Gameloft, a leader in the development and publishing of games, is thrilled to announce Disney Speedstorm, a new cross-playable arcade racing experience, unveiled during today’s Nintendo Direct. Players race and battle each other on stunning tracks inspired by Disney and Pixar films, mastering each racer’s unique skills to claim victory. Developed by Gameloft Barcelona, home to the Asphalt series, Disney Speedstorm is slated to launch free-to-play on PC and consoles in 2022.
Disney Speedstorm
A hero-based combat racing game featuring iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains re-imagined as high-speed road warriors, with racetracks inspired by their unique worlds. An incredible lineup of racers will include Captain Jack Sparrow, Mulan, Mickey Mouse, Sulley, the Beast and more, suited-up and revving up for racing action. Upgrade each racer’s stats and make the most of their unique skills, which can impact the outcome of a single race and dramatically change the way to play!
From the docks of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean to the wilds of The Jungle Book, and even racing on the Great Wall of China seen in Mulan or the Scare Floor from Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., players can experience these worlds from a fresh, exciting perspective geared specifically for racing!
Players will be able to speed through action-packed tracks solo, or challenge friends in local and remote multiplayer modes, with Disney Speedstorm supporting cross-platform play. Additionally, the action never slows down thanks to fresh content always around the corner. New Disney and Pixar racers will be added regularly, and unique tracks will be released often, to pump fresh strategy into the mix. More details will be announced closer to launch.
“To work on a dream project like Disney Speedstorm, we are driven to create a game that feels like home for Disney and Pixar fans but is also unique to the arcade-racing genre. The gameplay mechanics, the racer abilities and the location design were all tailored to serve our vision of a fast and gripping competitive experience.” said Alexandru “Sasha” Adam, VP & Studio Manager, Gameloft Barcelona. “We can’t wait to share this vision with players around the globe.”
“Disney fans are in for a full throttle experience with the upcoming launch of the high-speed racing game Disney Speedstorm,” said Luigi Priore, VP, Disney & Pixar Games. “Gameloft has driven some of our most beloved Disney and Pixar characters to new heights with their latest interpretation, while putting a fun spin on their unique circuits and abilities to keep competing fans on the edge of their seats.”
Steven Spielberg’s award-winning, critically-acclaimed “West Side Story,” will debut on Disney+ in the U.S. and most international countries on March 2. The film will launch in Taiwan on March 9 and Japan on March 30.
In addition, the ABC one-hour special “Something’s Coming: West Side Story – A Special Edition of 20/20’” is available to stream on Disney+ now.
West Side Story
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose) and 11 Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno), “West Side Story” is the winner of three Golden Globe® awards—Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy; Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Rachel Zegler) and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose).
The film has also received nominations from the DGA (Steven Spielberg), PGA (Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger), WGA (Tony Kushner) and SAG (Ariana DeBose for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role) and has been named one of the year’s Top 10 films by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review, the latter having voted Rachel Zegler Best Actress of the Year.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works); and introducing Rachel Zegler (Maria.) Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also served as an executive producer; Tony Award® winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY Award® winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award®-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (“Anastasia”), who arranged the score, Tony Award®-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), who supervised the cast on vocals; and GRAMMY®-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago”), who serves as executive music producer for the film.
The film is produced by Spielberg, p.g.a., Academy Award®-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger, p.g.a. and Tony Award®-winning producer Kevin McCollum. “West Side Story” has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show. Original choreography by Jerome Robbins, based on the stage play, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, play conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein.
The West Side Story Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features 21 songs from the film and is available in both standard digital and physical (CD and vinyl) configurations, as well as a digital release in Dolby Atmos Music.
A new trailer was released for Disney and Pixar’s original sci-fi action-adventure “Lightyear.” Releasing June 17, 2022, the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure.
“Buzz’s world was always something I was excited about,” said director Angus MacLane. “In ‘Toy Story,’ there seemed to be this incredible backstory to him being a Space Ranger that’s only touched upon, and I always wanted to explore that world further. So my ‘Lighytear’ pitch was, ‘What was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?’ I wanted to see that movie. And now I’m lucky enough to get to make it.”
