After the roaring success of Hamilton on Disney Plus, Netflix is the latest streaming service to jump on the stage musical recording bandwagon, and has announced that Diana: A New Musical will be available to stream on the service before its planned Broadway opening date of 25 May 2021 – the date of its Netflix release has yet to be announced.
Diana: A New Musical is a brand new show which retells the life and story of Princess Diana, and had started previews on 2 March 2020 – with the aim to open later on in the month. In between that time, Broadway shut down entirely due to the pandemic, and Diana’s premiere was put on hold.
However, the cast and crew have decided not to wait for theatre’s to reopen, and have struck a deal with the biggest streaming platform to premiere for audiences digitally. To ensure that safety precautions are met for filming, the producers have met with the Actor’s Equity Association to put together a plan.
The musical is directed by Christopher Ashley, the story is written by Joe DiPietro and the music is from David Bryan. The original cast will take part in the Netflix special, which includes:
- Jeanna de Waal as Princess Diana
- Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles
- Erin Davie as Camilla Parker Bowles
- Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth
This decision will make it the first time ever that a Broadway musical has made a television debut before a stage one. This – and the wild success of Hamilton on Disney+ – could also be an indication for the future of theatre in the age of COVID-19. Perhaps we will see more musicals making deals with streaming companies – or even TV stations – to help keep their businesses flowing whilst theatres stand empty.
If you want to be the first to stream Diana: A New Musical, you can sign up for Netflix from as little as £5.99/US$8.99 per month, and you can check out some of the new series and movies on the platform this month. Alternatively, if you’ve not yet watched Hamilton, you can tune in by signing up for Disney Plus for £5.99/US$6.99 per month.
Author: Hannah Cowton, Senior Staff Writer
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She's also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.