Walt Disney Pictures in association of ESPN Films brings the motivational true story tale of a young Uganda girl who must overcome the everyday struggles she faces in her home town of Katwe in order to bring a sense of pride back to her entire country. Based on the book by Tim Crothers, director Mira Nair has achieved creating a colorful, uplifting film that whilst filled with cliches is also a joyous heartfelt journey that will having you falling in love with the entire cast. QUEEN OF KATWE takes on the harsh living situations of Uganda and shows the love within the families of these poverty-stricken homes. While the film at face value is just another inspiring underdog tale we have all seen countless times before, the root of story is based around escaping a life destined for hardship by persevering endlessly finding strength and confidence to take on any obstacle the world throws at you. With great performances by newcomers to well-decorated actors, Queen of Katwe is a captivating story suited for all ages. This film may be based around chess, but somehow remains engaging till the end even though the formulaic structure keeps things predictable.
Life for 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her brother, sister and mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), has grown troublesome living in the slums of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda. Harriet’s single-parent lifestyle has proven difficult for the family as they work tirelessness in the streets and market just to ensure a roof is over their heads. It’s when Phiona stumbles upon a local classroom filled with other poor youth learning to play chess from soccer player turned missionary Robert Katende (Oyelowo) when her and her families life starts to change forever. Robert teaches these children a game of concentration and strategic thinking, which helps these kids gain valuable skills that can be applied to everyday Ugandan life.
Madina Nalwanga is Phiona Mutesi in Disney’s QUEEN OF KATWE, the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess. David Oyelowo and Oscar (TM) Lupita Nyong’o also starin the film, directed by Mira Nair.
Struggling to get her mothers permission or find the confidence in herself to go up against the ranks of ivy league type players, Phiona finds her perseverance to keep moving forward. With Phiona’s natural ability to see many moves ahead of her competitors, she continues to surprise her peers with skills soon capturing the spirits of village. Breaking away from the rest of her family, her mother grows concerned she will lose her being in her life, but her mentor Robert is there to open her mothers eyes to the newly tapped potential Phiona could bring to her family.
Queen of Katwe faces some hard imagery for a family-friendly Disney inspirational “sports” flick. Many scenes show a sample of the disgustingness and truly horrendous living situations found in the slums of Uganda, however definitely shy’s away from some of the more tragic events of late. That being said, Mira Nair was still able to capture the soul of village and the sense of community the people have with one another. These intimate scenes between family and friends help remind us that monetary possessions and nice things is not what can make life great, but it’s the love of family and supportive people around you that keep you going. The movie is able to accomplish this without telling us, rather just by the interactions between the great cast of characters.
A large cast of unique characters with a sense of realness makes this a believable tale, even though probably entirely sensationalized, the film is grounded by introducing the real people during the credit roll. While moments are probably concocted for the story, much of the film feels genuine and free from overwritten dialogue in part due to encompassing the culture and small habits that differ from western culture.
Nalwanga, Oyelowo, and Nyong’o along with the rest of the brilliant young actors contain such emotion in every scene helping bring a simple story about chess into a riveting, engaging story. Much of the action takes place at the chess board, which normally wouldn’t be filled with such mesmerizing scenes, however Nalwanga and the other children express so much emotion within their faces that you’ll find your own head hurting from so much concentration.
David Oyelowo is Robert Katende and Madina Nalwanga is Phiona Mutesi in in Disney’s QUEEN OF KATWE, based on a true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess. Oscar (TM) winner Lupita Nyong’o also stars in the film, directed by Mira Nair.
This small-town coming of age triumph of perseverance and courage is by far the most well-put together family friendly inspirational movie I have seen in years. As it’s a Disney film battling a difficult sub-theme, director Mira Nair and writer William Wheeler have been able to bring together a wonderfully crafted film and solid narrative while still using a well-tested formula. Queen of Katwe isn’t a film that will be remembered forever, but will surprisingly resonate with you for awhile hopefully resonating in our youth for even longer.
Queen of Katwe opens in limited release September 23rd with possibly a wider release to follow shortly after.