Joining the previously announced Chris Evans, who lends his voice to Buzz, are Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi as a group of ambitious recruits. Peter Sohn voices Buzz’s robot companion, Sox, and the cast also includes the voices of Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr. “The cast for ‘Lightyear’ is truly a dream team,” said MacLane.
“Each of the performers immediately inhabited their character, which gave us the opportunity to play a bit during recording sessions. This resulted in a level of specificity that elevated the material and brought additional depth to the characters’ relationships. It has been a privilege to work with such a talented and generous cast.”
Also revealed, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who’s behind the scores for the upcoming film “The Batman,” as well as “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” is on board to score “Lightyear.” Giacchino has a long history with Pixar; he won an Oscar, Golden Globe and GRAMMY for the original score in “Up.”
His other Pixar credits include “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Cars 2,” “Inside Out,” “Coco” and “Incredibles 2,” among others. The Lightyear Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available on June 17, 2022.
“Lightyear” is produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”).
Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear.” is Releasing June 17, 2022.
The Walt Disney Company has received a total of 23 nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the 94th Oscars, which are set to take place on Sunday, March 27.
“West Side Story” received 7 nominations, including Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Directing, Costume Design, Sound, Cinematography, and Production Design.
With “Nightmare Alley,” Searchlight Pictures has now garnered 20 Best Picture Oscar Nominations and a grand total of 172 Academy Award® nominations. In addition to Best Picture, the film received 3 nominations for Costume Design, Cinematography, and Production Design.
Disney’s Onyx Collective secured their first Academy Award® nomination through the content brand’s debut of the critically acclaimed “Summer of Soul,” in partnership with Searchlight Pictures and Hulu.
Jessica Chastain was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” for Searchlight Pictures. The film also garnered a nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling.
In addition to Best Animated Feature nominations for Pixar’s “Luca” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon,” and “Encanto,” which also received nominations for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
Seven of the nominated films are available to stream now on Disney+ and Hulu. A complete list of all TWDC nominations is below.
2022 NOMINATIONS
West side story | 20th Century Studios 7 Nominations
Best Picture
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Ariana DeBose
Best Director – Steven Spielberg
Best Sound
Best Costume Design
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design
NIGHTMARE ALLEY | Searchlight Pictures | Streaming on Hulu 4 Nominations
Best Picture
Best Costume Design
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design
ENCANTO |Walt Disney Animation Studios | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Disney Music Group | Streaming on Disney+ 3 Nominations
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE | Searchlight Pictures 2 Nominations
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Jessica Chastain
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Cruella | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Streaming on Disney+ 2 Nominations
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
SUMMER OF SOUL(…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) |Searchlight Pictures | Onyx Collective | Streaming on Hulu and Disney+ 1 Nomination
Best Documentary (feature)
LUCA | Pixar Animation Studios | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Streaming on Disney+ 1Nomination
Best Animated Feature Film
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON |Walt Disney Animation Studios | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Streaming on Disney+ 1Nomination
Best Animated Feature Film
FREE GUY | 20th Century Studios | Coming soon to Disney+ 1 Nomination
Best Visual Effects
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS | Marvel Studios | Streaming on Disney+ 1 Nomination
On March 11, 2022, Disney and Pixar’s 25th feature film Turning Red by director Domee Shi will release exclusively on Disney+.
Turning Red gives us a look at the trials 13-year-old Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang) undergoes as she navigates the treacherous route of adolescence between childhood and teenage years with the additional complications of an overly-attached mother, embarrassing emotional and physical changes, and a new tendency to Hulk out into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited.
Recently, Socalthrills.com was invited to take an early look at Turning Red and hear from some of the filmmakers on a virtual press day. The session started off with director Domee Shi and producer Lindsey Collins talking about finding the story of Turning Red, building the creative team behind the film, and that most important aspect of tween life: Boy Bands.
