1986: An Imagineering Competition - HYPE THREAD

tcool123

tcool123

Well-Known Member
mickeyfan5534 said:
Per request: Question of the Day
What is your favorite live show in a Disney park?​
Click to expand...
As many have said Festival of the Lion King takes the cake for Disney, but if I may give an honorable mention to the Bourne Stuntcaluar over at Universal Studios. It truly is an amazing production, and was a homerun for Universal Creative. The stunts, effects, sets, etc it is all next level and puts many shows at Disney World to shame. Not even a huge fan of the Bourne IP, but wow the transitions between props and screens were amazing, and had me literally gasping when I saw them occur in front of my eyes; true theme park magic. If I'm being completely honest I'd love to see the Bourne Stuntcaular setup/effects used for a more intimate Indiana Jones show at Studios.

If you haven't seen Bourne Stuntcaular, here's an okay video of it.
 
Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
mickeyfan5534 said:
Per request: Question of the Day
What is your favorite live show in a Disney park?​
Click to expand...
New favorite show courtesy of DisneySky!

D Hulk said:
enhance


Mulan: Reflections in Dance
D-ticket live show

The legend of Mulan is retold in an authentic Chinese acrobatic performance

The story of Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan - and by extension the beloved legend of Hua Mulan which inspired it - is retold live on stage in a classical Chinese style. This is no mere live musical recapitulation of an animated film. Rather, Reflections in Dance uses Mulan as a means to celebrate centuries-old Chinese theatrical tradition in all its beauty and spectacle.

(Please note that this show was conceived long before Disney’s 2020 live action remake of Mulan, and it takes no inspiration or ideas from that film. I wish to distance “Reflections in Dance” from the remake’s various controversies, which have no bearing on the content of this show.)

Shows take place in the Celestial Theater, an ancient Chinese pre-telescopic observatory. The building exterior resembles a fusion of Beijing’s Ancient Observatory and Nanjing’s Purple Mountain Observatory - receding monolithic grey brick walls lead to a water-stained watchtower. Further back, there are several receding forced perspective turret walls.

enhance


Festival banners string about in the gathering space before the Theater. This garden courtyard is dominated by a stone statue of Mulan on horseback riding her horse Khan. The waiting space surrounding this monument is peppered with ancient copper astronomical instruments on display, all held by bronze dragons - armillary spheres, sundials, celestial globes, armillas. Off to one side, a Chinese military tent plays host to small-scale Mulan meet ‘n’ greets after shows.

Due to the wordless nature of the show to come, a stone tablet on the observatory portico outlines the ancient Chinese legend of Mulan...How she took her crippled father’s place in the Chinese army, and how while in disguise she almost single-handedly rescued China from a Hun invasion.

WesternConstellations.jpg


As showtime draws near, guests are ushered into the Celestial Theater. The darkened interior is set under a ribbed stone vault, faintly lit by small sky lanterns arranged like the Chinese constellations. The stage is bare with a drawn curtain. The curtain features a minimalist Chinese watercolor of the Kunlun Mountains and the Great Wall, with the Chinese and Hun armies visible on opposite sides predicting the show’s content. Guests assemble in comfy padded seats as anticipatory music plays.

The theater opens up 15 minutes before showtime. Each performance lasts 25 minutes, with six showtimes daily, typically at 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:00, and 6:30. The theater seats around 1,500 people.

Before the show begins, a presenter takes to the stage to provide some cultural context (in English and Mandarin). We are about to see the tale of “Mulan” retold with the millennia-old disciplines of Chinese acrobatic dance and Beijing Opera. This style takes inspiration from the Shen Yun dance troupe, whose touring shows in the U.S. and abroad are enormously popular on a level comparable to Cirque du Soleil. (Shen Yun itself and its associated Falun Gong faith practice are not associated with our production, since inevitably they can draw controversy.)