Disney Friends for Change partnered with Youth Service America to offer young change makers aged 5-18 who are working to make their communities healthier, greener and stronger $500 Summer of Service Grants. Learn more at Disney.com/BeInspired.
This stop-motion series uses Funko versions of Pocahontas, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Mulan and speak to the four pillars of Friends For Change and core Princess values (Strengthening Community, Environmentalism, Living Healthy, and Creativity).
August is great – September is keen, but there’s just nothing quite like Halloween. We’ve got the 411 on all of the Halloween hot spots in Buena Park this season and invite you to pick your poison or create a monster marathon and enjoy them ALL!
Knott’s Scary Farm
Prepare for 24 horrifying nights, beginning September 22nd to All Hallows’ Eve on October 31st. Four all new nightmarish attractions will debut this season at the world’s largest Halloween event, Knott’s Scary Farm. All new Black Ops: Infected will premier alongside returning favorites like Paranormal Inc. and The Hanging: Finding Gory. Goosebumps will be the least of your worries when navigating through over 160 acres of scare zones lurking with evil; ghosts, ghouls and zombies. If you dare to seek full access, be sure to purchase the Fright Lane with Skeleton Key package that will surely sell out fast. You’ll be granted unlimited access to all four stand-alone Skeleton Key Rooms filled with unnerving terrors, interactive secrets and exclusive scenes. Get your killer ticket deals by CLICKING HERE
Rock & Brews Monster Beer Fest
Get a scream-worthy deal at Rock & Brews First Annual Monster Beer Fest on October 22nd from 12pm to 5pm. Enjoy over 100 different bone-chilling beers from 50 different breweries and substitute the candy corn for a sweet treat like Franziskaner Hefe-Wiesse or Angry Orchard Cider! Admission goodies include: unlimited beer tasting, discounted food, live music, costume contest and even a souvenir mug. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $65 for the VIP treatment and can be purchased HERE
Vampirate’s Return to Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
Beware of the bite at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Vampirate’s Halloween show! The haunting begins October 3rd and continues through the entire month of October. Enjoy dressing up in your favorite sweet or spooky costume, with contests held each Saturday and Sunday for ghouls and goblins of all ages. The show follows the evil Captain Sebastian the Black and his horde of Vampire Pirate’s as they take to the high-seas. Visitors will be astonished by special effects, aerial artistry and swashbuckling swordplay, paired with a four-course meal. Get your dangerously discounted tickets HERE
RIP Halloween Hotel Packages
Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel is featuring THREE horrifying options this season starting at $196 per night (plus tax). Choose between the “Bare Bones”, “Haunted Dreams” or “Gruesome” packages that offer everything your black heart could desire. At the Radission Suites, Holiday Inn and Buena Park Hotel and Suites, you can rest in peace with packages that include accommodations and two tickets to Knott’s Scary Farm starting at just $170. CLICK HERE to book your killer Halloween hotel packages.
Kid Friendly Halloween Events
Come down to William Peak Park October 14 -16 for Buena Park’s 60th Annual Silverado Days Festival. The three day event entertains with delicious food, thrilling rides and family-friendly competitions. Participate in the world amateur arm wrestling championship, professional horseshoe contest, pie eating contest, hog calling and much more. With over 20 rides, 16 food options, 20 games and 90 arts and crafts booths, Silverado Days is fun for the whole family.
Knott’s Berry Farm invites you and your family to join in on the Halloween fun at Knott’s Spooky Farm every weekend in October and on October 31 (Halloween Day) from 10am to 4pm. The special limited-time event, geared for kids ages 3-11, serves up live entertainment, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and exclusive festivities honoring the 50th anniversary of the classic Peanuts animated TV special It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! Admission to Knott’s Spooky Farm is included with your Knott’s Berry Farm admission or Season Pass.
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows exactly why.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”), produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa‘i, “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
“You wonder what I see in your future? Possibility.” Watch this featurette and learn about the characters in Doctor Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch! In theaters November 4.