Director Domee Shi is photographed on November 2, 2021 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)
The Story
Shi: “Turning Red is inspired by my own relationship with my mother. I was born in Chongqing, China, and immigrated to Toronto, Canada, when I was two years old. And like Mei Lee in the movie, I am an only child. I was always very, very close with my parents, especially my mom, since my dad had to go away often for work.
“…Then as all kids do, I started to grow up, I started changing…getting into anime, comics, and hanging out more and more with my friends and less with my mom. She did not understand why I was obsessed with these fictional characters, and why I drew them over and over again in my sketchbook…I was being pulled one way, but my duty and my love for my parents were pulling me in another way.
“Turning Red is inspired by this universal struggle of growing up, and figuring out how to handle that push and pull. How to handle honoring your parents, but also staying true to yourself. For Mei Lee in the movie, the red panda is that magical spark that sets off this internal conflict within herself, ’cause up until that point, you know, Mei thinks she has it all figured out like we all did before we suddenly woke up and realized oh, my gosh we’re covered in hair, we grew five feet overnight, we smell, and our emotions are all over the place. We want to use the red panda as an adorable metaphor for the unadorable phenomenon of puberty. For all the scary, awkward, and cringy changes that we go through during this age, and more specifically, we really wanted to explore the nuances of Asian parent-child relationships in dealing with change, and of intergenerational conflict, and how it can shape who we become.
“Turning Red is quirky and surreal, but at its core, it is a mother and daughter finally embracing change in all of its messy, and furry forms, even if it means saying goodbye to the relationship you once had.”
The Setting
Shi: “This is gonna be Pixar’s first contemporary tween girl protagonist and I really wanted the world to reflect her character. I wanted it to feel colorful, chunky, and cute, bold and in your face, just like Mei.
“We decided to set it in Toronto, Canada, during the early 2000s–it’s not just the era when I grew up, it’s also, I feel, the height of teen girl pop mania, the height of boy bands, of pop music, of idols. Also, we just wanted to tell a coming-of-age story and…tell this story in an environment in a simpler time of-of flip phones, CDs, jelly bracelets, and Myspace.
“We also love the multicultural aspects of Toronto: The mosaic of different cultures, languages, and traditions in one city, and we really wanted to celebrate that on screen. Especially for Mei’s friends–we wanted them to reflect the diversity that I saw in my friend groups when I was in school.”
Lindsey Collins is photographed on December 10, 2021 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)
The Team
Collins: “(One) thing that was really exciting about this was that it was the first time that we’ve actually had an all-female leadership team on a feature film. I’ve actually been surrounded by incredibly talented women throughout my career at Pixar, so it’s not necessarily surprising that we landed this team, but it was really exciting. I can’t say for certain if being led by all women had a kind of tangible, or quantifiable effect on the movie we made or how we made it, but I do know that working on it with this group of women…really inspired something unique in all of us, and that kind of spirit of pride and excitement and fun definitely shines through in the movie you’ll eventually see on screen.”
The Voice Cast:
Mei Lee: Rosalie Chiang
Ming (Mei Lee’s mother): Sandra Oh
Mei’s BFFs:
Miriam: Ava Morse
Abby: Hyein Park
Priya: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Also featured in the voice cast:
Jin (Mei’s dad): Orion Lee
Grandma: Wai Ching Ho
Tyler (classmate): Tristan Allerick Chen
Devon (Mei’s crush): Addie Chandler
Other announced voices:
James Hong
Lori Tan Chinn
Lillian Lim
Mia Tagano
Sherry Cola
Sasha Roiz
Lily Sanfelippo.
The Music
Collins: “In terms of the score, we turn to kind of an unlikely but yet totally obvious composer, Ludwig Göransson. He’s a multi-award-winning composer best known for Black Panther, and most recently, The Mandalorian. But in addition to his prowess at movie scores, he’s also a music producer who has worked with Childish Gambino, Justin Timberlake, Adele, and Lizzo, just to name a few. So he bought a perfect mix of traditional score, but also a deep, early 2000s pop knowledge to the movie.”
