her father as he would never believe such things. She realizes that while her father may not have achieved his dreams, he possessed what mattered most—love—and he never lost sight of its importance. With newfound resolve, Tiana throws the talisman to the ground, shattering it into pieces. This transforms her and Naveen back into frogs and prompts the shadow demons to lose patience with Dr. Facilier, dragging him away to settle his debt.

Tiana confesses her love for Naveen, and Charlotte agrees to kiss him, but the clock strikes midnight before she can. Ray dies, only to be reincarnated as a star during his funeral. Tiana and Naveen are wed by Mama Odie, and they are restored to human form with a kiss, as Tiana is now truly a princess. They return to New Orleans to open their restaurant, Tiana's Palace.

The final scene unfolds with Tiana and Naveen standing hand in hand outside their newly opened restaurant, adorned with twinkling lights and vibrant decorations. The lively streets of New Orleans are filled with music, laughter, and the enticing aroma of delicious food. Friends and family gather to celebrate the couple's journey and the realization of Tiana's dream.

As they greet their guests, Charlotte approaches, beaming with joy for her friends. Louis, now fully embraced by the New Orleans jazz scene, takes center stage, performing a lively tune that gets everyone dancing. As the celebration continues, Ray’s spirit appears as a shimmering firefly, twinkling above the festivities. Tiana looks up, smiling, knowing that Ray is watching over them, embodying the love and friendship that transcends even the darkest moments. The crowd pauses to admire the starry sky, and Tiana whispers a thank you to her father, feeling his presence in her heart.

The curtain falls as the music swells, leaving the audience with a sense of warmth and the belief that dreams can come true when fueled by love and determination. The final words echo in the air: "Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find what you truly need."

#the princess and the frog #disney on broadway #Broadway #broadway musicals #Disney

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