“Doctor Strange” follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.\
Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” is produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth, Stephen Broussard and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
Director Scott Derrickson’s creative team also includes director of photography Ben Davis, B.S.C. (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); production designer Charles Wood (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); costume designer Alexandra Byrne (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); editors Wyatt Smith (“Into the Woods,” Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World”) and Sabrina Plisco, ACE (“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” “Charlotte’s Web”); and visuals effects supervisor Stephane Ceretti (Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”).
From the Oscar® -winning team Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz comes a lushly scored retelling of Victor Hugo’s epic story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a hero.
Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from beloved the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film’s Oscar®-nominated score as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel.
The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame resound through the famed cathedral in 15th-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be “Out There,” observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts September 16 – October 9, 2016. CLICK HERE for more info and to get your tickets now!
With a lush, emotionally rich score and beautiful choral arrangements, it’s a dramatic retelling of the epic but tragic Victor Hugo novel. Darker than the Disney film, closer in plot to the novel, the musical showcases the film’s Oscar-nominated score and introduces stunning new songs. And for the first time, Quasimodo, who is deaf in the original novel, will be played by a deaf actor.
John McGinty stars as Quasimodo @TheJohnMcGinty: NY: Fêtes De La Nuit (New Ohio Theatre), Veritas (The Representatives), World Premiere of Samuel D. Hunter new play of The Healing (TBTB/Theater Row), Movements of the Soul (BPAC). Regional: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Sacramento Music Circus), Tribes (Guthrie Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Everyman Theatre), Pippin (CTG/Deaf West). Film: Wonderstruck with Todd Haynes, Sign. Television: I Killed My BFF and FBI: Criminal Pursuit. Web series: High Maintenance (Vimeo and HBO); Don’t Shoot the Messenger. Workshops: Cyrano (NYTW/Deaf West); Brindlebeast (Fat Chance) Another Kind of Silence (Playwright Realm).
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media has launched Disney Stickers, a series of sticker packs that enable Apple iOS10 users to enhance their iMessage communications with Disney characters and props. Disney Stickers users can tell their daily stories through a modern day blank canvas – the iMessage platform – and express their creativity and storytelling through rich, animated stickers featuring characters and art from beloved Disney stories. Amp up a vacation photo with a sticker of Stitch from Lilo & Stitch; share your excitement for the weekend with a sticker of Joy from Inside Out; or celebrate epic teamwork through a Han and Chewie sticker from Star Wars — Disney Stickers convey everyday emotions and expressions that are better said with visuals than words.
Each Disney Stickers pack includes 21 stickers and costs $1.99 per pack. Disney Stickers packs are available now for download globally in most countries through the Apple iMessage App Store on iOS 10. New packs featuring additional characters and art will launch throughout the year.
Disney aficionados, film buffs and musical theater lovers can expect an evening like no other when eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken comes to Segerstrom Center for the Arts performing his own music and sharing entertaining anecdotes about his unrivaled career. His songs and music have thrilled audiences around the world, and now they will thrill Orange County audiences during the world premiere of his exciting new one-man-show, A Whole New World of Alan Menken, on Friday, September 30, 2016 at 8 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
Menken has garnered 19 Academy Award® nominations, 11 Grammy® Awards, seven Golden Globes and a Tony Award®. He has been credited for introducing a whole new generation to musicals through such box office hits as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid , Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and Tangled as well as the Broadway shows Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, Newsies and television’s Galavant.
Tickets to A Whole New World of Alan Menken start at $49 and go on sale Sunday, August 21 at 10 a.m. and will be available online at SCFTA.org, by calling (714) 556-2787 and at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, please call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.
Disney just announced that Disney Enchanted Tales, a new kingdom-building game, is now available for mobile devices. In the game, players will create their own custom kingdoms using familiar landmarks and buildings from “Beauty and The Beast,” “Frozen” and “Tangled,” and interact with beloved Disney characters including Belle, Gaston, Anna, Prince Hans, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and many more.
Disney Enchanted Tales lets players expand and build out their kingdoms by completing tasks and quests in order to earn new iconic landmarks, such as Belle’s Bookstore, The Beast’s Castle, Elsa’s Ice Palace, Rapunzel’s Tower and more. New characters, outfits and memorable story moments from additional cherished Disney classic tales will be unlocked as players complete story-based missions.