Composer Ludwig Göransson, Director Domee Shi and Producer Lindsey Collins at the scoring session for “Turning Red,” a Pixar Animation Studios film, on October 11, 2021 at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)
Boy Bands
Shi: “I feel like boy bands are often ridiculed by media, as most things that teen girls are obsessed with are, and with this movie, we really wanted to pay tribute to this cultural phenomenon and not just make fun of it. We make fun of it a little bit, but we also honor it as well.
“Boy bands represent, for many girls, their first foray into adolescence, into music, fashion, and pop culture and they offer a safe, soft, and non-threatening introduction to subjects like love and relationships and S-E-X. For Mei, 4*Town represents a new alluring world that is the total opposite of her mom and her home life. A world that she’s been pushing away until the red panda arrives and brings her passions to the surface.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 30: Billie Eilish attends “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles” Worldwide Premiere at The Grove on August 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Collins: “Billie Eilish was actually relatively unknown but adored by my kids in 2016 when her song “Ocean Eyes” was being played on repeat in my house, so when we started to think about songwriters who could kind of capture the early 2000 sound and bring something fresh to it, Billie’s name came up. After further research with the Disney music team, we got a better sense of Finneas and Billie and what their influences were, what
their style was, and figured out why not start with our dream choice?
“…Billie and Finneas agreed to do it, and we were so, so happy they did. Their songs really brought 4*Town to life and Finneas actually even sings as one of the band members himself–he’s Jesse, for those keeping track. In the end, they wrote three original songs for us in the movie. We kind of wanted to give them inspiration for the types of songs we were looking for when we talked to them, so the first one we said was called the confidence booster. That’s the song you sing to one of your friends when they’re feeling down. Then we want a hit song that everybody knows.
It’s the song you can’t get out of your head and you belt out at full volume in the car and…they delivered massively on that one ‘cause I think we’re all still singing the song. Then they also delivered us a love ballad which is the kind of song that makes you feel like you just had your heart broken, even though you’re 13 and have never gone on a date.”
Concept art for 4*Town in TURNING RED
Lending their voices to Pixar’s first-ever boy band are Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo and Finneas O’Connell. One of the three songs written by Billie Eilish and Finneas, “Nobody Like U” is featured in the official trailer:
Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red will debut exclusively on Disney+ on March 11, 2022.
Grab your mouse ears and get ready for a party in your hometown as Disney On Icepresents Mickey and Friends skates into the Tinseltown area playing eight fun-filled performances at Long Beach Arena from April 14-17 in Long Beach followed by seven performances at Toyota Arena in Ontario from April 21-24, 2022. Produced by Feld Entertainment Inc., your favorite Disney stories come to life in this production that will inspire families to make memories they will treasure forever!
Disney On Ice Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting today to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on February 8th. Fans can still sign up to become a Disney On Ice Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code.
Mickey Mouse is joined by Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy on a journey to discover his favorite memory of all time. Using Mickey’s “Mouse Pad,” show hosts encourage fans to be part of the action and help the gang venture though Disney stories, sharing memorable moments from treasured tales.
Along the way, families sail away with Moana as she displays courage to save her island on a high-seas adventure with the demigod, Maui. Families will continue the journey to the wintry world of Arendelle as royal sisters Anna and Elsa discover true love is the most powerful magic of all and experience the mysterious magic of Fantasia as a Sorcerer’s Apprentice makes brooms come to life.
Celebrate true friendship with the Toy Story gang and get all the feels with Joy, Sadness and the rest of the Emotions from Inside Out plus just keep swimming with Dory and Hank as they set out to find her parents. “Live Your Story” alongside Disney Princesses as they use perseverance, determination and hard work to inspire Mickey and children around the world to share their favorite Disney memories.
Disney On Ice Showtimes
L O N G B E A C H
WHEN: Thursday, April 14 7:30 PM
Friday, April 15 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 16 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 17 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
WHERE:Long Beach Arena – 300 E Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802
TICKETS: Family friendly ticket pricing available – tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the venue box office. *Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.
O N T A R I O
WHEN: Thursday, April 21 7:00 PM
Friday, April 22 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 23 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 24 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
WHERE:Toyota Arena – 4000 Ontario Center Pkwy, Ontario, CA 91764
TICKETS: Family friendly ticket pricing available – tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the venue box office. *Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.
Feld Entertainment is working closely with venue partners to establish and follow COVID-19 health and safety standards in accordance with all federal, state and local guidelines. Full details on Feld Entertainment Guest Wellness Enhancements can be found here.Please monitor the venue website atLong Beach Arena & Toyota Arenafor health and safety policies, including face covering and entry requirements, which are subject to change.
Just one month after Super Bowl LVI is held at SoFi Stadium, a 1:50 scale LEGO® model inspired by the first indoor-outdoor stadium to be constructed will make its debut in Miniland U.S.A. at LEGOLAND® California Resort. The LEGO stadium structure will join other top Southern California attractions featured in LEGO form, including the Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood Bowl and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
At more than 30 feet long, 15 feet wide and over 4 feet tall, the new SoFi Stadium is expected to be the largest LEGO® stadium in the world. It’s on track to break the Guinness World Record for the largest LEGO® brick sculpture of a stadium, which is currently held by LEGOLAND® Deutschland Resort for a replica of Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Football fans will undoubtedly appreciate the extreme attention to detail that went into creating the final LEGO SoFi Stadium model; for instance, the NFL game that’s played on the field in Miniland is inspired and reflects the Los Angeles Rams’ starting offensive roster! Families may even see a concert or two being held at the stadium, to highlight the talented artists who are scheduled to perform at SoFi Stadium throughout the year.
“SoFi Stadium is an architectural marvel and is considered one of the most innovative NFL stadiums in the entire league, making it an obvious choice for our first addition in the expanded Southern California region of Miniland U.S.A.,” said President of LEGOLAND California Resort Kurt Stocks. “The anticipation of Super Bowl LVI taking place at the life-sized SoFi Stadium in February makes this build even more special for us.”
It will take a team of 25 dedicated Master Model Builders more than 6,000 hours and more than 500,000 LEGO® bricks to complete the final model of SoFi Stadium before it’s installed this spring. SoFi Stadium is the first installation in a series of additions to the Southern California section of Miniland U.S.A., with more LEGO model highlights to be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to exploring Miniland U.S.A., families can enjoy LEGOLAND California’s nine other themed lands, including the new The LEGO® Movie™ World, by booking a Vacation Package, starting at $160 per person. LEGOLAND Vacations include a stay at a LEGOLAND Vacations Hotel (nearby partner hotels) and two-day LEGOLAND Park tickets. Guests can also purchase single-day tickets (starting at $89.99 per person) or annual passes (starting at $179.99 per person) with or without a hotel stay.
At LEGOLAND California Resort, the health and safety of guests and employees is a top priority. For the latest health and safety measures, please click here to learn more.
SeaWorld San Diego is bringing New Orleans flare, food, and festivities to the West Coast with an ALL-NEW, Mardi Gras event starting on February 5 and running on Saturdays and Sundays through the month of February. The event is included in park admission and brings the excitement of Mardi Gras with a celebration full of live music, colorful costumes, cheerful performers, and kids’ games and activities.
Guests can also indulge in ALL-NEW menu items with delicious Mardi Gras-inspired Creole and Cajun cuisine. To get the most out of Mardi Gras and all SeaWorld has to offer, SeaWorld has brought back the popular SoCal Pass for only $10 per month for a limited time. Guests will receive unlimited admission for 12 months* and discounted parking, plus they will be the talk of the Mardi Gras parade once they collect their Mardi Gras light up necklace and are lighting up the stage.
Diving into the following month, SoCal Pass Members will also receive early access to floorless coaster thrills on the all-new Emperor Coaster starting on March 10 and 11 before the ride opens to the public on March 12!
