Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre will offer three separate opening day fan event screenings hosted by pop culture outlet Nerdist for Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” on May 5. All tickets for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” are on sale now.
Opening day fan event screenings will take place at 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 10:30pm, each with their own exclusive items included with a ticket. Each fan event screening costs $50. Guests are also encouraged to cosplay as their favorite Marvel characters.
“3pm Fan Madness” attendees will receive a Doctor Strange souvenir, event credential and 64oz popcorn with their ticket.
“7pm Fan Madness” attendees will receive a themed journal, collectible popcorn tin with popcorn, themed lanyard and event credential with their ticket.
“10:30pm Fan Madness” attendees will receive a limited edition pin, collectible cup with character topper, event credential and 64oz popcorn with their ticket. All attendees attending an opening day fan event screening will receive an El Capitan Theatre exclusive “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” mini poster.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”
Daily showtimes starting May 6 are 12:30pm, 3:45pm, 7:00pm and 10:30pm. Showtimes are subject to change. Every ticket includes an El Capitan Theatre exclusive “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” mini poster while supplies last.
Guests are invited to arrive early to view a display of costumes from “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
Tickets are on sale now at www.elcapitantickets.com and https://www.fandango.com/el-capitan-theatre-aacon/theater-page. All seats are reserved. Friday through Sunday tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children and seniors. Monday through Thursday tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for children and seniors. Open caption screenings are also available on May 11 at 7pm and May 14 at 3:45pm.
All seats are reserved. Friday through Sunday tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children and seniors. Monday through Thursday tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for children and seniors. Open caption screenings are also available on May 11 at 7pm and May 14 at 3:45pm.
The El Capitan Theatre has taken enhanced health and safety measures for its guests and cast members. All guests must follow posted instructions while visiting. For health and safety information including theatre policies and procedures visit https://elcapitantheatre.com/safetyinformation/
Somehow, WonderCon has returned…and brought with it plenty of news, first looks, and milestone reunions! Let’s dive right in and share some of what this year’s festivities had to offer, bringing you some of the best highlights from this weekend as well as some exciting news that will keep us looking ever forward to Comic Con and beyond!
Mutants Unite! X-Men takes center stage in an epic anniversary panel!
The X-Men fandom had a lot to celebrate this WonderCon, with two exclusive panels commemorating the original animated series, as well as the evolution of the original animated show and how it connects to their hardcore fan base. On Saturday, the convention hall was rocked by an epic reunion for the 30th anniversary of the original X-Men animated series. The panel included some of the creative minds responsible for the fan favorite series, as well as a look back at some of its most memorable moments.
Shortly after, WonderCon was host to a legendary assemblage of some of X-Men’s biggest fans, leading the discussion on the legacy of X-Men and how the fandom connected to the beloved Marvel franchise. From cosplayers, to key animators and players involved in the various series over the years, there was a lot of love for X-Men and a lot more to appreciate with the new animated series in the horizon. We are very excited to see what comes in this next thrilling chapter!
Her Universe Fashion Show preview and first looks!
Ashley Eckstein, along with her epic Her Universe team and winners from last year’s 2021 Her Universe Fashion show took to the stage at WonderCon to preview the return of the in person show this year, along with a few new surprises. Details were also teased for the Her Universe winner’s design line, which will be inspired by the upcoming release of Jurassic World: Dominion.
This unique line will carry one-of-a-kind inspired looks, all tied into the Jurassic franchise. Though it was only a sneak peek, fans did get a chance to hear the new line will debut early this summer. You can also catch our exclusive interview with Her Universe 2021 Fashion Show winner and designer, Teighlor Johnson, by clicking here!
A preview of the 2022 Jurassic World: Dominion themed fashion line from Her Universe
Spider-Man web slings into the Comic Con Museum in Summer 2022
An exclusive installation is coming to the San Diego Comic Con museum this summer, commemorating none other than the one, the only, the amazing Spider-man! Celebrating his 60th anniversary, the exhibit will feature interactive installations, expansive set pieces, and key knowledge from the countless creators who have helped bring the fan favorite hero to life over the past six decades.
Beyond Amazing- Spider-Man: The Exhibition, will include original comic art, animation materials, and film production elements that fill the rich legacy of the Spider-Man story. Fans will even get a chance to catch a glimpse into the future of what’s to come next, which is bound to be exciting. The new exhibit will debut on July 1st, 2022.
Photo Credit to Comic Con Museum Official
The Bob’s Burgers Movie
The cast and creative minds from the hit Fox animated series Bob’s Burgers stole the show on Sunday, sharing a sneak peek at the upcoming and highly anticipated The Bob’s Burgers Movie. Fans had a chance to watch the first six minutes of the film, learn about the creative process behind being the Belchers to the big screen, and the challenges that came from the isolation and restrictions brought on by the pandemic. You can catch the new trailer below!
The panel also dived deep into the Bob’s Burgers timeline, sharing that the plot of the film will carry some big character driven moments, each tied into the Belcher’s experiences going through the last week of school leading into summer. Though, the cast did provide assurance that the show will carry on and keep the clock still, providing more stories to come in the series. Keep an eye out for the musical event of the summer! Yes, you heard it right. This film is going to be a full blown musical experience!
Funko celebrates Freddy’s Beach Bash!
