Review: Avengers-themed ‘Rogers’ musical debuts at Disney California Adventure

“Rogers: The Musical,” which started out in 2021 as a brief, tongue-in-cheek joke in the Disney+ series “Hawkeye,” blossomed into a real-life mini-musical with heart on Friday at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.

At a media preview on Thursday in the theme park’s Hyperion Theater, the now-30-minute stage musical “Rogers: The Musical” tells the comic book-born story of 1940s Brooklyn pipsqueak Steve Rogers, his transformation into superhero Captain America and the creation of the Avengers, with several song and dance numbers.

Where the fictional “Rogers: The Musical” was seen only in brief snippets intended purely for cringe-inducing laughs in “Hawkeye,” the new “Rogers” musical is earnest in its storytelling about a sincere American soldier in World War II who dreams of helping others and landing a date with the woman of his dreams: British MI6 agent Peggy Carter.

Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter in “Rogers: The Musical” at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.

(Sean Teegarde/Disneyland Resort )

“Rogers: The Musical” is a short-engagement attraction, playing a few times daily through Aug. 31. As a tie-in to the show, the park is selling Americana food items, including patriotic tubs of red, white and blue kettle corn; hot dogs; cherry-vanilla-blue raspberry shakes; and a sausage and pepperoni wraps with marinara sauce. There is also Broadway-style show merch for sale, like “Rogers: The Musical” T-shirts and fridge magnets.

Disney+ subscribers who’ve seen the “Hawkeye” episode will recognize scenery, costumes, dance steps and the Marc Shaiman-Scott Wittman song “Save the City (I Can Do This All Day),” which was performed on “Hawkeye” by Broadway star Adam Pascal. But showgoers need not know anything about Captain America, Hawkeye or the Avengers to follow the new show’s story.

Inspired by the Marvel film “Captain America” and the comic books, “Rogers: The Musical” begins in 1942, where the diminutive, 111-pound asthmatic Rogers is rejected as 4F by Army enlistment doctors, despite his desire to make a difference in the war effort.

Most musicals begin with an “I want” song, meaning where the protagonist sings about their innermost thoughts and dreams. In “Rogers: The Musical,” that song is cleverly tied into the “I Want You” Uncle Sam enlistment poster, and how Steve realizes he’s not wanted by his own country.

Fortunately, Agent Carter and scientist Abraham Erskine have been looking for a man with a good heart and strong moral compass. They recruit Steve for a radioactive and cellular regeneration science experiment that will turn him into the superhero Captain America (aka “Cap”). Before long, Cap is fighting Nazis and saving his buddy Bucky Barnes’ Army division from a prison camp. Then Cap sacrifices himself in the Arctic by crashing an enemy plane carrying a deadly bomb.

All of that plot development mostly follows the movie. But when Steve wakes up in a New York hospital ward 70 years later, show-writer Hunter Bell’s book takes some fresh and unexpected turns.

A scene from “Rogers: The Musical” at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.

(Sean/Teegarde/Disneyland Resort )

Cap unexpectedly encounters a jubilant singing and tap-dancing Nick Fury, who catches him up on world history (including a spoiler from the Disney-owned Star Wars saga) that he missed during his long sleep. Then Nick explains his plan to create the Avengers superhero fighting force.

Cue the familiar “Save the City” song-and-dance number featuring most of the Avengers assembling at a bridge in Manhattan. From there, the Avengers go on to fight evil worldwide. But Cap’s heart remains broken over the woman he left behind during World War II. Then an unexpected visitor — in an interesting plot twist from bookwriter Bell — arrives from the past to change the trajectory of Cap’s life.

The musical has a half-dozen songs — mostly written by Christopher Lennertz, Jordan Peterson and Alex Karukas — sung by the show cast, which includes an Andrews Sisters-style trio who act as a singing-and-dancing Greek chorus to fill in the blanks during the fast-moving story.

As theme park shows go, “Rogers: The Musical” is a good one, thanks to its familiar storyline, comic book-inspired scenic design, special effects and quick pacing. Director Jordan Peterson has imbued the show with winking humor, but not at the expense of the characters who are presented with humble authenticity.

Although Disney has turned many of its animated films into Broadway musicals, there’s no word on whether “Rogers” will be expanded into a full-length show. It’s likely intended more as a seasonal stage show in the parks, though a Disney official said Thursday that they’ve been surprised at the public’s excitement over this production.

“Rogers: The Musical” is free with park admission. Parkgoers can lineup outside the Hyperion, or sign up in a virtual queue on the Disneyland app. The virtual queue opens at 10:30 a.m. daily for the first show each day at 2 p.m. Additional show times vary.

These days, Disney theme park tickets are sold only online and by reservation only to avoid overcrowding. The parks are now offering a multi-day ticket discount for Southern California residents. For tickets, call (714) 517-7201 or visit disneyland.disney.go.com/

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com