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.
Scene from Jessica Lang’s ZigZag. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
What an experience! If you enjoy an emotional whirlwind (in a good way), chasse down to Costa Mesa to see American Ballet Theatre’s ABT Forward at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, now through March 19. ABT Forward is comprised of three ballet pieces from different choreographers, each with stellar principal dancers and compelling lighting and costume design. The first two pieces were very poignant and emotionally complex in their messaging—the audience still raw from a heartfelt dedication at the beginning of the show to the people of Ukraine, as some of the dancers have family there.
The first, Bernstein in a Bubble, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky and featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, was choreographed in New York City in a Covid-19 quarantine bubble, so inspiration for the emotion was clearly close to these dancers from its initial digital World Premiere in 2021. Bernstein in a Bubble was beautiful, set to Bernstein’s 15-minute composition “Divertimento” and using deliberate costuming color choices to spotlight individual principles.
To me, each movement in Bernstein in a Bubble, echoed the many nuances and facets of navigating relationships in pandemic quarantine times. Such relationships were complicated at times, and the interactions between the dancers portrayed this perfectly through their movement. My personal standout memory from this piece was “Blues” danced by Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell. Bell’s movements were especially awe inspiring in his stage presence and attentiveness to his partners throughout the performance.
Sierra Armstrong in Jessica Lang’s ZigZag. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
Second, Single Eye, a world premiere choreographed by Alonzo King, felt like an impactful and thought provoking look at climate change. Set to poignant new music from Jason Moran, this piece is sure to pull at your heartstrings. Set and Costume Designer, Robert Rosenwasser, uses muted earth tones and the juxtaposition between skintight and flowy costumes to portray the tumult of climate impacts through stunningly beautiful movements overlaid by intense music.
The lifts throughout this piece were breathtaking, and the emotion portrayed truly evoked joy and suffering. This is a piece you do not want to miss, as this is its world premiere in a time where such a message is more impactful than ever. In Single Eye, your biggest takeaway will absolutely be the stunning principal solo by Calvin Royal III, as well as the tense energy of the piece as a whole.
Scene from Jessica Lang’s ZigZag. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
Lastly, ZigZag, choreographed by Jessica Lang, was an uplifting and fun end to the show. Originally having its world premiere in October 2021 at the David H. Koch Theater in New York. This piece was certainly the crowd favorite. Buttoning up the performance in a delightful jazzy number against a high contract backdrop, ZigZag was a high-energy and funny Broadway-style performance and a love letter to Tony Bennett, even featuring some of his artwork thanks to clever scenery design by Derek Mclane.
The opening number “What the World Needs Now” was adorable and heartwarming. My absolute favorites were “Springtime in Manhattan” beautifully danced by Devon Teucher and “Blue Moon” danced by Joo Won Ahn. Costume designers Wes Gordon and Carolina Herrera did an amazing job with the fun, high-contract costumes used in this piece. ZigZag frankly didn’t feel long enough, I could have watched an hour of just this number.
Scene from Jessica Lang’s ZigZag. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
Overall, this was an emotional journey I am grateful to have been on. The show is absolutely stunning, and the dancers are truly top of their class. After the last few years, we mused that it was just really nice to hear the sound of pointe shoes on a stage again. If you are even thinking of coming down to see this performance, do it. It is one of the great demonstrations of human emotion and artistry.
***All ticketholders must wear a mask AND provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of performance or a negative Antigen test taken within 6 hours of performance. Ticketholders over the age of 18 must also bring photo ID.
Now that “Turning Red” is streaming on Disney+, check out some of the cool merchandise you can buy to celebrate the movie’s debut and embrace your inner panda!
Panda Mei Woven Shirt for Women – Turning Red
It’s absolute ”Pandamonium” as you celebrate Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red with this plaid flannel shirt. The back of this fashion staple features the embroidered face of Mei Panda while the front is highlighted with embroidered designs inspired by the movie. $59.99. Click here to buy.