Funko returned to WonderCon and made waves with their epic Beach Bash layout and special limited release figures that included icons from DC, Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, and Masters of the Universe. The installation featured an impressive, 20″ inflatable Tiki, as well as some rad photo ops, and chances to snag a limited edition set of pop figures and other one-of-a-kind merchandise. For fans who did not get a chance to visit WonderCon, retailers will carry their own WonderCon exclusives, such as Hot Topic!
LatinX Representation in film and television discusses inclusion and representation in modern media!
Fans had a chance to catch up with some of the industry’s well renowned creators in the LatinX community, including writer/director Christopher Oroza-Nostas, George Salinas (Executive Producer/ CEO of Bridge Works Entertainment, Julie and the Phantoms), Laura Cristina Ortiz (Costume Designer, Synchronic), Sandro Morales-Santoro (Composer, Marvel: The Secret History of VENOM, Plástico), Alicia Zaragoza (Directors Guild Assistant Director Member, Instructions Not Included), Francisco Cabrera-Feo (Writer, Gentefied), and Moisés Zamora (Writer/ Creator/ Co-Showrunner, Selena: The Series).
“As a Latinx queer costume designer, I feel a responsibility to fill that hole that’s missing,” continued costume designer Laura Cristina Ortiz. “Costume design is like live action character design. When you’re creating them, there’s a responsibility to both the fun fashion impact and the social impact.
It’s very exciting to be a part of the generation that’s making content and trying to find our comfort and solace in the media. There are now a plethora of stories we can relate to.” According to the panel, Latinx creatives make up only 7.1% of film leads, 7.7% of all film roles, 7.1% of film directors, and 5.6% of writers.
New Series from Disney+ bring mystery and intrigue
Disney+ shared some exciting new details behind some brand new series, including the mysterious new reality competition, The Quest. The show is being brought to life by high profile producers ranging from all areas of the entertainment world including The Lord of the Rings, The Amazing Race, and Queer Eye.
This highly immersive hybrid competition will drop eight real teens into the mystical world of Everealm, a land of unriviled beauty and powerful magic. Each teen will compete in challenges to save the world from an evil sorceress and ward off the forces of evil. Fans can catch this exciting new series beginning May 11th on Disney+
All in all, it was great to be back at WonderCon this year, and with plenty of excitement yet to come, we can’t wait to kick off the rest of 2022’s convention season. With so much fun to come, there are bound to be surprises hiding around every corner of the multiverse. We can’t wait to share it all with you.
When one thinks of San Diego Comic Con, it’s hard not to think about the Her Universe Fashion Show. With its humble beginnings in 2014, the premiere fashion show has transformed into a convention staple, bringing geek couture front and center in a way that has forever made an impact within the fashion community with plenty of glitz, glam, and creativity to spare.
Milestones were the focus of the 2018 Her Universe Fashion Show
Each year, the show features incredibly unique and truly impressive designs, all focused around a central empowering theme that connects to all avenues of the geek couture community. Each design connecting to fans in a one-of-a-kind way, while still remaining just as relatable as ever as they make their way across the runway.
Last year, Her Universe took to the stage in a virtual way, bringing the fashion show home through a special stream as a part of the Comic Con at Home campaign for San Diego Comic Con. One of the judges’ choice winners was Teighlor Johnson, a long time designer and geek crafter extraordinaire. Teighlor had a chance to sit down with SoCalThrills at WonderCon to tell us about her personal journey into the world of geek fashion and design. Let’s see what she had to say about her journey and where the road leads from here!
Interview with Her Universe Designer
What inspired you to work in clothing and costume design? Where did it all begin?
Oh gosh, that’s a hard one! I’ve been sewing since I was 5 or 6. My grandma taught me how to sew in hopes of trying to get me to sit still (which did not work haha but here we are!). I didn’t really do much with it until after high school where I was like, “I want to be a nerd to everybody now”. Starting with sewing again, I decided I wanted to put my own twist into things. Then, when I first started cosplaying, the Her Universe Fashion show started. This whole concept of “Fashion, but make it nerdy!” completely blew my mind. Since then, I have been trying to make different pieces and designs that match up with that.
What were some of your early designs? How do they shape what you do now?
I’m not going to lie, I feel super cringe when I think of some of my very first designs. They were these straight fashion pieces that had these really cringey themes, one being a symphony collection that was all music notes and things like that. But when I started doing nerdy and geeky designs, I began to expand everything from wanting to hand paint pants to a Princess Monoke theme to designs based on Cora when that came out. I would shift based on whatever my ADHD would hone in on that day, that month, or even that year. Looking back, the biggest thing I think I have progressed in my design work is thinking about what will expand beyond those 15 feet that you take on a runway. If it’s on the runway, that’s great, being a wonderful and over the top piece, but I don’t want it to just end right here. I want it to be something that can be worn over and over again for different situations. I started leaning my design sense to that and it’s worked really well as a result.
How did you discover Her Universe?
I first heard about Her Universe when I was working at Disneyland. That was around the time the collection was starting to release in the parks and I really liked that. I could wear something beyond a fan shirt and a pair of jeans. I thought to myself, “This is so cool!”. I think one of the earliest things I saw was this vintage style Disney dress. I fell in love with it and started looking into the company. Then in 2013, I went to my very first WonderCon and I saw they had the panel set for The Her Universe Fashion Show. I was like, “What is that? It sounds super cool!” I didn’t make it for the full panel, but did manage to catch the tail end of it. I entered for the very first time and though I didn’t get in, it started this road of wanting to make nerdy themed fashion designs.