Disney Enchanted Tales is free-to-play with in-app purchases and available now for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Future updates will introduce more characters, landmarks and items on a regular basis.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Moana, a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. “Moana is the 16-year-old daughter of the chief of Motunui,” says director Ron Clements. “She’s athletic, nimble, compassionate and incredibly smart. She has a never-say-die attitude and a profound connection to the ocean.”
“So it’s troubling to her, to say the least, that her people don’t go beyond the reef surrounding their island,” adds director John Musker. “They stay within the confines of that reef, and Moana doesn’t really understand why.”
The story is inspired in part by the oral histories of the people and cultures of Oceania. Three thousand years ago, Polynesian voyagers, the greatest navigators in the world, voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering thousands of islands. But then, according to scholars, for approximately a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows exactly why. “Navigation is such a big part of Pacific culture,” says Musker. “The ancient Polynesians found their way across the seas without the use of modern instruments, using their knowledge of nature, the stars, the waves and the currents.”
MOANA story boards inspired by research trip to Samoa. Features Story Artist David Derrick’s family tapa print. Artist: David Derrick, Story Artist.
When first thinking of setting an animated feature in the beautiful Pacific Islands, directors Ron Clements and John Musker recalled from their youth beloved novels and paintings about the Pacific. But once they began exporing the incredible tales within Polynesian mythology a few years ago, the filmmakers realized they needed to dive much, much deeper. They knew they needed to go to the islands of the Pacific to see the places and meet the people in person. So Clements and Musker, along with a group of Disney Animation artists, traveled to the southern region of Oceania over the course of two fully loaded trips.
MOANA – (L-R) Jared Bush (Screenwriter), Dave Pimentel (Head of Story), David Derrick (Story Artist) and Sunmee Joh (Story Artist)
During a recent visit to the Walt Disney Animation Studios, we had the opportunity to sit down with the filmmakers to hear how they brought this movie to life. The group included, Jared Bush (Screenwriter), Dave Pimentel (Head of Story), David Derrick (Story Artist) and Sunmee Joh (Story Artist).
The team started to discuss how the story came to be, which took about 3-5 years to create. The writers wanted to get a sense of how emotional the story is. The job of the Screenwriter is to come up with the concept and then it gets passed on to the head of Story and Story Artists, then it’s discussed and it goes back and forth between the group as well as the Directors to see how to develop the characters, dialog and scenes. As artists they can only write or draw what they know and understand.
MOANA story boards inspired by research trip to Samoa. Artist: David Derrick, Story Artist.
The team was invited to explore Fiji’s Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park with local archeologists, and visited the Fiji Musuem, where experts showed them incredible artifacts, including boats and tools. They met with master tattooists, expert fisherman, and shared the local cuisine with the generous people they met.
In Samoa, they saw black lava fields and met with local chiefs. On Savai‘i they were doused by the famous Alofaaga blowholes, and on Manono island they were invited to participate in a traditional kava ceremony. They canoed along the famous surf break of Teahupo‘o in Tahiti, and swam and hiked in areas that would later influence the look of the film. Filmmakers witnessed how tapa cloth is made and experienced performances of traditional dances.
To create our fictional story set 2,000 years ago, we knew we needed to invite the experts we met during the trips to be a part of the creation of the film. We wanted their voices to influence the film—from the story, to the look of the environments, to the characters. Everything—from how Moana’s canoe looks and functions, to plants on the islands, to the material used in their clothing—was all deeply influenced by our advisors.
MOANA filmmakers and members of the MOANA Oceanic Story Trust.
Filmmakers ultimately assembled the Oceanic Story Trust that includes a team of experts—anthropologists, academics, educators, linguists, master navigators and cultural advisors—who collaborated with Disney’s creative team.
Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
After setting single-day attendance and charitable donation records in 2015, the LA County Fair ups the ante in 2016 to get even more Southern Californians to embrace their star-spangled, ride-loving, fried food-eating, livestock-petting roots at America’s biggest county fair in terms of acres and fun.