Mei’s Little Box of Big Feelings
Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s film Turning Red, this box set of five fun storybooks highlights some of the big feelings and emotions that come with growing up. Meilin Lee has a lot of feelings. Sometimes she’s excited and confident. Other times, she’s embarrassed, angry, or even lonely. Whether these feelings are big or small, Mei reminds us that feelings are complicated, relatable, and totally normal! With five storybooks and adorable art throughout, this special collection is sure to become a favorite among kids and fans alike! Click here to buy.
DISNEY AND PIXAR TURNING RED JUMBO PLUSH RED PANDA MEI
Take part in a whirlwind of emotions with the Disney and Pixar Turning Red Jumbo Plush Red Panda Mei. Meilin Lee has a big secret: when she gets excited, she turns into a giant red panda – and causes pandemonium until she regains her composure. Kids will make up delightfully exciting stories about this supersized cuddly 16-inch plush, and she’s sure to be a wonderful prompt for conversations about feelings and emotions. Her sweet face, striped tail, white ears, and soft fabrics are sure to make this excitable red panda a treasured part of any child’s toy collection. Ages 3+, SRP $19.99, Available on Amazon
DISNEY AND PIXAR TURNING RED SECRET JOURNAL
In Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red, Meilin Lee turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited. Her biggest secret may now be out, but fans can express personal thoughts and ideas in the Disney and Pixar Turning Red Secret Journal. This notebook features a furry plush Red Panda Mei face on the cover and contains lots of pages ready for writing, a hidden compartment, stickers, and even an invisible ink UV pen. Jot down a secret, then shine the UV light on the page to reveal the message. This soft journal provides a safe space for kids to express their deepest feelings, write their secret crush’s initials, and record life’s most excitable moments. Ages 3+, SRP $19.99, Available at Amazon and Walmart
DISNEY AND PIXAR TURNING RED DELUXE MEILIN DOLL
Experience the entire range of emotions with the Disney and Pixar Turning Red Deluxe Meilin Doll. This 6-inch cutie features 2-in-1 fun. Begin play with Meilin Lee dressed in her red sweater, skirt, and sneakers. As she gets excited, dress her in the fuzzy, Red Panda Mei outfit and soft sculpted mask. Then, let the pandemonium begin! 5 points of articulation allow an array of action poses. A perfect gift for both children and Pixar collectors, this beautifully crafted Deluxe Meilin Doll with panda outfit is truly something to get excited about. Ages 3+, SRP $19.99, Available at Target
DISNEY AND PIXAR TURNING RED COLLECTIBLE FIGURES
Unwrap the fun with Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red Collectible Figures. Find a 2.25-inch surprise figure hidden inside the blind bag. Each features Meilin Lee in her human or red panda form exhibiting a range of emotions, including excited, starstruck, angry, and happy. Be on the lookout for the rare, fuzzy Red Panda Mei chase figure. Collect all 10 figures to reenact favorite scenes from the movie or invent new adventures. The possibilities are as endless as they are exciting. Great for play or display, these blind bag collectibles make wonderful party favors and cupcake toppers. Ages 3+, SRP $4.99, Available Target
Turning Red Cast Pin – Limited Release
This limited release Turning Red pin-on-pin design will have collector’s flying high. Mei in her Panda guise gives Miriam, Priya, and Abby a lift. Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s 2022 film, premiering on Disney+. $17.99 on shopDisney
DISNEY AND PIXAR TURNING RED MEILIN LEE REVERSIBLE PLUSH CHARACTER HEAD
Just when Meilin Lee thinks she’s getting “a-head” of her emotions, Poof! She turns into a giant red panda! Bring home all the pandemonium and fun with the Disney and Pixar Turning Red Meilin Lee Reversible Plush Character Head. When things are calm, fun-loving junior-high girl, Meilin Lee smiles brightly. Then, flip the plush character head to reveal Red Panda Mei. Imagine the fun kids will have retelling the story of “Turning Red,” or making up entirely new adventures. Parents may even use this sweet plush as a super soft conversation tool that helps kids talk about their feelings – or simply add a very exciting pop of color to beds, couches, and more. Ages 3+, SRP $14.99, Available exclusively on Amazon
This is just some of the new merchandise available for Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red.” Check out shopDisney for more and there is plenty of new items available at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is back! The annual theme park food event returns March 18 to April 24, 2022. This year’s limited-time event features more than two dozen new savory foods, specialty desserts, and thirsty drink selections featuring the boysenberry as the prime sweet and tart fruit ingredient. But don’t worry, some old favorites return as well such as the boysenberry meatballs! We had the opportunity to sample just a few of the many delicious options. Ready?
Knott’s did not skip out on the gooey cheese factor ratio. Mix in the spicy chili to encompass the mac with more breathtaking flavors to the crunch of the Fritos chips and you have an instant favorite. Who doesn’t love Fritos?
This open faced sandwich is, to say the least, quite a mouthful. This would be a prime candidate to split amongst friends and family as the item on its own can be too heavy for one person alone. Didn’t really notice the boysenberry filling. But the bacon jam stood out.
All yes. A returning favorite for many, including myself. A boysenberry festival would not feel complete without the mouth-watering goodness of the boysenberry meatballs. This demands to be on everyone’s must-try list.
The chicken-less patty has a texture comparable to an imitation patty. Which is exactly what it is. At least this helps bump up the vegetarian option. The boysenberry jam contributes to the flavor.
Essentially and california sushi roll with boysenberry aioli. Although just fine on its own, compared to other surrounding tastings, unfortunately would be significantly low on the must-try list.
Another disappoint for the taste palate was the chicken dumplings. The wonton was on the mushy side and the chicken itself was bland and tasteless with little to no flavor. An easy skip unless you really like rice.
Longtime, eagle-eyed Knott’s Berry Farm fans may be delighted to spot the types of berries included with this lemonade drink. The boysenberry is a hybrid of blackberries, logan berries, and raspberries. So not only a fun sweet drink, but appropriately educational. It was delicious.
Crunchy yet moist, how could you go wrong with a brownie? The only way to make this sweet treat even better is maybe with some ice cream. But this dessert stands on its own.
There’s a lot of mousse and little cake to be had. But no complaints here. For whatever reason, slicing this cake with a knife felt pretty satisfying. Can absolutely be shared with two or three persons.
The pie bar is perhaps the cream of the crop when it comes to texture, portion ratio, and sweet but not overwhelming flavor. The crunchiness of the crumbs with the smooth pie filling begs to swim in your mouth.
Checkout the food spread for more items waiting to be featured during the festival:
Chicken Dumplings with a Boysenberry Wonton with Rice Pilaf. Boysenberry Mojito
Boysenberry BBQ Chicken Pizza. Elote with Boysenberry Butter, Mayo, and Cotija Cheese. Blood Orange Lemonade
Boysenberry Cowboy Chili with Mac & Cheese with Fritos
Boysenberry Horchata. All-Beef Meatballs in Boysenberry BBQ Sauce on Mashers
Trio of Sausage with Boysenberry Polenta
Mini Crab Sushi Roll with Boysenberry Aloli. Boysenberry Filled Donut Open Faced Chicken Sandwich topped with Arugula and Bacon Jam
Pozole with Tortilla Chips and Boysenberry Garnish
Boysenberry Sweet Tea with Vodka
Boysenberry Corn Dog with Boysenberry Mustard
Boysenberry Seltzer. Sweet Potato and Curry Chicken with Boysenberry Drizzle
Spring Fling Salad with Shrimp and Boysenberry Vinaigrette
Tamales with Boysenberry Sauce. Boysenberry Sangaria
All-Beef Hot Dog on a Boysenberry Bun with a Boysenberry Mustard
Grilled Cheese Beef Dip with Boysenberry Cream of Horseradish. Boysenberry Wine
Pot Roast with Boysenberry Mashers
Grande Nachos with Boysenberry Salsa
Monster Boysenberry Pulled Pork and Slaw Sandwich. Boysenberry Wine
Boy O Boy, Now That's a Cookie!