Photos courtesy of Teighlor Johnson
What are your thoughts on cosplay, and how do you think it has helped shaped the design community?
Cosplay has become a lot more prevalent than in the past. Something that a lot of people in the film and television industry have started paying closer attention to are cosplayers and their skill work. There are a lot of times where you will see something in a television show and two months later, a cosplayer will put out that costume and even do it better. They will develop the materials and find a new way to do something that will leave people in awe. Companies are starting to bring in those people as experts because they have done the footwork in their research to figure out how to create these items. When Star Trek Discovery came out, it took less than a month for someone I know to figure out how to 3D print a flexible fabric for their cosplay for the uniform design that had special Starfleet emblems on the side of the costume rather than hand sew each individual emblem onto the outfit. It’s amazing to see where cosplay has gone and I am honestly excited to see where it’s going.
When did you get the news you were accepted as a finalist for the Her Universe Fashion Show? What was your first reaction?
I was at home and not gonna lie, after seven attempts to apply, I was just happy to get a submission in. I said to myself, “You know what? I did that. Good for me!” I got the email and expected it to be another rejection email, but when I read the subject line and it said CONGRATULATIONS, I screamed. I was super excited and had submitted two designs that year. Truth be told, my Pokemon design had literally been designed the day before submissions were due. I finished it an hour before submissions closed. It just randomly came to me, and it ended up winning.
Describe meeting and working with Ashley Eckstein. What is it like getting to know her?
Oh gosh! Ashley is so cool! She is super sweet in person and very genuine. She lives in Orlando and I live in Orlando, so as a result, we have been having a lot of crossover. She’s even come to my job and I’ve done a couple of pieces for her and her friends. What stands out though is that she has created this big platform to promote mental health in the community, which I think is very important. As nerds and fandom, we face everything from feeling isolated from people because of what we like to burnout from creative endeavors to be a part of this community. She is always pushing to try and let people not only be the best fan that they can be, but be the very best person they can be. I really admire that in her.
Ashley Eckstein prepares to take the stage!
What was the most rewarding part of being a part of the Her Universe Fashion Show?
The opportunity to design a collection has been absolutely incredible. I’ve wanted to go into apparel design for the longest time. The amount of education I’ve gotten from winning this contest, developing the right mindset, learning about creative design, to working within deadlines. It’s amazing to see how many different cogs have to move in the right way in order to get the fashion machine going. You also aren’t a solo person in any of this. There’s a whole Facebook group that helped me figure out my designs. The group has past winners that have been extremely helpful. You make friendships and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to find another way to gain experience within the fandom and community.
Teighlor and the rest of her fellow Her Universe 2021 Fashion Show Winners!
As a Her Universe Fashion Show winner, you get the opportunity to help with a future Her Universe design collection. Can you share any details on the project and what you brought to the line?
I am working on a Jurassic World collection and I am super excited about it. When you think of Jurassic Park, it’s classic, it’s iconic! I’ve ridden the rides in California and in Florida so many times. I’ve watched the movies. It’s multi-generational now that you have Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. If even just a little part, I get to be a part of it. It’s so crazy. We tried to design these pieces based on big moments that you see from all the movies. One of those pieces is a jacket that is inspired by the Jurassic Park Jeep. I really wanted to have something with those bright colors and have you look at it and know exactly what it is. It’s super comfy and it’s unisex too. I am super excited because everyone can wear it!
Ashley Eckstein celebrates the reveal of the new Her Universe collaborative collection. Teighlor and her fellow designers helped create a brand new Jurassic World: Dominion themed line, releasing summer 2022.
What are you most excited for going into the fashion show this year?
It’s the first time that the fashion show is going to be back in person and it will be my first time actually attending the show! I wasn’t ever able to make it to Comic Con to go do it. I get to see all these friends that I’ve made online and in person. We get to experience that feeling of coming together and meeting for the first time, saying “I know you. I’ve seen your work. It’s great to finally meet you!” It’s absolutely fantastic and I am super excited about that.
What advice can you give to any aspiring designers that are just starting out or looking to take their craft to the next level?
The biggest advice I can give is don’t get in your own way. Don’t give up. I tried seven years to get into this contest and then I ended up being a finalist! Even when my name was announced, my brain was already still trying to figure out designs for the next year because I was not sure I was going to win. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up. Don’t see it as you didn’t win. See it as something you learn each time…If you learned a new skill that you are able to display in your design, that’s a win in of itself. You should be really proud of yourself and your ability of what you can create.
What comes next for Teighlor Johnson? Are there any exciting projects we can look forward to in the future?
To me, the Her Universe Fashion Show is just a taste of what I can do. I want to keep designing, keep creating. I do my chain stitch work for my own business and also do enamel pin work. Truth be told, I really want to start my own fashion brand. I kind of base it off the concept that Her Universe started. I love books. Lord of the Rings and things like that. Reading is where I started to become a fan. I loved the idea of creating a fashion brand themed around different collections of stories and books. Whether that be a Victorian collection based on Sherlock Holmes, or a Gothic Horror collection based on Edgar Allen Poe’s work. It’s still early and in the works.
