TALKING ABOUT... Ratatouille now a virtual musical

The pandemic has shuttered concert halls around much of the globe, but that hasn’t stopped musical theater aficionados from flexing their creative muscles – on TikTok, of course.

A crowdsourced musical based on the 2007 Disney-Pixar animated film Ratatouille is now set to hit the virtual stage, after thousands of TikTok creators posted original songs, dances, set designs, playbills and puppets on the content-sharing app.

It all started when New York teacher Emily Jacobsen posted an ode to Remy, the film’s protaganist who charts an unlikely course as a rat who becomes a chef.

The power of her viral kernel of an idea blossomed into an organically grown, full-fledged show: Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical.

Seaview, a Tony award-winning theatrical production company, is partnering with TikTok and TodayTix to stream the show online for three days starting on 1 January, with proceeds going towards the Actors Fund.

Viewers can purchase a ticket by contributing betwen $5 (about R74) and $50.

“SOOOO wild!” tweeted Jacobsen. “We did it: A ‘Ratatousical’ is coming on January 1st, 2021!”

It’s unclear who exactly who will be involved, though artists with actual Broadway credits are said to be taking part.

“The love for the performing arts shines through in the Ratatouille-inspired TikToks from theater lovers around the world,” said head of the Actors Fund Joseph Benincasa in a statement.

He said the show “is sure to bring joy to arts lovers far and wide this holiday season”. –