Our cast consists of 5 women and 10 men, plus leads. Our story shall be told without speaking or lyrics, but rather told entirely in choreographed pantomime with orchestral accompaniment. There will be live Chinese instruments - flutes, drums, erhu - and a kaleidoscope of colorful costume pageantry.


The Shen Yun dance troupe proves the popularity of traditional Chinese dance theater

Scene #1: Honor To Us All
(3:00)

With that the curtain rises. The backdrop is a projection screen which is able to display a new painterly setting for each scene. The opening scene occurs in a traditional Ming Dynasty village. The springtime cherry blossoms are in full bloom and festive regalia is set out for the Matchmaker.

The women’s dance chorus appears in beautiful pink Chinese bridal dresses. They dance to the song “Honor To Us All” from Disney’s 1998 Mulan, played in a traditional rearrangement by onstage erhu musicians. This showpiece incorporates swirling dresses and fan dances. It is a snapshot of ancient Chinese culture.



Soon enough Fa Mulan joins the other would-be-brides, failing to match their graceful movements. Mulan struggles with her pratfalls and is unable to impress the Matchmaker. The skies darken as Mulan trudges away dejected, as the scene transitions to the Fa family estate.

enhance


Scene #2: Interlude - The War Decree
(1:30)

A brief scene in between dances is used to feature some Beijing Opera comedy. The Emperor’s advisor Chi-Fu appears “riding” backwards on a horse; his performer in a man-on-horse costume capers about awkwardly.

As storm clouds gather in the background, Mulan and her father Fa Zhou gather to hear an imperial decree. Chi-Fu unfurls a war decree, accompanied by drum beats. Conveyed entirely in silent performance, we learn that Fa Zhou has been conscripted into the army. Mulan sadly embraces her father as day turns to night.

Scene #3: Short Hair
(3:20)

Rains and lightning pelt the background skies. Fa Zhou retires to his chamber, accompanied by a flute soloist. He attempts a traditional fight-dance with a sword, limping and collapsing as the music turns atonal.



Mulan mimics her father hidden in the background horse stables. Unlike in her bridal audition, here Mulan succeeds in her mimicry, performing a flawless fight-dance while Fa Zhou falters. In pantomime, and with the music growing in martial intensity, Mulan preps for war: She throws off her wedding gown to reveal a suit of armor. She cuts her hair, applying her sword to a black silk “hair” prop. With a lightning crescendo, Mulan newly transformed into a warrior somersaults into the unknown! Fade to black...

Scene #4: The Ancestors Awake
(2:20)

Lights return to reveal the Fa mausoleum. A chorus of dancers emerges portraying the Fa Family Ancestors in flowing blue wardrobe. They awake and summon both the red dragon Mushu (whose costume resembles a Chinese New Year dragon) and the lucky cricket Cri-Kee (who is puppeteered by a visible dancer in dark purple robes). The group performs a traditional Shen Yun comic dance.

enhance

Inspiration for the Mushu and Cri-Kee costumes

Projections on the mausoleum panels relay story information: Mushu and Cri-Kee are assigned to go retrieve Mulan. The comic duo charges off, running in place before a progression of landscape backgrounds as the Ancestors glide away.

Scene #5: Interlude - Mulan Meets Mushu
(1:00)

Mushu and Cri-Kee at last bound into a green bamboo forest. They encounter Mulan seated crestfallen against a log. In another dance-free interlude, Mulan’s protectors psyche her up for military service. Mulan stands tall, her body language conveying bravery as she marches forth.​
Click to expand...
 
DashHaber

DashHaber

Well-Known Member
tcool123 said:
As many have said Festival of the Lion King takes the cake for Disney, but if I may give an honorable mention to the Bourne Stuntcaluar over at Universal Studios. It truly is an amazing production, and was a homerun for Universal Creative. The stunts, effects, sets, etc it is all next level and puts many shows at Disney World to shame. Not even a huge fan of the Bourne IP, but wow the transitions between props and screens were amazing, and had me literally gasping when I saw them occur in front of my eyes; true theme park magic. If I'm being completely honest I'd love to see the Bourne Stuntcaular setup/effects used for a more intimate Indiana Jones show at Studios.