SeaWorld’s New Event Offers Kid-Friendly Mardi Gras Festivities for Families in SoCal
• The festive spirit of Fat Tuesday will come alive with the SkyTower lawn fully decked out in Mardi Gras flare. Purple, green and gold flags, ribbons, lights and masks will decorate the festival area while colorful characters in over-the-top costumes greet and pose with passersby.
• Guests will dance in the street to jazzy beats while grasping for shiny beads during the daily Mardi Gras walking parade along SeaWorld’s very own “Bourbon Street.” The parade will run twice a day and feature a live band as well as an assortment of street performers such as jugglers, jesters, and more.
• Family-friendly activities will take place throughout the weekend, including an opportunity to participate in the Mardi Gras parade alongside merry Mardi Gras performers! The festival area will also have a face painting booth, fair-style games, and other fun kid’s activities.
• The area will be buzzing with French Quarter beats as live musical performances take place on our SkyTower Stage. Guests can enjoy sets from DJs and groove to classic Mardi Gras genres, such as Dixieland and Jazz, plus special performances by the San Diego Marine Corp Marching Band on select dates.
• Of course, it’s not Mardi Gras without decadent food. Guests will indulge in a variety of ALL-NEW food offerings at the park including Creole and Cajun food favorites like zesty andouille sausage and shrimp jambalaya, hearty po-boy sandwiches, mouthwatering dirty rice, delicious King Cake Roulade, fluffy filled beignets doused in powdered-sugar, and more. Guests who are 21 and older can also partake in refreshing festive cocktails such as classic Hurricanes and Frozen Margaritas.
“We’re thrilled to bring this exciting new event offering to San Diego,” said Jim Lake, SeaWorld San Diego Park President. “SeaWorld’s Mardi Gras will give guests a taste of New Orleans’ iconic carnival celebration and fully immerse them in all the colors, flavors, sounds and fun of Mardi Gras with activities suitable for visitors of all-ages. Laissez le bon temps rouler!”
For more information on events, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldSanDiego.com.
What if teenage anxiety transformed you into a giant red panda? It’s the kind of question only the creative minds at Pixar Animation Studios would dare to ask and answer in Disney and Pixar’s wild and wonderful new animated feature, Turning Red.
The spring issue of Disney twenty-three features an exclusive cover showcasing the cuddly oversized character (the much bigger and furrier version of Mei Lee, a teen with a lot on her mind), as well as a conversation with director Domee Shi and star Sandra Oh about creating this unique tale, which premieres exclusively on Disney+ on March 11.
And later this spring, Doctor Strange will face his greatest challenge as he staves off chaos in Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Co-producer Richie Palmer and star Xochitl Gomez reveal how they tackled the most complicated tale yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The new issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also details what guests can expect when they travel on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort starting this March, as writer Will Keck goes “undercover” for the Resistance and manages to sample the exquisite cuisine, “shore excursion,” and entertainment offerings along the way.
In another part of the World, Imagineers are putting the finishing touches on EPCOT’s first other-World Showcase Pavilion—the Wonders of Xandar—and discuss the excitement that awaits guests on one of the largest indoor roller coaster experiences in the world. Plus, the stellar journey of pilot droid RX-24, better known as “Rex,” is chronicled in honor of 35 years of the popular Star Tours attraction.
Also included in the Spring 2022 issue of Disney twenty-three:
– Sixty years of “great responsibility” with Spider-Man
– The magnificent creatures of Disneynature’s epic Polar Bear
– A new generation of Alice and her friends in Alice’s Wonderland Bakery
– The deeply rooted Disney connections in Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers Inheritance: Book One
– Disneyland Paris’ most iconic attractions, from concept art to reality, to celebrate the park’s 30th anniversary
– The life-changing Disney Dreamers Academy
– Regular features including By the Numbers, Character Analysis, and Ask the Walt Disney Archives
Disney twenty-three
Delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps and is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving before the end of February.
“Million Dollar Quartet” is the Tony Award-winning smash-hit musical inspired by the true story of the legendary recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins for the first and only time back on December 4, 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, TN.
With live performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts until Sunday, February 13, 2022, you’ll see exactly why this dramatization was one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions to have ever materialized. The amazing pool of talent brought together to recreate and relive that moment in music history features more than 20 timeless and enduring classic hits including “Blue Suede Shoes”, “That’s All Right”, “I Walk the Line”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”, “Hound Dog”, “(Ghost)Riders in the Sky”, and “See You Later Alligator”.
It’s the kind of jukebox musical that ties rockabilly and gospel influences together tightly-nit with very real behind-the-record drama. Bringing the heartfelt and soul-enriching characters to life not just by covering high-energy songs perfectly, but capturing the real life counterparts mannerisms and behaviors that the audience can easily get absorbed into emotionally.
Walking into this production blind, I came with the assumption the show would just sugarcoat and make all the songs, artists, and producer shine and sparkle like a fairy-tale. The production does so in the best way, but also surprisingly acknowledges the uphill battles, sympathetic drama, struggling backgrounds, sensitive controversies, and uncertain futures, sharing that human and vulnerable element that the audience can relate and retain attachment. These are not just legends of their time. They parallel timeless themes of living. There’s still a strong relevance that transcends age.
The enduring cast engulf the stage with live music, natural chemistry, high-energy, and irresistible charm. Jacob Barton brings the incomprehensible swagger of “Elvis Presley”. Steven Lasiter as “Johnny Cash” with that signature deep vocal. Trevor Dorner is a riot as “Jerry Lee Lewis”.
Showcasing the best of his signature moves like Michael J. Fox in “Back to the Future”. And Nathan Burke as “Carl Perkins” brings to light what it is to remain in the dark. Then there’s Sean Casey Flanagan as “Sam Phillips”, music producer of Sun Records, the proud man of the hour fighting his way to the top by discovering the best.
Taylor Kraft as “Dyanne” as Elvis’ lady friend but more importantly sliding in her sultry rendition of “Fever” to the testosterone filled recording studio. And, of course, Justin Bendel as “Brother Jay” and Jon Rossi as “Fluke” on cello and drums, respectively. Not to underplay these non-dialogue characters, but they do play a large part in the entertainment value behind all the main players. There wouldn’t be a show without them. Be on the lookout for their moments to shine sporadically throughout the 2 hour show.
“Million Dollar Quartet” is the best of Broadway and Vegas combined. The passion and raw high energy wasn’t just beaming out from the burning lights and loud speakers, they were shining through this star-studded cast.
Million Dollar Quartet
Performances on select dates and times until Sunday, February 13, 2022. Tickets range from $17 – $79 (prices subject to change) and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre’s website LaMiradaTheatre.com by visiting the La Mirada Theatre Box Office, or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310.
Disney+ has announced the premiere date and released the trailer and art for “The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse,” launching the second season of “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse.”
“The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” Continues with the First of Four Original Specials Premiering February 18 on Disney+.
The second installment consists of four extended-length specials that are themed to each season – winter, spring, summer, and autumn.
Disney “The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse”
“The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” spotlights the endearing, adventurous and comedic antics of Mickey Mouse, Disney’s #1 star, and is geared towards kids, families, and fans of all ages. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation with Emmy Award-winning artist and director Paul Rudish serving as executive producer and supervising director.
Christopher Willis, the Emmy Award-nominated composer of the “Mickey Mouse” shorts, also provides the music for this series. Philip Cohen is the series producer.
Disney+ debuted a thrilling, brand-new trailer for the upcoming Marvel Studios’ series “Moon Knight” during Halftime of the NFL Super Wild Card matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.
The series follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
Stars Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy. Mohamed Diab and the team of Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead directed the episodes. Jeremy Slater is the head writer, and Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Mohamed Diab, Jeremy Slater and Oscar Isaac are the executive producers. Grant Curtis, Trevor Waterson and Rebecca Kirsch serve as co-executive producers.
SeaWorld San Diego reaffirms its ongoing commitment to exceptional guest experiences and world-class animal care with the debut of the next evolution of its...
