Meet the Social Media Sensations Behind Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical

In a flip of occasions that was unpredictable even in a 12 months as filled with surprises as 2020, Disney’s 2007 movie Ratatouille is getting the (digital) Broadway remedy—due to TikTok. What began within the fall with just a few customers posting songs they’d written for a hypothetical musical model of the animated film escalated in a matter of weeks to a filmed live performance presentation of Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical introduced by Seaview Productions, full with its very own Playbill. The star-studded occasion (that includes such Broadway names as Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, and André De Shields) will happen January 1 at 7 PM ET as a profit for The Actors Fund.

Learn under to search out out what it was like for the artists who sourced the present’s fundamental substances on social media to search out out their work could be getting a completely baked skilled manufacturing.

READ: Bon Appétit! What to Eat as You Watch Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical

Danny Okay. Bernstein
What did you create for the present?
I wrote the music to “Ego’s Flashback” (as seen on Katie Jo’s TikTok). She despatched me just a few texts and a voice memo asking if I’d do it, and I believe I shortly recorded a piano half on GarageBand after taking part in an outside drag present at Don’t Inform Mama. And the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I used to be very, very confused. I’m nonetheless very confused. However I’m thrilled they’re compensating us. By no means did I think about the 20-Half-hour I spent shortly improvising some music on my keyboard could be in any respect profitable.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I’ve…by no means really seen Ratatouille during, so I’m gonna say the Slinky Canine from Toy Story.

Gabbi Bolt
What did you create for the present?
The track I wrote is a track for Remy’s dad (Django) referred to as “Trash Is ur Treasure” (also referred to as “Good within the Rubbish” or “The Lifetime of a Rat”)

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I used to be completely stoked. I’m all the best way over in Bathurst, Australia, so to know that my track goes to be given the Broadway remedy is totally a dream come true! It was a bizarre factor to inform folks although, as a result of from all the best way over right here it simply sounds so unbelievable! My mum referred to as me about three hours after I initially instructed her simply to say, “Wait, sorry, Broadway?”

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I’d 100% be a rat, almost definitely Emile, as a result of I really feel like he and I’d get alongside very nicely. (I can’t prepare dinner so I undoubtedly wouldn’t be Remy.)

RJ Christian

What did you create for the present?
The track I wrote is named “Ratatouille,” and it’s sung by Anton Ego. One of the crucial emotionally intense moments of the movie is when Anton eats the ratatouille, and I wished to develop the second across the chew and lock into his psychological and emotional state to make that style have extra influence. I borrowed lots harmonically from Stephen Sondheim whereas making an attempt to maintain the aesthetic of the unique rating by Michael Giacchino, and naturally I needed to make him a bass and provides these cash notes.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
At first, I didn’t know the size of this undertaking so it didn’t hit till I began to listen to an increasing number of about what it was. Now, I’m in disbelief. I really feel so validated as a composer. Regardless that I’m about to graduate right into a pandemic, it feels good that the individuals who I’d need to rent me know my title.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
There’s a background chef named Larousse, and all we study him is that he was part of a resistance that didn’t win. That’s me.

Nathan Fosbinder
What did you create for the present?
I wrote an “I Need”-type track for Linguini, “Anybody Can Cook dinner,” by which Linguini desperately tries to persuade Remy that cooking collectively can work. I undoubtedly went a bit “The Wizard and I” with a sprinkle of Legally Blonde whereas writing it. I would additionally seen some fantasy TikTok casting floating round, and thought there could be nobody higher than my pal Andrew Barth Feldman, so I requested him, theoretically, if I have been to put in writing a track, would he sing it. The remaining is Ratatouille historical past.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I could have instantly texted “Andrew, the Ratatouille musical has gone too far, and I am not mad about it.” And truthfully, I stand by that.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I really feel like I would be Emile. He is actually simply there to be supportive and eat good meals. I really feel that. That speaks to me.

