Drew Carey Thinks ‘Geppetto’ Is Right on the Nose

The noise is deafening on a sound stage at Disney Studios in Burbank, where “Geppetto,” an original musical, is in production for ABC’s “The Wonderful World of Disney.” The movie, which looks at the famous “Pinocchio” children’s story through the eyes of the lonely village toy maker, will be broadcast Sunday at 7 p.m. as part of the network’s big May programming events.

On this summer day, children dressed in colorful 19th century outfits are running amok among the sets--parents in tow. Extras are milling about while the crew moves props and equipment. And Drew Carey, who plays the title role, is yukking it up with co-stars and set visitors.

“Quiet on the stage, folks,” a voice booms over the cacophony of sounds. When the noise doesn’t stop, the disembodied voice exasperatedly continues. “It’s too quiet on the stage here,” he says in mocking tones. “We need more people talking louder, please.”

“OK,” muses Carey, who is sitting on a director’s chair perusing the screen of his laptop computer. Carey heads a cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in her first role since “Seinfeld,” who plays the Blue Fairy; Brent Spiner portrays evil puppeteer Stromboli, who forces Pinocchio to work for him; singer Usher Raymond is the Ringleader of Pleasure Island; and newcomer Seth Adkins plays Pinocchio, the puppet carved by Geppetto that the Blue Fairy brings to life.

Directed by Tom Moore (Broadway’s “Grease”), “Geppetto” features an original score by Broadway and Oscar-winning film composer Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Pippin,” “The Prince of Egypt”). “I’ve Got No Strings,” the beloved song from the 1940 Disney animated classic, is performed briefly in the movie by Pinocchio.

Carey’s trademark Clark Kent glasses, familiar to fans of his popular ABC comedy series “The Drew Carey Show” have been replaced with old-fashioned rimless specs, and his crew cut covered with a thatch of longish blond hair.

“There is a little gray in my hair,” he says, pointing to the wisps of white in his wig. “There was a lot more gray when they put it on, but I didn’t have the face to match it, so they took it out.”

Still, Carey says, “I love the wig, I got to tell you. I think the hair looks really good on me.”

Carey suggests that the hairpiece makes him look like John Sebastian, the former lead singer of the ‘60s group the Lovin’ Spoonful. “The outfit,” he quips, “if I had an ape head, I’d look like the head professor in ‘Planet of the Apes.’ ” An imitation of actor Maurice Evans from the 1968 sci-fi classic follows as Carey growls: “I tell you this human is for science.” His performance drawing laughs from the crowd, Carey adds, “We’re not going to let the gorillas get a hold of him.”

Relishing the Chance to Play Against Type

Spiner, who came to fame as the green-faced android Data on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is decked out in a long, curly black wig and small mustache for his role as over-the-top Stromboli. He’s a dead ringer for Captain Hook--minus the hook.

The veteran of such Broadway musicals as “1776” says playing the evil Stromboli “gives me a chance to play something close to myself! After all of those years of playing this artificial being that was artificially good, I finally get to tap into the real me and to play someone downright nasty.”

Though he only has one number in the movie, the mock operatic “Bravo, Stromboli,” the actor describes it as a “killer” song. “Stephen Schwartz wrote a tremendous score for this,” he says.

“The Wonderful World of Disney” hopes “Geppetto” proves to be a ratings blockbuster like its 1997 musical, “Cinderella,” and last fall’s presentation of “Annie.”

“Geppetto” was actually in the works before “Cinderella” aired, says executive producer Michael Karz.

“I had signed an overall deal with ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ to do movies with them,” he says. “I was looking for projects and I heard they were looking to do musicals.”

Enter New York playwright David Stern, with whom Karz had attended college. Stern had recently come to Los Angeles to write for film and TV. “I said to [David], ‘Disney is doing some original musicals; you should come up with one.’ ”

Shortly thereafter, Karz and Stern were having dinner with Schwartz. Stern and the composer told Karz about “Geppetto,” an idea they were kicking around as an animated project. Karz suggested they consider live action instead, and when they pitched the idea to Disney, the project was snapped up immediately.

Even before the production wrapped, Karz was hearing through the Broadway theater grapevine that Schwartz’s score is the best since his 1972 Broadway triumph, “Pippin.”

“Geppetto is about a father and son,” says Karz. “It is a story Stephen related to and created something really special.”

It was the big musical numbers that Carey stages and performs in his comedy series that caught the attention of Karz and executive producer Jim Pentecost as they were thinking about whom to cast as Geppetto.

Schwartz flew out from New York, and he and Stern pitched the movie to Carey. “Stephen actually played the songs and David pitched the story,” says Karz. “At the end of the session, Carey was crying. So we knew we made an impression. We were hoping after he read the script he would be interested. We heard two days later that he was.”

‘I Wanted to Do Something Different’

“Geppetto” was a welcome change of pace from the broad c0medies Carey has been offered to do during his hiatus from his show. “I thought I am already on a sitcom,” Carey explains. “I wanted to do something different.”

Broadway and movie choreographer Jerry Mitchell (“Scent of a Woman,” “In & Out”) had just three weeks to create all the dance numbers.

Carey, he says, is an “incredible” dancer. “He can move. Julia actually dances really well, and Brent Spiner had done tons of theater.”

Mitchell tried to create a different style and tone for each number. The “Just Magic” routine between Carey and Louis-Dreyfus, for example, recalls Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

So after doing a movie musical, would Carey like to try his hand at Broadway?

Carey pauses.

“Do you think doing a Broadway show is easier than doing a musical movie?” Carey asks Spiner, who sits down next to the comic.

“A movie is much easier because you get another shot right away,” Spiner replies. “On Broadway you have to wait until the next night. And you have to do your own makeup.”

“You do?” Carey asks.

“And get your own damn Evian,” Spiner says, laughing. “There is nobody getting you grilled cheese sandwiches. You toast your own sandwiches.”

“That’s no good,” Carey says. “Forget it. I don’t want to do Broadway.”

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* “Geppetto” can be seen at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC’s “The Wonderful World of Disney.” The network has rated it TVG (suitable for all ages).