Photo courtesy of Teighlor Johnson
You can revisit Teighlor’s journey and winning design from the 2021 Her Universe Fashion show by visiting the official Her Universe Fashion Show page. You can also catch Teighlor at the 2022 Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic Con on Thursday, July 21st. We look forward to sharing more as the event comes closer. Make sure to check out our other WonderCon coverage as we get closer to the return of San Diego Comic Con!
As early as April 18, Disney will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as aboard Disney Cruise Line and at Aulani Resort in Hawaii.
Very soon, Guests will once again be able to hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Mulan, and share a laugh with Goofy. We know many of you have missed these special moments, and your Disney character friends have missed you, too!
During the past two years, Disney has taken a very gradual, intentional approach to health and safety protocols. Recent trends and guidance have provided opportunities for them to bring back some of the most beloved magic, like character greetings and dining experiences. While not all locations will be available immediately, they anticipate reopening in phases throughout the spring and early summer.
This exciting milestone continues the recent, powerful momentum of returning entertainment across the Disney parks and resorts. As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World, Disney has welcomed back shows such as “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” and “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular,” along with the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade and new experiences like “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade.”
And this spring, Disneyland will see the return of several nighttime spectaculars, including “World of Color,” “Disneyland Forever,” “Fantasmic!” and “Main Street Electrical Parade,” celebrating its own 50th anniversary.
Premiering on Disney+ March 30th, comes the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four installment, Moon Knight.
In Moon Knight, we meet the mild-mannered, socially inept Steven Grant who is as knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptology as he is completely ignorant of day-to-day human interactions. Although aspiring to be a museum docent, his mawkish persona and chronically irritated superior keep him working at the gift store, selling souvenirs and hoping for a date.
His dull but at least predictable lifestyle becomes upended however, when his chronic sleepwalking tendencies suddenly worsen and start placing him in increasingly untenable situations. Is he mad? Possessed? Cursed? A combination of all three? Whichever it turns out to be, Grant must find answers quickly…and try to stay alive in the process.
At a recent virtual press conference, Moon Knight filmmakers Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight/Steven Grant/Marc Spector,) Ethan Hawke (Arthur Harrow,) May Calamawy (Layla El-Faouly,) Mohamed Diab (Director of episodes 1, 3, 5 and 6,) Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead (Directors of episodes 2 and 4,) and Grant Curtis (Executive Producer) discussed the development of this esoteric property and the specifics of its characters.
Moon Knight Press Conference highlights:
On getting involved with the project:
Curtis: “Well, I think Moon Knight, in particular, has been on Kevin Feige’s radar from day one. I mean, you look at his history…first appeared in “Werewolf by Night” in 1975, then…kind of bounced around in the Marvel Universe for the next five years and got his own offering in 1980. When you look at years and decades of storytelling, as the great storytellers and artists on the Moon Knight pages have been doing, I think this was a natural progression, a merger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Isaac: “It just seemed like there was a real opportunity to do something completely different, particularly in the MCU, and to really focus on the internal struggle of this character, and to use Egyptian iconography and the superhero genre and language to talk about the real internal struggle that this person is having. Also, to create an indelible, unusual character, particularly with Steven Grant. So it felt like for me, once I got a real take on how I wanted to play Steven and I brought that to everyone and they welcomed that with open arms, I also realized I had real, incredible collaborators and it was going to be a creative adventure.”
Diab: “I had other offers before to make big-budget movies, but I never connected to anything like this, intimate stories that have some big stuff happening around them. So just imagine that line: You, as a normal person, discovering that you have another identity that is a superhero. So…I was drawn right away.
“The other aspect that really attracted me was the Egyptian part of it, the present and the past, the Egyptology of it. As an Egyptian, we always see us depicted or the Middle East depicted in a way that is–we call it orientalism, when you see us as exotic and dehumanized. Just showing us as a human, just normal human beings, through Layla’s character and seeing even Egypt as Egypt–because 90 percent of the time, Egypt is not Egypt. Imagine Paris and you’re seeing Big Ben in the background. That’s how we see our country. So it’s funny, but it hurts. So that’s really what attracted me.”
Benson: “Well, you know, in the roughly 50 years of comic books, this character is somewhat defined by being bold and being an outsider. And there was something attractive about telling a superhero story like that, but then also working with a bunch of people who were so clearly going to make it something personal to them and find what’s personal in this at such a large scale. And then especially…finding this deep humanity of humor and pain and everything else in what you might call the great mythology of our time.”
Moorhead: “We’ve been trying to make sure that all of our independent films, they’re based on a new mythology. It’s something that’s come up whole cloth. You kind of think, oh, where are the new stories coming from? And weirdly enough, I mean, our great, modern myths are Marvel movies right now. The Great American Myth right now comes from Marvel…it is really cool to actually be a part of that and telling a story that’s actually about these ancient myths and things that we all grew up on. And also, just the fact that that tonally somehow dovetails with all of our independent work is really, really cool. We probably would have said yes to anything, but it happened to be something that was just like what we do, you know? So very cool.”
Isaac: “Well, I think the story is so point of view. It means that you’re just in the skin of this guy, and you’re seeing things happen. You’re experiencing it just as he’s experiencing it. So there’s something that’s terrifying about that. I think Steven, in particular…there’s a sense of humor there that is different from what we’ve seen.
I think Marvel in particular has done such an amazing job at combining action and comedy in such a great way. I thought with Steven, there was a chance to do a different type of comedy than we’ve seen of somebody, that doesn’t know they’re being funny. So that was really exciting.