Instead of just attending the 94th annual celebration, which runs Sept. 2-25, 2016, at Fairplex in Pomona, the public is being challenged to “Dare to Fair” to get the absolute most out of the Fair’s adventure-packed 487 acres. In fact, for the first time ever, a new marketing icon has been revealed as official fun ambassador to ensure that this year’s Fair guests have their most epic fair experience ever.
New-for-2016 attractions range from three acres of life-size animatronic dinosaurs and a reimagined “Bodies” exhibit to the ultimate hands-on sports experience, an ice-skating, snow-sledding wonderland, walk-through floral paintings and the 16-night End of Summer Concert Series with the biggest names in music – plus all-new signature food creations exclusive to the LA County Fair.
Five exciting new reasons to return to the LA County Fair in 2016 include:
– Jurassic Planet – Thirty-five life-sized dinosaurs including a 44-foot-long T-Rex have escaped the Fairplex Bio-Research Facility – but, while still wild and unpredictable, have become domesticated enough after years in captivity for public encounters. This three- acre animatronic adventure includes a hands-on dinosaur museum, live shows, fossil prep lab and dig hosted by real paleontologists. Come back after the sun goes down when special lighting and music create an even more memorable experience. See the Fair website for admission prices.
– Our Body: The Universe Within – Go under the skin of human anatomy – literally! – with this fascinating, educational exhibit of 200 uniquely preserved human specimens offering a vibrant, 3D view of our bodies usually reserved just for doctors.
– Let the Games Begin – This year’s immersive experience explores the origins and science of America’s “Big Six” sports – baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer and golf – through elaborately themed displays, hands-on activities and rare memorabilia.
– The Igloo – Chill-out in our Arctic Village with Polar Ice Rink* and Penguin Sled Run* made with real ice and snow! Shop the Arctic Promenade for cool products and come back after 6pm for an all-ages dance party featuring DJ Cool and periodic snow storms.
– Watercolors: The Art of Flowers – 2016’s Flower & Garden Pavilion makeover explores the intersection of watercolors and flowers via real-life re-creations of famous paintings, dramatic walk-through landscapes and classes taught by our onsite floral experts.
This year’s Fair promises a full menu of original Fair foods, including the world premiere of Deep-Fried Hot Sauce, a 2016 LA County Fair exclusive served in a bag or as a spicy kabob, and the return of last year’s wildly popular Deep-Fried Guacamole and the all-time favorite Deep-Fried Kool- Aid. The LA County Fair will also serve hundreds of other offerings ranging from healthy, organic and locally grown options to the most decadent creations imaginable.
To guarantee that new and returning attractions meet the uncompromising standards of the Fair, an official LA County Fair “Fairdevil” has been designated to ensure the maximum fun factor of this year’s run. The first official LA County Fair mascot since Thummer the Pig in 1948, this tongue-in-cheek individual is responsible for ensuring that every element of the 94th LA County Fair – from the spiciness of the BBQ sauce for the Giant Turkey Legs to this year’s course for the Pig Races to the speed of the Gravitron, the Fair’s fastest ride – are up to snuff.
“Everything the world knows about the LA County Fair – the sheer size, foods, rides, animals, signature attractions and world-class entertainers – is due to decades of behind-the-scenes work by the entire LA County Fair family,” said Michelle DeMott, the Fair’s vice president of branding. “The Fairdevil represents all the men and women who have tirelessly worked their magic over the years to make the LA County Fair what it is today.”
The Fairdevil will represent the Fair in this year’s TV commercials and other advertising, on the web and social pages, at community events before and during the Fair and at the head of the daily Fair parade on certain days. Fair organizers also are producing a series of web videos to introduce the long- time fabricator of fun to the public.
The LA County Fair is also implementing a partner program called “Dare to Care” that showcases its many charitable activities and public service partnerships, and offer the public a number of tangible ways to participate this summer, during the 2016 LA County Fair and beyond.
The 94th anniversary of America’s largest county fair in fun and acreage includes all-new Jurassic Planet, featuring 35 animatronic dinosaurs; a reimagined “Bodies” exhibit; the ultimate hand-on sports experience; a summer ice-skating, snow-sledding village; walk-through floral paintings; the 16-night End of Summer Concert Series; and a carnival midway, farm and exotic animals (including a giraffe!), exclusive food, shopping and entertainment. Closed Mondays (except Labor Day) and Tuesdays.
