Musical theatre and Disney villains ranked in seasonal features

Special Halloween features are exploring the musicality and motivations of iconic villains from Disney films and Broadway productions.

In a ranking of Disney villain songs, selections include “Cruella De Vil” from 101 Dalmatians and “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the latter noted for its dark themes of damnation and sin. Other featured songs include “Gaston” from Beauty and the Beast and “This is the Thanks I Get?!” from the film Wish.

Another feature examines Broadway antagonists to determine if they are wicked, wronged, or misunderstood. The Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera is categorized as being on the “wronged” side of the scale due to societal rejection following his disfigurement, despite his involvement in kidnapping and murder. Additionally, the character Carrie White from Carrie is analyzed regarding her transition from a bullied teenager to a figure of destruction following a traumatic prom incident.