Emily Jacobsen
What did you create for the present?
Again in August of 2020 in the midst of quarantine, I used to be studying an article concerning the new Ratatouille trip coming to Disney World. This bought the film on my mind and I simply began singing this little track to myself about the primary character, Remy. I believed it was humorous and significantly catchy so I made a decision to make a TikTok with it, including some loopy visible results and an altered cartoon voice to ship to household and mates. It was simply meant to offer folks a fast chortle. The track, “Ode to Remy,” sings the praises of the fictional rat from the Ratatouille film calling him the “rat of all our goals,” pleading “could the world keep in mind his title,” and likening his eventual success to the success of his signature dish, ratatouille.

Composer and arranger Daniel Mertzlufft took my track and created a spellbinding musical theater model he referred to as the “Act 2 Finale.” His interpretation added devices, choir voices, choreography, stage notes, and so forth. It was so overwhelming that I nearly cried once I heard it for the primary time. That was the second, between my authentic track and Daniel’s association, that the Ratatouille musical motion was born.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I couldn’t consider that the thought of making a musical out of this pattern was really turning into a actuality. I used to be really honored to listen to that my theme was going to be featured and dropped at life. I’m simply so thrilled that the joy could be put in the direction of such an important trigger. I’ve loved lots of the advantages for The Actors Fund over the previous few months, and the concept now my track is taking part in a small half in bringing one to life is so thrilling for me.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I believe that I’d be Anton Ego. Ego is extraordinarily captivated with meals and holds excessive requirements in his place as restaurant critic. In my very own life, I’m very passionate concerning the issues I get pleasure from. I also can are usually a perfectionist which I put in the direction of lesson and unit planning in my job as an elementary college trainer. Just like Ego, I’ve additionally discovered in time that expertise could be present in unlikely locations. Even in my most difficult college students, I look to search out their hidden skills and experience and encourage them to work to their full potential to succeed in success. Nonetheless, in contrast to Ego for many of the movie, I do assume anybody can prepare dinner—with follow!

Sophia James
What did you create for the present?
I wrote “I Knew I Smelled A Rat” (Skinner’s quantity) whereas procrastinating an essay I needed to write for varsity (shoutout to UCLA). It’s kind of a traditional jazzy musical theatre villain quantity; it’s bought a heavy swing and tons of room for dance breaks. It displays the second that Skinner realizes that Remy has been the chef all alongside (a nod to one in all my favourite traces within the film: “*gasp* The rat is the prepare dinner!”). The track is basically Skinner’s joyous explosion of revenge after having mounds of pent up frustration from having to principally give his profession away to Linguini. Or it’s a foolish rat track. Both description works.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I don’t know what it feels wish to expertise the countless pleasure of seeing your youngster achieve life…however I think about it’s one thing like this. I believe the issues we create could be form of like kids: some are quiet and trustworthy, some are form of annoying, some are sociable and standard, and a few you secretly love far more than the remaining (for authorized causes, it is a joke). Once I heard {that a} track that emerged from my small, chaotic mind could be featured on this present, I form of froze up and simply sat with that joyful feeling for about an hour. Upon reflection, I believe the emotion was delight. I used to be happy with myself and that foolish little quantity I put collectively. It’s truthfully at all times been a dream of mine to compose one thing for a musical as a result of musical theatre was, and endlessly can be, my old flame. So to not be dramatic however…that is form of a dream come true.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I actually need to say that I’m Colette: a powerful, self-made lady thriving in an business dominated by males. Nice haircut. Articulate. Speaks French…however I’m indisputably Emile. Cross the popcorn please.

Katie Johantgen
What did you create for the present?
I created the ‘Ego’s Flashback’ quantity with composer Danny Okay. Bernstein and my fiancé James Penca. It captures the second that the notoriously cynical and jaded meals critic Anton Ego places Remy and Linguini’s work to the check and tries a chew of their signature ratatouille. He’s transported again to one in all his fondest childhood recollections, of his mother making the dish for him, and we watch his coronary heart soften earlier than our eyes! It is our favourite scene within the movie so we simply knew we wished to seize this for our TikTok contribution!