Visit www.LaCountyFair.com for admission, hours and more information, or call (909) 623-3111.
Orange County’s premier theater-going destination, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, recently held their annual season preview in the architectural wonder that is The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Always stunning, this venue is such a pleasure to visit no matter the performance and a lovely place to showcase next seasons touring Broadway line-up stopping by Costa Mesa.
Segerstrom’s 2016 – 2017 season will be contain more of the high quality entertainment you have come to expect including NINE of the most beloved musicals on tour today! This years preview featured performances from five of next seasons musicals including BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, Matilda, Finding Neverland, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, and the every powerful Fun Home.
While this is just the tip of the iceberg of what Segerstrom Center has to offer, this years preview stayed with showcasing the biggest of events. Meanwhile there are many other shows, bands, dance, and events scheduled throughout the year are truly deserving one their own attention.
This event was an ideal way to get a taste of what’s to come if you’re not as familiar with some of these shows and allows for you to get jump start to ticket packages. With tickets usually just around $10 with the amount being able to be applied toward ticket for a later show, it’s definitely something to consider attending in future years.
It’s quick, to the point showcase with less jibber jabber every year with more of focus on performances. This year the event was hosted by Segerstrom Center’s Anne McNiff-Gaeta and the energetic and infectious Broadway Across America’s Bob Bucci. The team there has gotten this down to a science still delivering some comical banter but keep the subject strictly on next years performances.
The night began with a brief introduction followed by two wonderful songs from BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical sung by a Broadway company performer, Sarah Bockel. This hit-filled production will have theatergoers quickly reminded of the number timeless classics Carole King either sung or wrote. Here the audience was treated to a beautiful rendition of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “A Natural Woman”. There is no doubt that BEAUTIFUL will be an incredibly enjoyable experience.
The night was followed by the playfulness of Matilda with young performer Tori Feinstein taking the stage performing the musicals hit “Naughty”. This fun song is full a charm and I’m excited to see all the other amazing special effects the show is known for. Later in the evening Woodbridge High School Choir came out to perform the shows mainstay, “When I Grow Up” with Feinstein. I actually wasn’t too interested in seeing this originally, but I think Segerstrom has won me over. Looking forward to this big time production coming in January 2017.
Shockingly, Finding Neverland also looks better than the Broadway cast recording has lead me. Cast members Celia Hottenstein and Cameron Bond came out performing “Neverland” and later “All That Matters”. Hearing these in person and understanding the magical production has memorized audiences with its effects has made more excited than ever for a show based on the movie I already love of the same name.
Two numbers from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder were also performed by cast members Jeff Kready and Mary VanArsdel. “You’re a D’Ysquith” shows the musicals quirkiness and “Foolish to Think” provides its depth and range. It’s no wonder this has won the Tony Award for Best Musical in the past.
Later in the show featured a performance that out-shined anything else. Star Nicole Van Giesen of the 2015 Tony Award winning Fun Home came to stage to sing the musicals emotional ballad “Telephone Wire”. While there are many other shows coming not highlighted in the preview, Fun Home has turned into my most excited about musical, however I know I need to be prepared for the waterworks! This powerful journey follows a girl at three different ages as she learns more about herself and understands more about the mysteries of her childhood through a new view.
Keep in mind Segerstrom offers all types of shows other than just Broadway musicals. Throughout the season you may find many special engagements of huge musical acts such as Alan Menken live to Tony Bennett all the way to Harry Potter Live in Concert. There are other series like one specifically for cabaret, jazz and dance and even a family series including a new Christmas offering, Elf.
I have provided a listing of the countless acts next year. Don’t forget to check out SCFTA.org for more details on many different package options with huge discount on tickets vs day-of ticket sales. Surely there has to be something you’re interested in!