“And then to find the counterpoint of that with Marc, in some ways leaning into a bit of the stereotype of the tortured, dark vigilante guy, but what makes him so special is that he has this little Englishman living inside of him.”
Calamawy: “I love how strong she is, but at the same time, I felt like I got to play the full gamut of a woman with her because she’s strong and she’s for the people and fights for what she believes, but she’s also really vulnerable and scared. So that was fun for me.”
Hawke: “Well, the history of movies are paved with storytellers using mental illness as a building block for the villain. I mean, there are countless stories of mentally ill villains, and we have a mentally ill hero. That’s fascinating because we’ve now inverted the whole process: Now as the antagonist, I can’t be crazy because the hero’s crazy. So I have to kind of find a sane lunatic or a sane malevolent force and that was an interesting riddle for me to figure out how to be in dynamics with what Oscar was doing. Mohamed was really embracing his mental illness as a way to create an unreliable narrator–once you’ve broken the prism of reality, everything that the audience is seeing is from a skewed point of view. That’s really interesting for the villain because am I even being seen as I am? I think that was our riddle, and we came up with somebody who was trying to save the world. In his mind, he’s Saint Harrow, you know? I mean, he thinks he’s gonna be part of the great solution.”
Isaac: “It was set in London, and when I asked why it was like the answer was ‘we just have too many characters in New York.’ So it seems like let’s just change it up. Let’s make him an expat in London. I was like, okay…but then it felt like there was–I mean, I love English humor, like The Office and…Stath Lets Flats. There’s just so much of that humor that I just find so funny, and I thought there’s an opportunity here to maybe make something.
What if we make him English? What if Peter Sellers was approached with a Marvel project, what would he do? And so I started thinking about that, and that led me to Karl Pilkington from An Idiot Abroad–not so much for the accent but just for his sense of humor where you can’t tell if he knows he’s being funny.
“And then, I thought about the Jewish community in London and where a lot of that community is from and Enfield as an area and sort of listening to accents that are northeast London. And then just committed to that and found this guy that it wasn’t just about accent, but it was also about his timidness but also wanting to connect with people but not quite knowing how.”
Diab: “…What I learned through the journey of doing the show, is that the characters need to live with themselves, their identities. And I felt that I identified with that by the way (that for) each of us, the persona is the mask that we’re putting on. I’m right now putting on a mask to hide my desires, to hide everything–the other real character in me. I think what I’m learning–what I learned from Marc and Steven–is I need to be the same. I need to be one person. And I think this is the struggle that all of us through the journey of living are trying to achieve.”
Isaac: “Yeah, very well said. I think that is the thrust of it, you know? That that in itself is its own superpower, to be able to live through abuse or trauma and survive it and then come to terms with that, as opposed to push it all away. To see that journey happen, I think that’s a really powerful thing.”
Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight will debut exclusively on Disney+ on March 30, 2022.
At an exclusive online event, Disney and Kabam revealed fresh details for Disney Mirrorverse, the Team-based, Action Role-Playing Game (RPG) releasing June 23, 2022 worldwide on the App Store and Google Play. Invited participants experienced an all-new, action-packed trailer that showcased battle-ready versions of iconic characters and settings as never seen before, built in collaboration with Disney and Pixar Games. Pre-register HERE.
In Disney Mirrorverse, players enter a new, divergent universe separate from the settings of the original Disney and Pixar films. In these high-stakes worlds, dark and light magic influence the lands, evolving iconic Disney and Pixar characters into Mirrorverse Guardians who are ready for combat and poised to fight against the Fractured, a malevolent threat whose goal is to shatter both realities.
Filled with visually stunning 3D animated characters and environments, players will unite a team of empowered Guardians and take full control in real-time, action-oriented gameplay. As players progress through the game, they’ll collect a large roster of characters and assemble a powerful team of three to take into battle. Each character has unique battle abilities, including an armored-up Sulley, the ultimate personal-battle companion Baymax, the vengeful draconic mage Maleficent, and many more Guardians who stand ready to defend against those seeking to conquer the Mirrorverse.
Disney Mirrorverse features:
ENTER A DIVERGENT DISNEY UNIVERSE & STORYLINE – Experience a new storyline that authentically reflects dynamic Disney and Pixar characters in a way fans have never seen before as they defend against a new dark, unrelenting threat – the Fractured.
CHOOSE AND CUSTOMIZE STUNNING 3D DISNEY AND PIXAR CHARACTERS – Enter richly detailed new worlds filled with 3D Disney and Pixar characters that have been powerfully evolved to match this high-stakes universe. Uncover the intriguing backstories of these Guardians and discover their surprising and authentic special abilities equipped for epic battle and adventure.
MASTER THRILLING REAL-TIME ACTION COMBAT – Control a team of Guardians and experience the thrill and excitement of real-time action combat while controlling Guardians’ individual actions, team strategy, and special attacks, or select “auto play” to watch the cinematic action play out automatically.
EMBARK ON EPIC QUESTS AND EXPERIENCE ALL-NEW DISNEY STORIES – Unlock unique narratives and battle Fractured enemies to obtain rewards and restore the worlds and characters of the Mirrorverse that have been corrupted by fractured magic:
STORY MODE: Immerse yourself in an original storyline of tasks and quests to complete–experience the story of the Mirrorverse and the Ages of Isolation, Discovery, and the Fractured.