Tuna Salad with Boysenberry Mayo. Berry Salad with Boysenberry Vinaigrette
Boysenberry Onion Dip with Potato Chips. Deconstructed Lemonade with Blackberries, Logan Berries, and Red Raspberries
Boysenberry Ricotta and Ham Pizza. Tuna Sandwich with Boysenberry Mayo. Boysenberry Teriyaki Burger
Boysenberry Cream Cheese Bites. Prosecco with Hibiscus and Boysenberry Juice. Mac and Cheese Wedges with Boysenberry Sriracha Ketchup
Boysenberry Cheesecake Bites Funnel Cake
Berry Berry Churro Waffle Sandwich. Boysenberry Key Lime Tart. Boysenberry Jam Cookiewich with Boysenberry Soft Serve. Boysenberry Rocky Road Brownie
Boysenberry Smoothie with Vodka. Boysenberry Mousse Chocolate Cake. Boysenberry Pie Bar. Boysenberry Acai Bowl
Boysenberry Latte. Monkey Bread Fry Bun Bites with Boysenberry Glaze
Boysenberry Seltzer near an open fire
The carbonated refreshment retained its bubbly flavors. Surely to be a new favorite given the growing popularity of flavored sparkling water brands.
What’s a food festival without some merchandise to go along with it? There’s both edible and wearable souvenirs to be picked up.
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Boysenberry Festival 2022 Merchandise Lineup
Boysenberry Brownie Cookies (brownie batter cookies made with boysenberry jam and loaded with chocolate chips) and White Chocolate Boysenberry Cookies (mini crisp cookies bursting with boysenberry flavor and creamy white chocolate chips)
Boysenberry Curd and Boysenberry Iced Tea
Festival spirit jersey and shirt
Selection of packaged food items and limited edition merchandise
Home delievery package will also be available for online purchase
A great way to indulge in the new boysenberry food items during the festival is by purchasing a tasting card priced at $50 (or $45 for season pass holders). The tasting card will offer six tastings from a selection of 25 boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks. A variety of signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or at the theme park.
The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm or with a special Knott’s Hotel Boysenberry Package that includes overnight accommodations steps from the park, a tasting card, parking and more. Additional costs apply for food tasting experiences within the event.
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Events
The festival also offers endless entertainment throughout the park. From musical performances to fun interactive games, here is a list of what’s coming:
Join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in the musical stage show Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! The show is sure to have families dancing and singing along at the Calico Mine Stage.
Knott’s pays tribute to its past at the legendary Bird Cage Theatre with a special presentation of the brand-new comedy melodrama, Riverboat Revenge. All aboard for this boysenberry bon voyage!
Get in on the fun with some of the craziest and messiest games in Calico. Try your berry best in our Boysenberry Fun and Games, including the wildly entertaining Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest.
Young ones and young at heart are invited to cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm, including horses, sheep, goats and other furry friends. Old MacDonald’s Barn pays tribute to one of the farm’s original attractions.
A classic returns! Travel back to the ’80s as you dance the night away to the decade’s best songs at Knott’s Totally Tubular 80’s Dance Party.
Pull up a chair as our blues trio, the Boysenberry Blues, conjures up some of the smoothest tunes performing at the Boardwalk BBQ patio.
You can also grab a seat (and a plate!) at Fireman’s BBQ, where various musical duos take the stage with a selection of bluegrass and country tunes, they will have your toes a-tappin’ and your hands a clappin’!
Enjoy the sounds from South of the Border in Fiesta Village as the Mariachi Angelitas present a lively show filled with rich history and tradition.