If you haven't seen Bourne Stuntcaular, here's an okay video of it.
Click to expand...

Wow. Bourne Stuntacular looks so much better than I expected when they first announced the attraction.
 
tcool123

tcool123

Well-Known Member
mickeyfan5534 said:
Question of the Day
What is the best Broadway show you've been to?​
Click to expand...
The only show I’ve seen on the Broadway was Stomp many years ago, so by default Stomp 😅

However if we include touring productions then Anastasia takes the cake. The costumes weee gorgeous, set design was stunning, the show was able to balance a serious and comedic tone throughout the entirety, and the acting along with the singing was amazing. I hope Disney takes it and allows Fox to remake Anastasia using the Broadway show as a blueprint.
 
mickeyfan5534

mickeyfan5534

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
mickeyfan5534 said:
Per request: Question of the Day
What is your favorite live show in a Disney park?​
Click to expand...
For me, it’s Mickey and the Magician aka the only reason to go to Walt Disney Studios Paris after Ratatouille opens at Epcot
mickeyfan5534 said:
Question of the Day
What is the best Broadway show you've been to?​
Click to expand...
Drunk Shakespeare is one of the most hilarious experiences ever. 4 classically trained actors, one of them is schwaisted, they perform an abridged Shakespeare play, hilarity ensues.
 
montydysquith-navarro

montydysquith-navarro

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
mickeyfan5534 said:
Per request: Question of the Day
What is your favorite live show in a Disney park?​
Click to expand...
Of the ones that I've personally seen, it has to be Festival of the Lion King in Hong Kong Disneyland (I think they slightly changed the show's storyline to be more aligned to the film compared to Animal Kingdom's version, right?) and Big Band Beat in Tokyo DisneySea (tap dancing Mickey for the win!).

Of the ones I've seen online, it would be Fantasmic! at Disneyland (mostly the new one), Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Magic Kingdom, and Mickey and the Magician in Disneyland Paris.

mickeyfan5534 said:
Question of the Day
What is the best Broadway show you've been to?​
Click to expand...
I've only seen tours, but definitely The Lion King, which I saw twice thanks to discounts. The show definitely lived up to the hype since they managed to recreate almost everything from the Broadway production (except for the rising Pride Rock; they placed it on a track instead since there wasn't enough room below the stage apparently).
 
Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
mickeyfan5534 said:
Question of the Day
What is the best Broadway show you've been to?​
Click to expand...
Only broadway show I've actually seen was Beauty and the Beast when I was super young.

Saw Wicked and Sweeny Todd from Broadway touring companies and both were amazing!

There is a really high quality local theater though (and by "local" I mean almost a 2 hour drive). Little Shop of Horrors was incredible and probably my favorite Broadway type show I've ever seen! Seen a couple of shows there like Chicago, Singing in the Rain, Hello Dolly, Gulf View Drive, etc. It really surprised me, but the musical based on The Wedding Singer was an absolute blast and one of the most fun shows I've ever seen!
 
Suchomimus

Suchomimus

Well-Known Member
JokersWild said:
Question of the day: Why are there so many super old and super dead threads being resurrected this week? It’s really weird.
Click to expand...
That’s something that actually uncommon but there’s no point denying how weird it is how the (mostly) new members always seen to want to go to threads that have not been touched in years as opposed to threads that have just had a new post recently.
 
Outbound

Outbound

Well-Known Member
Suchomimus said:
That’s something that actually uncommon but there’s no point denying how weird it is how the (mostly) new members always seen to want to go to threads that have not been touched in years as opposed to threads that have just had a new post recently.
Click to expand...
They probably find them through the internet, which isn't sorted by age. Also, many of those threads are niche and they may have specific opinions about those topics rather than 1986, 1SC, DisneySky, or Dash's Toybox.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom