Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney Subject: TLK-The Attraction (Spoilers) Date: Sat, 9 Jul 94 11:47:30 PDT The following is being cross-posted to Usenet's rec.arts.disney newsgroup as well as Portal's Disney FANtasEARS SIG, and was originally posted by Ed Sterrett on Fidonet's Disney echo. Quoting: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday 7 July 1994 21:34:00 Subj: Lion King- The Attraction ******************************* * * * SPOILER ALERT!!! * * * ******************************* The following article describes parts of the new "Legend of the Lion King" show at WDW's Magic Kingdom in some detail. If you are planning to visit WDW soon, and prefer to be 'pleasantly surprised', kindly skip past this message. On the other hand.. ;) >From "Eyes & Ears", 7/6/94 "Legend of the Lion King" Show Roars to Life Our newest animated feature, The Lion King, has been transformed into a spectacular live-theater experience using a new kind of living animation. "Legend of the Lion King," featuring the music of Elton John and Tim Rice from the new film classic, will be performed daily starting Friday, July 8, on a giant stage in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland Theater with a cast of _Disney Humanimals_ portraying the movie roles. The legend is narrated by Rafiki, the wise shaman baboon, high priest to the court of Mufasa, the Lion King. Mufasa's son, Simba, is destined to inherit his father's throne, but first he must overcome the deadly schemes of his wicked Uncle Scar and his own self-indulgence with a troupe of happy-go-lucky jungle dropouts. The story is filled with heart-pounding drama and uproarious humor in action and music. With the help of Rafiki's narration, memorable moments and music from the motion picture become a spectacular Magic Kingdom theatrical experience. The dramatic "Circle of Life" overture is used to introduce the presentation before Guests enter the 500-seat theater where they are engulfed in an African fantasy enviroment beneath giant acacia trees at sunset. The 125-foot-wide stage is actually bigger than the seating area, permitting the use of giant-size sets in keeping with the scope of the story-the rocky "Pride lands" of Africa, deep jungle, moonlit watering holes and the Serengeti grasslands that seem to be alive. The performers at times seem near enough to touch from front-row seats. The "Legend of the Lion King" transforms classic Disney animation into a three-dimensional performance introducing _Disney Humanimals_, bigger-than-life-size figures that look just like their animated film counterparts. They are larger and more life-like than any puppet: Mufasa, for instance, is more than seven feet tall with a giant mane and swishing tail. They are manipulated, not by electronics, but by human "animateers" hidden from audience view. Just as the appearances of the animal stars in the 'cels' created by Disney animators reflect the personalities of the talented actors who provide their voices, the colorful figures on stage are an extension of live actors below stage level providing a myriad of movements and expression for each performer- smiles and frowns, winking eyes, expressive shrugs, furtive walks and dancing steps. "It's hard to believe they are not live performers," says show director Fran Soeder. "It's like watching a 'cel' from the film come to life." During the story, Simba grows from a two-and-a-half-foot cuddly cub...to a seven-foot, full-grown lion. The transition is smoothed by stage sets that move in magically from every direction-including an 18-foot pride rock that rises from below the stage. Some effects are achieved through sphisticated technology, such as special visual effects created on a fog that drifts across the stage. The most thrilling and dramatic moment comes when Uncle Scar succeeds in luring Mufasa into the path of a huge stampede to save Simba. Thousands of wildebeests come racing out of the distance. The deafening roar of their hoofbeats passes over the heads of the audience, then dies in the distance leaving the little cub, Simba, beside the body of his royal father. The show features the songs from the film, including "Circle of Life"; Simba's happy solo, "I Can't Wait to be King"; the wicked Uncle's boastful "Be Prepared"; and the national anthem of Simba's thoughless jungle mischief-maker playmates, "Hakuna Matata" (No Worries). Rock-and-roll legend Elton John and Academy-Award winning lyricist Tim Rice teamed up to create the original score for the film, which is also the heart of the stage presentation. Robert Guillaume expands his role as Rafiki to provide narration for the Magic Kingdom presentation. The cast also includes Zazu, a hornbill who serves as Mufasa's major domo; Pumbaa, the warthog; Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, the laughing hyenas; Timon, the meerkat; and the baby son of Nala and Simba. The show will be performed up to three times per hour each day. There is a cast of 10 for each performance. In one scene, it takes five of the 'animateers' to create the movements of one large figure. Ed Sterrett (1:363/166) ()_() (_) Walt Disney World Communications Control Center ... "This tagline is undergoing maintenance for your future enjoyment." --- FMail/386 0.98 * Origin: The Rush Room - We OWN Orlando - (407)831-6077 (1:363/166.0) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (End of quoted material.) --Rich Koster ()_() Moderator, ()_() ()~() FDC Walk-Around Mickey Mouse (_) Portal Disney FANtasEARS SIG rich_koster@cup.portal.com Portal e-mail to: Rich Koster Fidonet: Rich Koster at 1:390/5.10 * "Close your eyes. Don't peek! I've got a surprise!" -Minnie Mouse