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
After we heard that our work could be included within the TikTok musical we have been thrilled! After we contributed to the Ratatouille musical on TikTok we tried to check the place our track would fall inside a completely realized present, so we will not wait to see the entire thing come collectively.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
If I have been a Ratatouille character, I’d be the loopy outdated woman to start with of the film, as a result of I too am fearful of rats and do not know the best way to use a gun.

JJ Niemann
What did you create for the present?
I make loads of Broadway backstage/rehearsal comedy movies on TikTok, and so I helped the Ratatouille music acquire some traction by utilizing the songs posted on TikTok after which creating skits round them. One in all them was envisioning Ratatouille: The Musical in rehearsals for its Broadway premiere, and one other one was imagining doing a backstage fast change between musical numbers in Ratatouille.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I used to be completely elated! I used to be requested to be within the dance and vocal ensembles and document vocals/movies for the live performance. The vocal mock-ups and orchestrations sound unimaginable, and I actually assume this being the primary true “crowd-sourced” authentic musical to be created on-line is a monumental factor.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I really like ensemble work, so signal me up for being within the rat refrain and the chef’s refrain! My dream although is to play Remy. So someday, that will be a dream, and even understudying that position could be fantastic!

Alec Powell
What did you create for the present?
I created the overture for the present. I attempted to pay homage to Michael Giacchino whereas sustaining the joy and aptitude of a Broadway present.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I didn’t consider it. Not till I used to be signing contracts did it actually hit me. Now I’m simply completely satisfied to be alongside for the trip!

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
Emile, no questions requested.

READ: How the Viral Grocery Store: A New Musical Was Built Through TikTok Collaborations

Blake Rouse
What did you create for the present?
Two of my songs have been chosen to be part of the Ratatouille TikTok musical. I created a tango between Colette and Linguini based mostly off of a suggestion from one other TikTok person. I really like how advanced and mysterious a tango normally is, so I knew it was one thing I’d have a blast making. As soon as I noticed the success of the tango I created “The Rats Method of Life,” an upbeat, ensemble-heavy track about rats consuming trash.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I’m not going to misinform you, I nearly handed out. It was by no means one thing I anticipated, but it surely was an announcement that fully rocked my world, and I’ve been on cloud 9 ever since. It looks like every day I get up and there’s one thing new to understand. The previous couple months have been a number of the most fun months of my life.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
It will be Remy due to my rat-like options and my penchant for consuming something.

Christopher Routh
What did you create for the present?
I designed set fashions for six of the songs. I took songs that different TikTok creators had created and made units and scenes to match.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I by no means thought my little set fashions would get a lot recognition. I began sharing my work as a result of, like myself, I knew so many individuals have been lacking Broadway and dwell theatre because of the Broadway shutdown. So I’m so glad I’m capable of share this work to learn The Actors Fund. It’s really wonderful that folks have been in a position to make use of a platform like TikTok to create a brand new musical collectively as a neighborhood and have Broadway acknowledge it. I’m nonetheless in awe! It’s unbelievable.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I actually assume I’d be Remy. I really feel like I can relate a lot with this character and his journey. By no means surrender on what you consider in as a result of it’ll manifest into one thing nice and other people will acknowledge you to your wonderful creativity! A.Okay.A. Anybody Can Cook dinner!

Jess Siswick
What did you create for the present?
I created the poster key artwork for the musical.

What was your first response upon listening to your work could be included in Ratatouille: A TikTok Musical?
I instantly stated “OK, let’s do that” earlier than my mind had time to course of what was occurring. I’ve been gathering theatre posters and Playbills since I used to be 6 years outdated, and now one thing I had made was going to turn out to be a poster and Playbill. A dream come true.

When you have been a Ratatouille character, who would you be?
I believe I’d be Colette, arduous working and aggressively captivated with what I like to do.