STORY QUESTS: Updated every few months, new chapters to the main Story Quest or side stories featuring select heroes and villains will be constantly added for players to battle through and compete.
EVENT QUESTS: Players can participate in limited-time quests that tie into real-world Disney and Pixar-inspired content and events, and offer unique characters, awards, and progression items during a specific timeframe.
ALLIANCE MISSIONS: Join an Alliance and work together to complete event milestones and earn great rank-based rewards by competing against other Alliances.
TOWER OF TROUBLES: Players climb through progressively harder encounters while using a themed team of Guardians to earn progression items.
DANGEROUS DUNGEONS: Players compete against other players and alliances worldwide in ever-changing dungeons to earn progression items and other unique awards.
MONTHLY CONTENT RELEASES – The Disney Mirrorverse experience is ever-evolving and expanding with regular releases of new Disney and Pixar characters, story chapters, event quests, and more.
The Band’s Visitis a funny and poignant new musical visiting Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Unlike anything I have ever experienced, The Band’s Visit is an emotional story of a moment in time. The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra was invited to play at the Arab Cultural Center in the city of Petah Tikva in Israel, but thanks to a misunderstanding due to a language barrier between one of the Egyptian musicians and an Israeli bus station employee, they end up in similar-sounding Bet Hatikva.
Though these places have similar sounding names, they couldn’t be more different, and the band finds themselves in a small desert town, devoid of an Arab Cultural Center, or almost any culture at all. The band, led by Tewfiq (Sasson Gabay) are unable to catch another bus until morning and find themselves at the mercy of local hospitality.
Dina (Janet Decal), Itzik (Nick Sacks, in this performance), and Papi (Coby Getzug) invite the band members to stay with them in their homes until they could catch the morning bus—but this decision would make a substantial emotional impact on all of them, as the locals may have needed the band members’ perspective even more than the band members needed accommodations.
The combination of a rotating stage and musical transitions played by on-stage band members made for a dynamic staging and captivating imagery. My eyes were drawn all over the stage despite the simple (yet effective) set pieces and minimal cast. I was blessed to see Sasson Gabay reprise his role as Tewfiq from his award-winning performance in the 2007 film The Band’s Visit. Janet Dacal is an absolute treasure as Dina; with insane comedic timing and warm vocals, she was truly a standout that led me to YouTube when I got home just to hear her sing “Omar Sharif” again.
Her comedic efforts in “Welcome to Nowhere” did not go unnoticed, as she shined in her hilarity through vocal inflections and facial expressions. Coby Getzug’s performance as Papi in “Papi Hears the Ocean” was so funny and charming. The other primary standout for me was Joshua Grosso’s performance as the Telephone Guy. I was moved to my core by his vocals in “Answer Me”.
The music in this show is like nothing else out of Broadway. Musicians on stage play beautiful Middle Eastern inspired melodies and backing music that transport you out of your theater and into their Israeli desert town. Conductors Adrian Ries and Kelly Thomas were fantastic at keeping the pacing with the musicians on stage. Musically, Clarinet player Brian Krock, Oud player Kane Mathis, and Violinist Yoni Avi Battat were top of their class—their solos, breathtaking.
The set pieces were minimal and simple, yet extremely effective in quickly converting locations without much, if any, downtime. Who could imagine that a payphone could be such an emotionally moving set piece?
The show opens with the line: “Once not long ago, a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn’t hear about it. It wasn’t very important.”To the contrary, this one incident became very important to the little town of Bet Hatikva, as the band members brought new and fresh perspective to a town described by its own residents as “bland” “beige” and “bleh”. This show may also pull at your heartstrings in such a way that you will find the experience personally unforgettable and important. I know I did.
Hopefully you will opt to visit Bet Hatikva yourself and see why The Band’s Visit won 10 Tony Awards in 2018. This is not a show to miss if you can pay a visit yourself.
DANCING WITH THE STARS - "Britney Night" - The 14 celebrity and pro-dancer couples emerge "Stronger" than ever as they return to the ballroom for "Britney Night" where they will dance "Till the World Ends," live on MONDAY, OCT. 4 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Christopher Willard)
DANCING WITH THE STARS
If you’re a fan of the popular dancing competition “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC, then you’re in for a real treat seeing your favorite competitors live on stage and on tour coming to a theater near you. The highly-rated television show has made audiences star-struck since its American debut in 2005 and has no signs of slowing down.
Celebrities ranging from athletes, singers, and actors are paired with professional dancers to see who can score high with a panel of judges and TV home audience votes to be crowned champion. With the national tour, the dancers come to your home town to perform live as if you were a member of the TV audience instead of merely watching the show from your living room.
On the evening of March 17, 2022, “Dancing with the Stars LIVE” made an appearance at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa for ONE NIGHT ONLY. The opening dance number with classic rock hits from Queen, Aerosmith, and Van Halen really set the enthusiastic tone and high-energy the audience can expect to see for the next two hours.
This particular night was a special one for both show hosts as it was Amanda Kloots first show on tour and Iman Shumpert’s last show on tour. Which is quite fitting seeing how the program, dancers, and even special guests can change from city to city.