Broadway Series Beautiful – The Carole King Musical ELF The Musical MATILDA the Musical Finding Neverland An American in Paris The Bodyguard
Curtain Call Series A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder Fun Home The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Bonus Options MAMMA MIA! RENT
Family Series Pop Up Garden Where the Wild Things Are
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
The Little Prince Goodnight Moon Walking the Tightrope Elf the Musical
Special Events The Godfather Live in Concert Shanghai Acrobats Lily Tomlin Klezmatics Fiesta Navidad Taj Express Spotlight Alan Menken Johnny Mathis
Cabaret Series Betty Buckley Jerry Herman Songbook Charles Busch Steve Tyrell
Chamber Music Series Auryn Quartet Takács Quartet Marc-André Hamelin & Pacific Quartet Emerson String Quartet Philip Setzer, David Finckel, and Wu Han
International Dance Series Mikhailovsky Ballet American Ballet Theatre Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company Tour de Force III ABT’s The Nutcracker Batsheva Dance Company
2016 – 2017 BROADWAY SERIES
BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL | CENTER PREMIERE October 4 – 16, 2016
“It’s some kind of wonderful!” – NY1
Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.
ELF The Musical | CENTER PREMIERE December 20, 2016 – January 1, 2017
“Splashy, peppy, sugar-sprinkled holiday entertainment!” – The New York Times
This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
MATILDA THE MUSICAL | CENTER PREMIERE January 17 – 29, 2017
“The best family musical in years” – Chicago Tribune
TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA THE MUSICAL continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End.
FINDING NEVERLAND | CENTER PREMIERE March 21 – April 2, 2017
“It’s a must-see you’ll remember for years to come!” – Vogue
FINDING NEVERLAND is “far and away the best musical of the year!” (NPR). Broadway’s biggest new hit and the winner of Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash “captures the kid-at-heart,” says TIME Magazine.
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS | CENTER PREMIERE April 25 – May 7, 2017
“A TRIUMPH! An exhilarating, rhapsodic marriage of music, movement and romance – The New York Times
An American in Paris in the new Tony Award-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.
THE BODYGUARD | CENTER PREMIERE May 30 – June 11, 2017
“Exciting, thrilling, uplifting, moving – The Bodyguard is a truly exceptional show!” – Southern Daily Echo
A breathtakingly romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – “I Will Always Love You.”
Season ticket prices for the Broadway Series start at $115.
2016 – 2017 CURTAIN CALL SERIES
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER | CENTER PREMIERE February 28 – March 5, 2017
“I’ve never laughed so hard at a Broadway musical!” – NPR
Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER, the knock-‘em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award for BEST MUSICAL. A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE tells the story of Monty, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by – you guessed it — eliminating the eight relatives (all played by one fearless man) who stand in his way. All the while, Monty has to juggle his mistress, his fiancée and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance… and be done in time for tea.
FUN HOME | CENTER PREMIERE August 1 – 6, 2017
“A landmark production that will forever change what is possible in musical theatre.” – The Huffington Post
Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, FUN HOME introduces us to Alison at three different ages, as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood. A refreshingly honest musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, “FUN HOME is extraordinary, a rare beauty that pumps fresh air into Broadway.” (The New York Times)
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME | CENTER PREMIERE September 12 – 17, 2017
“Eye-opening, life-affirming, and unmissable.” – TIME Magazine
Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Play! Hailed as “One of the most fully immersive works ever to wallop Broadway” by The New York Times, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a “dazzling” (Associated Press), adaptation of the Tony Award-winning new play by Simon Stephens, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel and directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott. Fifteen- year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life
Season ticket prices for the Curtain Call Series start at $85.
SPECIAL BROADWAY BONUS EVENTS
Mamma Mia! – The Farwell Tour • Rent – The 20th Anniversary Tour
MAMMA MIA! – “THE FAREWELL TOUR” November 22 – 27, 2016
“Quite simply, a phenomenon.” – Associated Press
A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill.
RENT – THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR January 6 – 8, 2017
Winner of the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical, and Pulitzer Prize for Drama
In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway… and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson’s RENT continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the world.
In an exciting new collaboration with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the Winchester Mystery House is launching "Festival Fright Nights." This all-new Halloween event will...