The program brings to light and reinforces the themes of passion, vulnerability, intensity, boldness, strength, and celebrating differences and wrap everything to being an icon. The message expressed how moving and dancing to the rhythm and beat of the music brought the people back up from their low points. Dance is a physical expression that can be felt and seen. Everyone has their different methods of acceptance. And that, specially everyone that was in the concert hall, was there to support each other.
The songs featured a multitude of timeless hits such as Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor”, David Guetta ft. Sia’s “Titanium”, Ram Jam’s “Black Betty”, Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”, Justin Bieber’s “Sorry”
Some standouts include Lana Del Rey’s cover of “Once Upon a Dream” while gracefully dancing with an umbrella between partners, Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” with a slate of vibrant primary colors dressed for each individual dancer, and a tribute to themed weeks on the dancing competition show featured “You’re the One That I Want” with dancers in full black leather and sparkles. Yes, the show featured some older classics such as Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood’s cover of “It Had to Be You”, Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing”, and The Beatles’ “Come Together”.
A segment highlight had a performer act out the voice inside their head. Opening up to the miracle of being human. Getting lost in the human connection. We’re here to feel and look into each other’s eyes. Eyes are the windows to our souls. Feel passion and pain. Can’t live one without the other. Balance. Everyone in that concert hall was there to share and celebrate the love for dance.
If you had to guess, the audience does participate in an “impromptu” dance audition and dancing through the aisles. Diehard fans will recognize songs and dance styles that have been featured in the show’s long history such as the cha cha, foxtrot, salsa, tango, and roomba. But you also have to wonder about the endless costume changes between each number and the dress styles.
Although this is a family show, the audience has to wonder how some of the dancers’ wardrobe manages to stay on with all the precision footwork, body shaking, flips, kicks, and locking positions. Experiencing the live show will make you sweat as much as the dancers. You can feel the hard work, dedication, power, and gracefulness spilling out. Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” offers a fitting conclusion to the show’s message of perseverance by embracing vulnerability through body, mind, and soul.
Look for Dancing with the Stars LIVE on tour through www.dwtstour.com to find out when the show arrives to a city near you.
Cirque du Soleil whisks Los Angeles back for another breathtaking trip into the imagination with the national tour of “Ovo”. “Ovo” means egg in Portuguese. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck in wonderment about this iconic object. This enigmatic symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerous insects mimics the black slab seen in the Stanley Kubrick film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The audience is invited to the colony, making its temporary home in the Microsoft Theater in the L.A. Live complex.
The first act sees an army of ants playfully scaling up and sliding down a trio of poles. Each ant performs flips, spins, and jumps between the poles and other ants. The musical accompaniment utilizes the violin to accent the actions of the ants much like in an animated cartoon. Spider-man has his work cut out for him.
The second act has an elegant dragonfly take to the stage and on top a narrow foliage for hand balancing. Evoking the image of puttering wings in dramatic slow-motion wrapped in and around a green stem.
The show shifts its focus to a trio of colorful, comedic, and enduring cast of characters the audience follows during this exploration of the insect world. The lonesome lady bug takes an interest in the blue fly carrying an oversized egg. An elderly beetle with purple scales and green hair looks out for what he believes is in the best interest of the insect community. And becomes a silly foil to the blue fly. But nothing will stop the blue fly from winning the affections of the lovely lady bug.
An overhanging cocoon begins its metamorphosis in a solo aerial silk contortion act. The silk blanket breaks loose only after the creature inside twisted and stretched the layers apart to reveal its beautiful transformation to the outside world. This visual is highlighted with the performer fluttering the silk rope like newborn wings. Free to fly. The projected background spews a cosmic splash of reds, blues, and purples.
The next scene organically transitions to a pair of butterflies with duo straps. A natural build up taking flight to fill the sky. Swooping and spinning in tranquil passion. They look and feel more at home in the air. One could not live without the other. Bonding together in equal symmetry. Coexistence peaks when one partner spins her upside-down body at unbelievable speed held up only by a thin silk rope wrapped around a single ankle.
Creatura can best be described as an otherworldly centipede with part slinky and part insect movements. Photos could not do the creature justice. It bends, stretches, and twists to the energetic music. Wiggling in and out with glee.
A family of scarabs soar above the stage and over a safety net. Holding a strong grip in each others arms, one produces a powerful swing from between the legs and up and across the air. Ready to traverse in mid-air. Transferring from one end to the other with near misses accent the scale of this visual spectacle prior to intermission.
Crickets take an interest in a spider binding and twisting their arachnid limbs perched atop an egg sac-like base. The graceful spider ends the balance of their contorted body hands-free ontop their chin. A gentle but strong build upon returning to the second half of the show.
Diabolo or Chinese yo-yo plays the part of wandering fireflies against a screen projection of the illuminating insect. Keep your eyes focused on the four spools spinning mid-air, in small and large circles.
A beautifully serene violin performance accompanies two fleas maneuvering over and under each other’s bodies whilst hanging from a trapeze swing bar. At times letting go and capturing each other with smooth accuracy. The violinist strings up images of a cartoon insect rubbing their legs together resulting in chirping noises enchanting the silent darkness.
The final act closes with crickets crawling, falling, and bouncing their way across a rock wall that has prominently stood as the main backdrop to the previous acts. Just as you may find real crickets jumping from one spot to another should you encounter them in the real world. Flipping their way to a solid landing to thunderous applause.
“Ovo” is a fantastic gem that glows with colorful delight. The sights, sounds, costumes, backdrops, and energy pulls the audience into the realm of insects. All the engrossing acts are special in their own way for cleverly and creatively exploring and envisioning these small creatures into the human scale. The screen projection backgrounds matched with the mood of each performance.
There were only a handful of oversized props and set pieces to immerse into the story such as a flower, eggs, and leaves. The vibrant costumes recognized the special abilities of the human acrobats and therefore matched their exterior armor, antennas, segmented scales, and fuzzy protrusions like superheroes from a comic book. The audience is able to recognized through visuals, sounds, and movement what each performance is meant to convey in the insect world.
Like watching a live nature documentary reinterpreted on stage. Amongst the brilliant design work, the favorite costume piece will have to go to the crickets. The red eyes on top of their heads against the green exterior and exposed leg limbs that bend in a direction that can clearly be seen as insect from across the room makes this a standout.
Merchandise includes shirts, hoodies, water bottles, mugs, ornament, keychain, bracelet, necklace, scarf, light-up spinner toy, program book, CD, reusable bag, and butterfly wings.
Performs now until May 1, 2022 at Microsoft Theater in the L.A. Live entertainment complex just across from STAPLES Center in Downtown Los Angeles. You won’t want to miss this tribute to the underappreciated members of the animal kingdom.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch public service announcement from your local executive office. Park guests now have more room to roam. That’s right — you asked and we listened.
Our Tycoon planning commission officials indicate that a massive 20 acres have been added to all parks. This is our largest (and most exciting) expansion ever, and what better way to celebrate our five-year anniversary with our 32 million park managers?
The new space expands the park by four acres each on the East and West and adds a large section of 12 acres to the North. Yup, that’s a lot of vacant land; the expansion more than doubles the size of current RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch parks.
Our park planning executives have yet to announce what rides, stores, and restaurants are slated for construction to fill the new areas, but we’re more than certain they’ll keep the excited crowds coming back for more. And with the recent expansion of themed seasons to 12-per-year, there will be plenty of new attractions to choose from.
Our Tycoon team has spent the better part of the past year working on this long-planned expansion, including investing in the land itself, expanding infrastructure, and ramping up all training for new park staff and entertainers (looking at you, Handyman #1).
Upon making the announcement, a RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch corporate spokesperson said, “Every park franchise across the iOS and Android regions have been incredibly successful, but one thing returning visitors often ask for is larger parks to explore. We’re thrilled to provide and watch our Park Managers’ creativity unfold.”
To download RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch, please visit:
Based on Agatha Christie’s beloved 1937 novel, director Kenneth Branagh and an all-star cast bring new life to one of the most popular murder mysteries of all time. Critics and audiences alike have praised the exquisite Death on the Nile for its stunning cinematography, rich storytelling and outstanding ensemble cast. Available on Digital March 29 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on April 5.
Bonus Features* Featurettes
Death on the Nile: Novel to Film – Explore the new vision for Agatha Christie’s classic novel DEATH ON THE NILE, and how Kenneth Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green collaborated with Christie’s estate to bring a new twist to this story of love and murder.
Agatha Christie: Travel Can Be Murder – The story behind the book connects with Christie’s own love of travel, and especially Egypt and its secrets. Her legacy continues through her family and new generations of filmmakers and actors, all at once contributing to the immortality of her novels.
Design on the Nile – The setting, the costumes, the photography, all contribute to the Agatha Christie touch. We take a fun tour of this “ship of suspects” and learn details about the overall look and design of everything from the characters to the environment.
Branagh/Poirot – Kenneth Branagh is a one-of-a-kind artist who can switch hats with exceptional skill, playing Poirot one moment and directing the next. This piece pays tribute to Branagh’s ability to stay connected to his cast and creative team through it all.
Deleted Scenes
The Market
Poirot’s Cabin
Rosalie and Bouc Outside Temple
Windlesham Jogging
Poirot Discusses Case
Poirot and Bouc Approach Jackie
Confronting Bouc and the Otterbournes
Poirot Orders Books
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
Death on the Nile Synopsis
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s (Kenneth Branagh) spectacular Egyptian vacation aboard a river boat becomes a terrifying search for a murderer after a picture-perfect couple’s honeymoon is cut tragically short. Based on Agatha Christie’s novel, this tale of passion and jealousy is filled with wicked twists and turns until its shocking finale.
Disney+ has released the trailer and poster for Marvel Studios’ “Ms. Marvel” along with the news that the series will launch exclusively on the streaming service on June 8. The trailer gives viewers a first look at the MCU’s newest Super Hero as she tries to balance high-school life, her family and her emerging super powers.
Marvel Studios’ “Ms. Marvel” is a new, original series that introduces Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City. An avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, Kamala is a Super Hero mega fan with an oversized imagination—particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel.
Yet Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home—that is, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life gets better with super powers, right?
Iman Vellani stars as Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel. The cast also includes Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Nakli, Azhar Usman, Travina Springer and Nimra Bucha.
Disney+ Marvel Studios “Ms. Marvel”
Episodes are directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Meera Menon and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Bisha K.
Ali are the executive producers. Co-executive producers for the series are Sana Amanat and Trevor Waterson, and Bisha K. Ali is the head writer.
Disney Legend, author and Cal State Fullerton alumna Martha Blanding will speak at a CSUF commencement ceremony for the College of Humanities and Social...
